Keeping Up with Falling Rudrakshas

Rudraksha bracelets and malas have been moving quickly in the Minimela, and it’s challenging to keep up with the demand. We are taking advantage of extra taskforcers in the summer by asking Chandipati and Naavalan to help the Wailua Mission with this project as the focus of their volunteer seva this year for a couple weeks.

Deva Seyon has taught them the multiple stages of rudraksha preparation, from harvesting, soaking and cleaning to drilling and making bracelets. This morning, with kindly weather, they are focusing on harvesting freshly fallen beads (with the fruit still on) from the main public grove. Naavalan said that many years ago, his father was in the grove and a fresh bead/fruit landed on his head. The fruit was shaped like a crescent and the bead inside turned out to have 21 faces!