'Rudraksha' expo seeks to expose fake beads

Chennai, Sep 3 (UNI) Rudrakshas- 'sacred beads', carry divine connotations in Hinduism and people use the beads while chanting hymns to propitiate Lord Shiva.

To provide the people of this megapolis, a glimpse of the rare collection of such beads and to educate them on how to identify the genuine ones among the fake, a ten-day exhibition-cum-sale of 'Rudrakshas' is being held in the city by a well known researcher and collector G Panduranga Rao of the Indo-Nepal Rudraksha Organisation (INRO).

''People have to be educated about how to identify a genuine rudraksha from a fake one. Lot of fake rudrakshas are being marketed,'' he pointed out.

It showcases the rarest Rudraksha beads from 1-21 'mukhis'(faces) apart from 'spatika'(Alum) malas and lingam and navaratna malas, the prices of which range from Rs 50 to Rs 12.5 lakh.

Rudraksha Specialist G Panduranga Rao, who has a passion for collecting such rare beads, told UNI that a unique feature of the expo was that it contains the rarest 21 mukhi rudraksha as generally only 14 mukhis were available.

Another attraction is the 'Oru Mugam Sadraksha'(one faced bead) valued at Rs 25 lakh. However, it is not for sale.

He clarified that what former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi had and now cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and Tamil actor Rajnikanth have, is not a Sadraksha but a one face Rudraksha.

The 21 mukhi rudraksha called ''Kuber Rudraksha'' signifies wealth and it costs Rs 12.5 lakhs. It is available only with the INRO.

A rare round one Mukhi -- Savari Naga Rudraksha -- signifying Health and Wealth, the one mukhi Rudraksha -- Trinethram (Lord Shiva's third eye) are also displayed in the expo.

''These Rudrakshas are extremely rare and have not been exhibited in India before. These beads were displayed for the first time in an International Expo-2006 at Singapore. After that they are being exhibited in in India'', Mr Rao said.

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