Those familiar with the Indian tradition will generally have heard of or seen images of Shiva, the god of tantra par excellence. Shiva is depicted with chains of dark beads around his neck, arms, and ankles. These are rudraksha beads, which have special meaning in Hindu tantra.
When we study the history of Shiva and Shakti, his consort and goddess in traditional tantra, several fascinating stories emerge. One of them is that Shiva, who is also the Destroyer, took the incarnation of Kali and defeated various demons.
Mythology tells us that he beheaded vanquished demons and allowed their heads to dry up and wither, after which he adorned himself with them. The rudraksha beads worn by Shiva devotees represent these heads of defeated demons.
How is this meaningful to someone learning tantra? In fact, there is great relevance in wearing rudraksha beads if one is aware of what they represent. Your tantra teacher will inform you that to follow this ancient science of life and love, you must certainly defeat some demons in life, just as Shiva had done.
These demons are jealousy, selfishness, hatred, dishonesty, intolerance, misogyny, and the other negative traits that contaminate an uninstructed human life.
When you progress in your study of ancient tantra with a gifted tantra teacher, you will face these negative traits within yourself again and again. The specific tantra instructions and rituals you will be introduced to will help you gradually get rid of these traits and evolve into a higher, spiritually realized person.
At this stage, you will be able to wear a string of rudraksha beads with pride, as you have defeated the demons that were hindering your spiritual progress.
These beads have various other mystical properties: they are said to lower blood pressure, act as a detoxifying agent, and have the ability to cleanse and focus the mind. That is why they are also of great help in tantra meditation. However, the benefits of wearing the traditional Shiva adornment can only come when one’s mind has responded to them with understanding and one’s actions correspond to their symbolism.
As a traditional tantric teacher, I am strongly against my students wearing such ornaments without fully understanding what they represent. The fact is that wearing rudrakshas symbolizes the fact that one has overcome basic desires and impulses and is committed to the study and application of Truth. Let no one belittle Shiva’s victory over evil with idle symbolism, for his battle must also be ours.