Rudraksha Literally means: Rudra is the name of Shiva and Aksh or Aksha means the tears. Hence, Rudraksha means the tears of Shiva. The shiva is one of the trideva or trimurti (3 major gods), who are: Brahma “the creator”, Vishnu “the preserver” and Shiva “the destroyer”. This question always comes to Yoga and Meditation practitioners, why Rudraksha is called “the tears of Shiva”. Actually, when Sati who is also called “Dakshayani – daughter of Daksha”, is generally considered the first wife of Shiva, who was also Parvati and was Sati’s reincarnation after her death.

When the father Daksha humiliated Sati in front of all guests during a fire ceremony, saying that Shiva is nasty and disgusting. Sati felt much disrespected and jumped into the Agni Kunda (fire pit). When Shiva knows this happening, he became angry with Daksha and he plucked a hair lock and stroked it on the ground and from that strike, 2 deities were born called Virbhadra and Bhadrakali. Shiva ordered them to destroy the yajna (fire ceremony) of Daksha and kill him immediately.

After the death of Sati, Shiva was holding the corpse of Sati in his hands and going toward Kailasha (the mountain where Shiva lived), The body parts that fell on earth became “Shaktipeeth” such as Kunjapuri Temple, Surkanda Temple and Chandrabadni Temple. After the death of Sati, Shiva was so sad and he Meditatated for many years, when he opened his eyes, the teardrops started to fallen as a deep sorrow or attachment for many years. This is how the Rudraksha Tree was born.