Shiva Purana describes Rudraksha's origin as Lord Shiva's tears. He had been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures. On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees. Lord Siva has many aspects indicated by His 1,008 names. Lord Siva is responsible for creation, evolution and dissolution. Lord Siva dances creation out of existence at the end of time, and then, after an appropriate time He destroys the silence itself by dancing and the activity of His dance gives rise to the appearance of Narayana and causes creation again.

Through the grace of Lord Siva we are able to come to a state where we stop identifying with the Relative aspect of ourselves and come to know our true identity as one with the Absolute. This is the death of death itself. This is immortality. It is the total destruction of all limitation and all sorrow in our lives, and this miracle can only be brought about by the power of Lord Siva. That is why He is called Lord Siva - the Auspicious One. He destroys our limitations and our fears. He is the very embodiment of total kindness. He is the Lord of Yogis presiding over Transcendental Knowledge. Om Nama Sivaya.

Lord Siva is also known as Rudra and the Lord of Tears. The meaning of the name Rudra is traceable to the Vedas and is said to be derived from rud (dravayita) - He who drives away sin or suffering.

Eight different aspects of nature are the direct manifestations of Rudra and they are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, the Sun, the Moon and the Life Force. Anything good and auspicious, anything that keeps us healthy and happy, and anything that helps us attain freedom from pain and misery is Rudra.

Sri Rudram is one of the five scriptural texts chosen by the ancients for constant repetition and meditation. The five are the Upanishads of one's own Sakha, The Bhagavad Gita, The Vishnu Sahasranama, Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktam.

Vedic Literature states:
As by pouring water at the root of a tree, all its branches are nourished, by pleasing Sri Rudra through Rudrajapa, all the Devas are pleased. One attains Bhukti and Mukti, enjoyment of life as well as freedom from the ills of the world by the chanting of Sri Rudram with devotion.

To the Rudra who is in fire, who is in water, who is in trees and plants, who has entered into the entire universe, to that Rudra let our salutations go.

Vedic Literature shows that the Rudraksha Bead was created from the tears of Rudra, the fierce form of Lord Siva, thus endowing it with medicinal and spiritual powers. Each of the many types of Rudraksha Beads have a governing Diety and specific powers and properties.

Two of the most important rules to be observed in the Asta avarana that are the eight aids or protection, are the uttering of the five syllabled formula or Mantra that is Namah Sivaya, and the wearing of the Sacred Rudraksha.