Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Dear Josephji: Yes, the side that has the circular raised area is the head. When you string head to head, you still don't want the two members of the pair to rub up against each other. You need some sort of spacer. Traditionally the wool spacers are used which is easy when stringing with needle and thread. Since most people in the west do not string with needle and thread, I would suggest purchasing spacers from jewelry supply store that are pure gold or sterling silver. I can send you catalog sources. They are not that expensive. You can get gold for around 50 cents a spacer for example. The second best choice would be to separate the two members of the pair with a gem bead. If you do that then you would want to use two beads to separate one pair from another. All of this pertains to the electromagnetic properties of the rudraksha. But yes, it is recommended that once you have a pair put together that a gem bead be used to separate one pair from another. The scriptures say that the best gems to string with Rudraksha are sphatik, pearl or coral. Sphatik is a very special Quartz Crystal that is mined in India. Its properties are very unique and different from other Quartz crystal found in other locations. It is also the easiest to string. As Coral and pearls usually have very small holes. Inexpensive sphatik malas can be purchased from Rudra Center which you can break apart for personal stringing. I personally string all of my malas in multiples of 9 whether they are to be used for japa of not. I find that energetically that works best for me. You can always add gem beads to either end to get to this total. I don't know really if this is necessary or not according to what the rishis who wrote the scriptures discovered or not. Maybe another member knows the answer. You choices of rudraksha sound wonderful Have a wonderful experience. Please post your photo of you mala in our Group photo files when you finish. Namaste Kanti In a message dated 10/3/2002 11:44:59 AM Central Daylight Time, rippy writes: > Dear List-Namaskar, > I would like to have it confirmed as to the head section and rear > section of A Rudraksha Bead. I notice that on the larger beads there > is one side with a prominent circular raised area while on the > opposite side there is no distinctive area except the hole. Is the > raised portion considered the front/head section? > I am putting together a necklace consisting of four 3 Mukhi beads, > four 5 Mukhi beads and one each of an 11 and 10 faced bead. I want to > put the 3 and 5 Mukhi beads head to head, that is, 3 to 3 and 5 to 5. > And thought the beads are placed head to head, is it permissible to > use a small bead inbetween the pairs? > The necklace/choker would run with smaller beads from the clasp up > until a pair of 3 Mukhis head to head followed by a pair 5 Mukhis > placed head to head, then the 11 Mukhi joined to the 10 Mukhi followd > by another pair of 5 Mukhi and 3 Mukhi, and then the appropriate > number of smaller beads would be used until the clasp. I am > considering dropping a 1 Mukhi bead from btween the 11 and 10 Mukhi. > Does this seem like a feasible design especially if I also include > the One Mukhi Bead? Any and all response would be tremendously > appreciated! > > Sincerly, > Joseph Rippy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Kantiji, I would love it if you posted some catalog sources. Also, I have a question. What material do you prefer for stringing Malas? I'm undecided because I wanted something I could knot but that would hold up to being cleaned. I'm using a waxed thread of some sort but I'm not sure about it. Thanks a lot, Tom >Traditionally the wool spacers are used which is easy when stringing with >needle and thread. >Since most people in the west do not string with needle and thread, I would >suggest purchasing spacers from jewelry supply store that are pure gold or >sterling silver. > >I can send you catalog sources. They are not that expensive. You can get gold >for around 50 cents a spacer for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Why not link the beads on copper, brass or silver / gold plated wire?? It's easy and the links allow for more space between beads, thus making a longer mala that can be doubled around the neck. I use 20 gauge copper wire and pointed nose pliers. This wire is stiff enough not to need to wrap the end around the loop, so the work goes quickly. I have made several very nice looking and sturdy malas like this using 6mm. unfaceted crystal and white coral beads as spacers with three, four and five mukhi Rudraksha. When I get a chance, I will post some digital photos of these. alan >Tom Micklin <tmicklin > > >Re: Head and Rear sides of Beads? >Thu, 03 Oct 2002 14:18:58 -0700 > >Kantiji, >I would love it if you posted some catalog sources. >Also, I have a question. >What material do you prefer for stringing Malas? >I'm undecided because I wanted something I could knot but that would hold >up to being cleaned. >I'm using a waxed thread of some sort but I'm not sure about it. >Thanks a lot, >Tom > > > >Traditionally the wool spacers are used which is easy when stringing with > >needle and thread. > >Since most people in the west do not string with needle and thread, I >would > >suggest purchasing spacers from jewelry supply store that are pure gold >or > >sterling silver. > > > >I can send you catalog sources. They are not that expensive. You can get >gold > >for around 50 cents a spacer for example. > > > > _______________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Hi there - it is not necessary to close off the wire by wrapping it around the loop... it is stiff enough just to form the ends in loops without wrapping. This is different than the linking that you would get directly from Rudra Centre where the ends are wrapped around the loops... but in that case, the wire is much thinner than what I use. Obviously, in my malas the loops are quite a bit larger, but with beads that measure 14 - 18mm. in diameter, the larger loops look fine and with copper, actually look very cool.... especially with gem spacers like crystal, coral....etc... >thunderheals > > >Re: Head and Rear sides of Beads? >Fri, 4 Oct 2002 12:16:47 EDT > >That's an excellent choice as the metals assist the electromagnetic >properties of the rudraksha and the gems. > >Did you have difficulty closing off the wire in wrapping it ? > >In a message dated 10/4/2002 10:42:55 AM Central Daylight Time, >source311 writes: > > > > Why not link the beads on copper, brass or silver / gold plated wire?? >It's > > > > easy and the links allow for more space between beads, thus making a >longer > > > > mala that can be doubled around the neck. I use 20 gauge copper wire >and > > pointed nose pliers. This wire is stiff enough not to need to wrap the >end > > > > around the loop, so the work goes quickly. > > > > I have made several very nice looking and sturdy malas like this using >6mm. > > > > unfaceted crystal and white coral beads as spacers with three, four and > > five > > mukhi Rudraksha. When I get a chance, I will post some digital photos >of > > these. > > > > alan > > > > > > > > > _______________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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