VARIOUS TYPES OF RUDRAKSHA BEADS, THEIR BENEFITS AND FTIR SPECTRA

Abstract

The word rudraksha, originated from two Sanskrit words Rudra & Aksha, (Rudra means Lord Shiva, Aksha means Eye). The rudraksha bead is the dried fruit of the tree Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. Rudraksha farming is a difficult process due to the slow sprouting from the beads. Depending on the humidity of the soil, it usually takes 1-2 years for a tree to sprout. Rudraksha is grown in subtropical climatic regions with temperature ranges of 25-30 degree centigrade. The tree starts giving fruit after 7 years. A single Rudraksha tree bears beads in all different faces or mukhis at the same time. The higher mukhis or faces are very rare. Most common Rudraksha bead is the five faceted. The environment an d location of Rudraksha trees plays a major role in the bead formation and the type of bead formed. Rudraksha beads do possess powerful electromagnetic, paramagnetic and inductive properties. The healing powers of the Rudraksha bead are derived from such properties. This study attempts to guide the reader between the various types of Rudraksha Beads and their benefits. Paper also deals with FTIR spectra of Rudraksha Bead. FTIR can be routinely used to identify the functional groups and identification/quality control of raw material/finished products. FTIR spectra of Rudraksha Bead is obtained at room temperature by using an FTIR Spectrophotometer-Perkin Elmer-Spectrum RX-IFTIR. The spectra is collected in a range from 450 to 4000 cm − 1. Interpretation of FTIR Spectra of Rudraksha Bead shows presence of various functional groups such as Alkane-CH3-C Methyl, CH3-(C= O),-CH2-Methylene, CH2-(C= O),-CH2-(C ≡ N),