Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad

The Divine Rudraksha beads have an entire Upanishad dedicated to them. The Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad is associated with the Samaveda and is one of 108 Upanishads in Sanatan Dharma. Written in Sanskrit language, the Upanishad details a conversation between Kalagni Rudra, a form of Lord Shiva and Sage Sanatkumara (Sage Bhusunda) about Rudraksha beads. The Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad also known as Rudraksha Upanishad, Rudrakshajabala Upanishad amongst other names is one of the 14 Shaiva Upanishads which are highly revered by Shaivites or devotees of Lord Shiva.

CONTENT OF RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD

The Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad details the significance of the Rudraksha beads. In the beginning of this Upanishad, Sage Bhusunda asks Lord Kalagni Rudra about the origin of the Rudraksha beads. Lord Kalagni Rudra states that it is He, from whom the Divine Rudraksha beads originated for the welfare and wellbeing of all. Further on queries of Sage Bhusunda, Lord Kalagni Rudra details properties and benefits of Rudraksha beads, Rudraksha types and forms and their significance, associated Deities, how to select Rudraksha beads, rules for wearing Rudraksha beads and much more.

SIGNIFICANCE AND BENEFITS OF RUDRAKSHA AS PER RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD

The Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad begins with salutations to Brahman. Then it goes on to explain everything about a Rudraksha bead. It explains the significance and importance, of the associated Divinity, origin, types, benefits, procedure of usage and much more. In the Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad it is stated that a mere site or uttering the word 'Rudraksha' is meritorious. Wearing a Rudraksha is equivalent to smearing the body with Bhasma (sacred ash), donating cows and chanting Gayatri mantra 6 lakh times. Other than the bead itself, the Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad text itself is also glorified. It is stated that whoever reads the Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad will be freed from all sins and will be blessed with wisdom, knowledge and good intellect.

Rudrakshajabala Upanishad claims that 4 different castes or Varnas should wear different coloured Rudraksha beads. Brahmins should wear White Rudraksha, Kshatriyas should wear Red Rudraksha, Vaishyas should wear Yellow Rudraksha & Shudras should wear Black Rudraksha.

It also mentions the properties of 1-14 mukhi Rudraksha

One mukhi represents the Supreme Truth
2 mukhi is ruled by Ardhanareshwara and the wearer is blessed by Shiva – Shakti
Wearer of 3 mukhi is blessed by Agni Dev/God of Fire
Wearer of 4 mukhi is blessed by Brahma
5 mukhi is governed by Panchmukhi Shiva, it removes the sin of homicide
6 mukhi is ruled by Ganesh & Kartikeya and wearer is blessed with health, wealth, wisdom & purification
7 mukhi is ruled by 7 Matras (7 Goddesses) and the wearer is blessed with health, wealth and peace
8 mukhi is ruled by 8 Vasus & 8 fold Nature
9 mukhi is ruled by Navdurga
10 mukhi is ruled by 10 Yamas used by Yoginis. Wearer is blessed with peace of mind
11 mukhi is ruled by 11 Rudras and wearer is blessed with overall well being & wealth
12 mukhi is ruled by 12 Adityas & Mahavishnu
13 mukhi is ruled by Kamdev and wearer’s desires are always satisfied
14 mukhi is a form of Rudra and it removes all diseases

The tail of the bead is Brahma, Navel is Vishnu, Face is Rudra and the hole consists of all the Gods

It mentions that anyone wearing Rudraksha should avoid intoxicants, meat, garlic, onion, carrots amongst other prohibited items. It mentions that wearing Rudraksha on auspicious days like new moon, full moon, eclipses one is freed of all sins.

Rudrakshajabala Upanishad also provides some difficult to follow rules for wearing Rudraksha beads. It says one should wear one rudraksha on the crest, 300 rudraksha beads around the head, 16 rudraksh around each arm, 12 Rudraksha on the chest and 500 beads around the waist!

It suggest that one should wear a Janeu (Holy Thread) made of 108 beads of Rudraksha.

One should wear 2, 3, 5 or 7 malas of Rudraksha around the neck. The total count of 1000 rudraksha beads is very meritorious as per Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad

It also mentions that a Shiva Devotee should wear Rudraksha all the time even while sleeping or earing

Rudrakshajabala Upanishad mentions that for Rudraksha on the head one should chant Ishta Mantra, for Rudraksha on the neck one should chant Tat Purusha Mantra, for beads on the throat & chest one can chant Aghora Mantra & for the beads on the arm one should chant Aghora Bija Mantra

RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD CRITICISM

Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad is a minor Upanishad, which was compiled many years after the primary Upanishads (Mukhya Upanishads) were written. Many scholars claim that Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad is not a true Upanishad and that here the title of Upanishad was misappropriated to push sectarian and casteist beliefs and agendas. Also, some of the information provided in the Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad is not in accordance with other Vedic texts and Mukhya Upanishads. There are also multiple interpretations of the translation text from Sanskrit available. For instance, some people quote Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad and state that it states that non-veg food, onion, garlic and alcohol have to be strictly avoided whereas in reality the text states that ‘wearer should avoid’ which is more of a suggestion rather than a compulsion. Sanskrit is a very nuanced language which makes this distinction. Being on a sattvic diet is recommended for everyone regardless of whether you are wearing Rudraksha or no, if one is not on a sattvic diet the energy of the Rudraksha will not be affected rather the person’s capacity to absorb those energies will be affected however it doesn’t mean that you will accumulate bad karma or negative energy if you are not on sattvic diet and wear Rudraksha.

Some scholars argue that the Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad is an example of a sectarian and Tantric Upanishad. In the Mukhya Upanishads there have been instances which depict women devotees who used to drink Madera (Alcohol) and wear Rudraksha, it has shown animals wearing these beads who do not follow sattvic diet. Here one needs to understand that Hinduism is a fluid philosophy that encourages and respects difference of opinions and ideas and sometimes these opinions are of opposing nature.

Others argue that there are many logical inconsistencies in this “Upanishad”. It suggests that Brahmins should wear White Rudraksha, Kshatriyas should wear Red Rudraksha, Vaishyas should wear Yellow Rudraksha & Shudras should wear Black Rudraksha however we know that Rudraksha becomes darker overtime with usage.

The Upanishad states that a light brown whitish Rudraksha will turn Yellowish Brown and then Reddish Brown & then Dark Brown and blackish overtime and hence the color of the Rudraksha can never be fixed leaning to an interpretation by some others that it also indicates the Brahmanical and casteist undertone in this text. It also comments on the size of the Rudraksha by suggesting that bigger sized beads are worth wearing whereas small beads are not suitable to wear however the recent tests indicate that both small as well as big Rudraksha show similar results overtime It also gives rules for wearing different number of beads on the shoulder, waist and head which if even doesn’t seem possible for the average person in today’s world, but maybe they were worn like that by Saints through History. The Encyclopaedia of Hinduism states that late Upanishads are not considered 'true Upanishads' by some scholars, who bestow that status only upon the Mukhya Upanishads. The Symbols Of Art, Religion And Philosophy echoes this sentiment, calling the text as 'hardly entitled to be called' an Upanishad.

Conclusion: We suggest referring to only Sakhashree Neeta Ji’s research on Rudraksha. She has extensively studied the TRUE Upanishads and compiled this knowledge in her articles and videos.

RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD PDF DOWNLOADS IN SANSKRIT, HINDI, ENGLISH

You may download the Rudrakshajabala Upanishad by clicking on the following link:

RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD IN ENGLISH
RUDRAKSHA JABALA UPANISHAD IN SANSKRIT

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