When the great God Shiva looked down on the earth and saw the cruelty of humanity, he cried. Where his tears fell, trees grew and the seeds from those trees are called Rudraksha or the tears of God. It is said that those who wear Rudraksha beads no longer have to cry because God cries for them. Wearing these wonderful beads, which embody the essence of shakti (spiritual energy), is a constant reminder to persevere through all challenges. Malas are usually strung in multiples of 9, with 108 being the most sacred number. The gold capped malas are exquisitely hand-drilled and strung and available in both 108 and 54 bead lengths. The plain rudraksha malas all have 108 beads and are great to wear as they are or they can be taken apart to make other Rudraksha jewelry. Rudraksha sometimes vary in color and in exact size and may not be quite the same as the ones pictured on this site. These rudraksha typically have five faces or facets.