24. Śrimad Devībhāgavata on Rudrākṣa

Narāyaṇa said-A man wearing fourteen mukhi Rudrākṣa on his forehead himself becomes Śiva, hence its greatness is indescribable. One who wears even one bead on the forehead is always worshipped like Brāhmiṇs and gods and attains mokṣa. God said-There is no need to describe the greatness of Rudrākṣa again and again. It should be worn always for it is superior to all. Those men who wear either the rosary of Rudrākṣa or even one bead on their head, get rid of all pains, sorrows and sins and attain all the credits. Such men on chanting the names of Śiva become superior to all other men.

According to Jābāla, instinct for wearing Rudrākṣa results only after attaining the perfection of Vedas and Blessings of Lord Śiva during preceding births. The wearer of Rudrākṣa cannot be killed. He roams like Rudra among other creatures on earth and is worshipped like Śiva by all including deities. In the Mantramahārṇava, Lord Śiva said-A Rudrākṣa with fourteen faces is God Śrīkaṇṭa Himself. It gives Mokṣa liberation to all the kith and kin of past generation and its wearer himself attains mokṣa etc.^[1] The Mahābhāgavata also deal extensively with Rudrākṣa (vide appendix).