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Why do we use Rudraksha during worship?

 

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Rudra wept when He witnessed the towering metropolis, Tripura, created

by man's superbly ambitious technology. In its arrogance, this

magnificent human creation had undermined the balance between the Earth,

atmosphere and sky. Wearing the Rudraksha, devotees remind themselves of

God's compassion for the human predicament.

Rudraksha beads are strung into strands and worn on the body. These

malas are also used in the practice of japa.

Rudraksha names both a sacred seed and the tree that bears it. In

English, it is called the Blue Marble tree, or, less commonly, the

Utrasum bead tree. It is known botanically by the names Elaeocarpus

sphaericus, E. grandis and E. ganitrus.

 

All legends of the origin of Rudraksha describe them as the tears shed

by Lord Siva for the benefit of humanity. "Rudra" stems from the

Sanskrit rud or rodana, which means "to cry." It is the original name

for Siva as it appears in the Rig Veda. Aksha means "eye," and thus

Rudraksha beads are deemed the tears of Siva.

 

Naveen Patnaik briefly tells the tale in The Garden of Life, "Rudra wept

when He witnessed the towering metropolis, Tripura, or triple city,

created by man's superbly ambitious technology. In its arrogance, this

magnificent human creation had undermined the balance between the Earth,

atmosphere and sky. Then, according to the Mahabharata, having shed the

implacable tear which turned into a Rudraksha bead, 'The Lord of the

Universe drew his bow and unleashed his arrows at the triple city,

burning its demons and hurling them into the western ocean, for the

welfare of creation.' " Wearing the Rudraksha, devotees remind

themselves of God's compassion for the human predicament, His watchful

love for us all.

 

Source : http://www.hinduism-today.com/1997/3/

<http://www.hinduism-today.com/1997/3/>