How to Identify Original Rudraksha? - 5 Easy Ways To Find Original Rudraksha
In India, the "Rudraksha" beads are considered to be a blessing from Lord Shiva himself & have been used by mankind for eons for good health and wellness and to ward off evil.
Nowadays, as their popularity grew, many have started selling fake rudrakshas made from plastic or wood, cheating devotees. So this begs the question – “how to find the original Rudraksha?”
Today, let’s take a closer look at some key observations & tests to help you ascertain Rudraksha beads' authenticity.
How to Identify Original Rudraksha? – What is a real Rudraksha?
Primarily sourced from India, Nepal, and the Himalayas' footholds, Rudraksha beads are produced by an evergreen, broad-leaved tree called Elaeocarpus.
These beads are notable for their wrinkled, grooved exterior and up to 14 Mukhis (faces).
They are typically made into prayer Malas, and other jewelry & are regularly used in pujas while chanting "Om Namah Shivaya" in honor of the almighty Lord Shiva.
Naturally, no matter how “real” a fake Rudraksha they seem, they can never offer the same divine benefits as a genuine organic Rudrasksha can.
Real ones are also valued akin to Semi-precious stones, so there is that as well.
Top 4 Tests to find out the Authenticity of Rudraksha
Wondering how to check whether Rudraksha is original or not? There are several ways to determine Rudraksha bead's credibility. Here are some of them;
#1 The cut test
The most obvious way to ensure authenticity is by cutting the Rudraksha bead itself.
If it’s original, you should be able to find the same number of compartments as that of the Mukhis it features on the exterior side.
Naturally, the major drawback here is that you WILL end up destroying the bead.
Thankfully, you can instead use X-rays, or CT scans to peer into the Rudrakshas and check if the chambers match the number of mukhis present.
Granted, doing scans can be a bit too costly, but it can offer accurate results sans any damages.
#2 The water test
You can also check if a rudraksha is real or not by trying to submerge it in a body of water.
Supposedly, a perfect, genuine Rudraksha will be denser on the inside than water and, therefore, will sink to the bottom, proving its realness.
This is not exactly foolproof, as even real rudrakshas may have hollow pockets of air inside, making them float on water.
The fake ones may also have lead loaded inside them, resulting in them sinking & giving false results.
#3 The copper coin test
It is generally believed that if you place a real Rudraksha between two copper coins, it should rotate slightly owing to the electromagnetic properties a Rudraksha bead supposedly has.
Again, like the sinking test, this is not a full-proof solution.
No matter how good the fake Rudraksha is designed, the Mukhis cannot be made as real as it's on a genuine Rudraksha – and obviously, a trained eye can spot the difference.
The mukhis on a natural rudraksha will look like closed lips with deep partitions.
By looking at it closely through a magnifying glass, one can easily determine whether it’s a real Rudraksha or is a fake one.
#4 The Eye test
Identifying original Rudraksha – Frequently asked questions.
Now you know how to find Rudraksha is original or not, here is a brief FAQ session addressing some of the common concerns present;
1) What is the best way to find the original Rudraksha?
Without a doubt, doing an X-ray or CT scan on the Rudraksha beads is the best, most scientific way to check whether it’s pure or not.
2) From what fake Rudraksha beads are made out of?
Typically, fake Rudrakshas are made from Wood, Areca Nut, Nutmeg, Tulsi, plastic, etc... Some are even made by gluing together older, broken Mukhis.
3) Are there different sized Rudrakshas?
Yes, you can generally find Rudrakshas in 3 different sizes: Amla fruit size, dried fruit dimensions, and Chickpea sizes.
The conclusion
For those like sages familiar with Rudrakshas, checking their authentic nature is as easy as holding it in their hand. For normal people, however, this is not possible.
Thankfully, you can still check & know how to find original Rudraksha beads without much hassle or expense using the above steps.
Also, we advise buying rudraksha beads only from reputed, pure sources as these are, at the end of the day, the best & cheapest way to ensure their quality.