Rudraksha is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree which grows in the area from the Gangetic Plain to the foothills of the great Himalayas and the middle area of Nepal.

Rudraksha beads are covered by an outer shell of blue color on fully ripening, so they are also called as blueberry beads and can be used for the treatment of various diseases.

Rudraksha beads are a plant product, containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and trace elements in combined form. The percentage compositions of their gaseous elements was determined by a C-H-N Analyzer and by Gas chromatography. The result shows that Rudraksha beads consist of 50.031% carbon, 0.95% nitrogen, 17.897% hydrogen and 30.53% oxygen.

Its scientific name being Elaeocarpus ganitrus, the family is tiliaceae. Altitude-wise, its habitat starts from the sea-coast and goes up to 2,000 meters. Geographically, it is found growing naturally and abundantly in tropical and subtropical areas. The trees are perennial and grow almost 50 ft to 200 ft in height. According to Siva Purana, Rudraksha trees are the favorites of Lord Siva, and they grow in Gouda Land which in this present era is the area of the Gangetic Plain on the southern border area of Asia, to the foothills of the great Himalayas and the middle area of Nepal. Thus, starting from Manila, passing through Myanmar, plains as well as low hills, its habitat extends to Bengal, Assam and adjoining north-eastern states, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. In this present era, Rudraksha trees are basically localized in Nepal and the southern part of Asia. Although Rudraksha are grown and found in Nepal, these are mainly localized to the eastern part of Nepal due to climatic suitability.

Rudraksha Plant Elaeocarpus is a large genus of evergreen trees. It has nearly 36 sister species, including Rudraksha. All trees bearing white flowers with fringed petals, developing into drupaceous fruit resembling olives. The main trunk of Rudraksha tree is cylindrical. Its section is circular. The bark is grayish white and rough in texture, with small vertical lenticels and narrow horizontal furrows. The branches of Rudraksha spread in all directions in such a way that when growing in natural habitat, the crown takes the shape of a pyramid. The leaves of Rudraksha are shining green above and dull coriaceous below. The flowers are ovoid, conical, elongate, nearly 1 to 2 cm in diameter. These appear in April-May. The fruit is globose and drupaceous, having a fleshy exterior. The beads inside are hard and tubercled. The fruit starts appearing in June and ripens by August to October. Farming of Rudraksha is a difficult process due to its slow sprouting from the beads, which usually takes about 1 to 2 years depending on the humidity of the soil. Rudraksha is basically grown in a subtropical climatic region with temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees centigrade. Once Rudraksha is planted, it starts giving fruit after 7 years and thereafter for a long time. In a single tree, Rudraksha beads come in all different faces at the same time, but higher mukhis or faces are vary rare to find whereas most of the Rudraksha beads are five faces. Rudraksha beads come in seasonal pattern every year around mid-August to mid-October from the tree. The Himalayan Beads simply seem to be larger, heavier and more powerful due to the environment they grow in. So it is a certainty that environment and specifically the location of the Rudraksa trees plays a key role in their growth. Rudraksha trees are easy to grow and once established, a Rudraksha tree will last for years with a little care.

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