Rudraksha (IAST:Rudrākṣa) is a seed that is used as a prayer bead in Hinduism (especially in Shaivism), as well as other traditions, for example many people within western tradition also use Rudraksha. When they are ripe, rudraksha seeds are covered by a blue outer fruit and are sometimes called blueberry beads. The seeds are produced by several species of large, evergreen, broad-leaved tree in the genus Elaeocarpus, the principal of which is Elaeocarpus ganitrus. The seeds are associated with the Hindu Lord Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and for chanting mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya (Devanagari: ॐ नमः शिवाय; IAST: Om Namaḥ Śivāya). The seeds are primarily sourced from India, Indonesia and Nepal for jewellery and malas; they are valued similarly to semi-precious stones. Var