Baha'i prayer beads, 19 and 5 prayer beads, hand-wired, stainless steel, Rudraksha seeds, Goldstone beads and point, handmade chain tassel

This 19 and 5 style Baha'i prayer bead strand is wired on Stainless steel eye pins and features Rudraksha seeds, Goldstone beads and point, and a handmade chain tassel.

This set of beads is wired on Stainless steel eye pins. They won't tarnish and will hold up better under frequent use.
The beads are hand-wired on eye pins using my trusty little looper tool.

The jump rings are bright aluminum and the chain tassel is plated mid-1800s alloy.

The 19 smaller beads are beads made from 6mm Rudraksha seeds. Rudraksha seeds are used for making Buddhist and Hindu malas.
More info on Rudraksha seeds will be added below.

The large counter beads are 10mm brown Goldstone.

The 5 bead end has a large Goldstone gemstone point.

The other end has a handmade silver-toned metal chain tassel.

This set of prayer beads measures about 16 3/4 inches long from end to end.

All prayer beads will come in a small organza bag for safe storage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Baha'i faith was founded in the mid-1800s by a Persian holy man named Baha'u'llah. Persons of Baha'i faith recite Allah-u-Abha, a form of God's name, 95 times a day. Baha'i prayer beads consist of some factor of 95. The 19 beads, when counted 5 times, make 95. The smaller 19 beads count the recitation of God's name and the larger 5 beads keep track of the number of repetitions of the 19.
The spacer beads are decorative and are not counted.

Much more information about Baha'i, the history, symbolism, and how to pray using the beads will be added.
------------------------------------------------

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldstone_(glass)

-------------------------------------------------
RUDRAKSHA

Rudraksha is a seed traditionally used as prayer beads in Hinduism. Rudraksha bead are covered by an outer shell of blue color on fully ripening, hence also called blueberry beads.

Rudraksha is the term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mala made from them. There is a long tradition of wearing Rudraksha beads in India, particularly among Shaivism, due to their association with Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva himself wears Rudraksha garlands.

There are different types of rudraksha seeds, varying in the number of grooves (faces) on the surface. The most common and reportedly the safest type is the one with five faces, also called a panchmukhi rudraksha. These can be worn by everyone and it is believed that they can soothe the nerves, improve watchfulness and lower blood pressure.

Rudraksha is a natural seed, found within the vibrant blue fruit of the evergreen Elaeocarpus ganitrus, it is indigenous to the Himalayas across India and Nepal. It also flourishes in other areas of Southeast Asia, where the volcanic soil is conducive to its growth.

The Rudraksha trees and beads found in the Himalayas are said to hold the greatest power and strength, as they are fed by the holy lands and rivers of the Himalayas. They are found in the Himalayas in India and Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia, Guam, and Hawaii.

Rudraksha literally means “the tears of Shiva”. It is said while contemplating Man’s suffering, Shiva unexpectedly began to cry tears of compassion. As his tears fell, he guided them towards Earth and transformed them into divine seeds…for the benefit of those seeking freedom from suffering and union with the Divine.

Divine qualities of these beads were first noted in ancient Hindu scriptures and have been carried forward through the ages. These qualities are said to settle the mind, increase mental clarity, memory and general awareness, reduce stress and depression, free negative thoughts and calm the central nervous system.

Rudraksha beads have been worn by Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi and many enlightened Indian Yogis. It is believed that anyone can benefit from wearing these sacred pieces.

Here are a few links to websites and articles about Rudraksha:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraksha

https://omshivaloka.com/rudraksha-benefits/

https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/wisdom/article/the-significance-of-rudraksh