Rudraksha

What does mukhi mean on a Rudraksha

A mukhi is a natural line running from the top of the bead to the bottom. Count the lines and you have the mukhi, so a 5 Mukhi bead shows five clear grooves and a 7 Mukhi shows seven. Nobody carves them in. Each count is traditionally tied to one graha and one deity, and that is how you pick.

Mukhi, graha and deity at a glance

• 2 Mukhi: Chandra, Ardhanarishvara. Often chosen for a restless mind and for relationships.
• 3 Mukhi: Mangal, Agni.
• 4 Mukhi: Budh, Brahma. Popular with students.
• 5 Mukhi (Panchmukhi): Guru, Kalagni Rudra. The everyday bead most people start with.
• 6 Mukhi: Shukra, Kartikeya.
• 7 Mukhi: Shani, Lakshmi. Asked for a lot during Sade Sati.
• 8 Mukhi: Rahu, Ganesha.
• 9 Mukhi: Ketu, Durga.
• 10 Mukhi: Vishnu, traditionally said to protect from all ten directions.

For other remedies by planet, see Navagraha remedies or the Shani page.

Real or fake: what actually works

Honestly, the only check that holds up is a lab report. Fakes are usually cheaper beads with extra lines carved in, or two pieces joined and polished. From the outside even experienced sellers get fooled. That is why our 2 to 10 Mukhi Rudraksha bracelets and pendants come with a lab test certificate. Other items include one only if the product page says so.

You will hear about the water test (real sinks, fake floats) and the two copper coins test. Please don't rely on either. How a bead behaves in water depends on how dry and how old it is, and plenty of genuine beads float.

Wearing it for the first time

Monday is the usual day to start. After your bath, sit at the puja ghar, hold the Rudraksha in your right palm and chant "Om Namah Shivaya" 108 times, then wear it. A pendant is best touching the skin; a bracelet goes on the right wrist for most people. Take it off before a soap bath and wipe it dry if it gets wet. Every few months, a drop of sesame or mustard oil keeps the bead from drying out.