One Mukhi Rudraksha is the most auspicious and rare of all Rudraksha. However, there are numerous doubts regarding its genuineness and identification, owing to the dupes circulating in the market, overlooking, and disregarding the sentiments, with which the buyer purchases these spiritual beads. Moreover, the lack of information causes much confusion, regarding which One Mukhi is genuine or will serve your purpose better. To put an end to this dilemma once and for all, we've compiled some basic pointers that could have you sorted before you make your purchase:
How to distinguish between various One Mukhi/Face Rudraksha:
The first thing you should know before purchasing One Mukhi is how many different sorts of Ek Mukhi are accessible on the market. Genuine One Mukhi is commonly categorized on basis of its origin in three types, namely:
- Indian
- Indonesian,
- and Nepali
These power beads can easily be identified by their shape & form:
- The Indian Ek Mukhi has the shape of a half-crescent moon also known as Chandrakar Bead. This bead is bigger as compared to Indonesian Bead. It is found in the Himalayan region of India and has one groove on its surface.
- The Indonesian One Mukhi is very small, 5mm to 12mm in length and 3mm to 6 mm in diameter. It has the shape of thick rice grain and possesses a complete groove on one side of the bead.
- The Nepal One Mukhi is so rare that it is nearly non-existent.
Authentic or not?
There are various precautions you may take to ensure that you are not purchasing a fake One Mukhi Rudraksha. You should look out for the following things before taking your decision.
- Seller Profile
Make sure that you buy it from an official business, or trusted spiritual guru and not from any street paddler roving on pilgrimage areas. If you are buying online, you may confirm a seller's validity by seeing if the right store address & contact detail is given, the business has positive customer reviews, and certain other things like how professional the website looks and how well laid out the communication and product information are.
- Certificate of Authentication
Check whether the seller is providing you with authentic certification for the Rudraksha or not. The genuine dealers of Rudraksha get their bead tested and certified by a trusted Lab. These labs generally have ISO certification and usually appoint GIA or IGI gemmologists.
- How to spot fake Rudraksha
There are various indicators to spot a fake rudraksha.
- See if there are any fishy joints on the surface of the bead, this is the most common way of duping One Mukhi.
- Be cautious of any fake Laboratory certifications, that claim to be coming from a registered laboratory, but are mere printing outlets with intention of making money. Check their ISO certification, registered office address, and contact details online. A genuine lab always discloses its contact details.
Intention of Buying
If you are confused about which bead will be better for you then the first and foremost thing to consider while buying One Mukhi Rudraksha is your purpose of buying.
- Astrologically prescribed
If wearing One Mukhi has been recommended to you by your pandit or guru for any astrological purpose, you should ask your pandit or spiritual master regarding which origin bead will suit you better, how to wear it and what things should be taken care of while wearing it.
- Personal Faith
If you want to own a One Mukhi out of devotion and other spiritual manifestations, you should go for it. You can wear or keep your rudraksha in the holy corner of your house, self-consecrate it at home in your puja or meditation space, or get it consecrated by a sage or pandit.
- Holy Accessory
If you want to adorn this power bead as an eco-friendly or holy accessory, that is also allowed! You can pair your One Mukhi Pendant with Rudraksha Japa Mala or other beaded necklaces. It is very uncommon to wear it as a bracelet because it's a highly sacred & regarded bead but if you can maintain its sanctity, you can go for it as well.
In this scenario, you may pick what appeals to you by look, or whichever beads resonates and matches your vibe just by taking them in your hand. Another thing to keep in mind while deciding between the Java & Himalayan bead is the size. Consider what you can carry with you daily, as wearing the larger size bead may be challenging, while the Indian bead is quirky for wearing occasionally.
Some other Facts about Rudraksha Beads:
- Rudraksha bead has seeds inside
The number of Mukhi/Face also denotes the number of seeds inside the Rudraksha Sanctum. If you cut open a rudraksha from the centre half, you'll find there are as many seeds within the rudraksha as the number of Faces or Mukhi it bears. For e.g., a Five Mukhi bead will have five seeds inside.
- Not all Rudraksha are Costly
If you find a 5 or 6 Mukhi Rudraksha at reasonable price, do not think it's fake, unless it is available at a fishing low price. It is a common notion about rudraksha that it is a pricey bead, but it is not so. Not all Rudraksha are pricey, many rudraksha beads grow in large numbers, and thus they don't cost too much. Only those Rudraksha retails at heavy price points which are rare or have firm weight & size.
- A round One Mukhi does not exist
It is naturally impossible to have one Mukhi formed in a round shape. So, if you bust somebody selling it, DO NOT BUY!