India has a long history of the use of beads made from a assortment of substance . With India ’s foresighted account of Vedic spiritual tradition , many Indian beads are made from seeds of plant that have recondite , ancient historic symbolisation . Indian beadwork made from source are vernacular both in India and as an exportation product .

History

Beads have been used since palaeolithic times , and possibly before , as wearable and whisker decoration and in spiritual ritual . Although bead have been do it and used in India since prehistorical times , some early westerly references appear around the ninth Christian century . At that time , the Hindu and Buddhist practice of using malas , or string of beading to aid count during spiritual pattern , was transfer from the Vedic tradition to the Abrahamic tradition . Although many bead were made from shabu or cadaver , natural , rotund source were often drilled and used as string of beads .

Types

Types of seed beads in India let in a number of seeds from sacred plants . source that are often litigate into bead in India include rudraksha seeds , lotus germ and bodhi seeds . Although these are sometimes simply drilled and used , at other times they are smoothed , bleached or change to create a different look from simple , natural seeds .

Function

Although these seeds are usually used in strands of 108 beads , called malas , for role in religious rituals , in some cases the bead may be added to clothing or other menage items . The utilization of malas originated in Hinduism and was adopt by Buddhist as a way of keeping lead of repeat phrase . Because the germ used for bead in India are highly symbolic , they are often used to remind masses of sure imposing events or characteristics .

Significance

The Indian lotus is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists . In both faiths , the flower is symbolic of beauty and non - attachment . It grows from the clay of the world and rises above the guck to create beauty and purity . As such , its seeds are symbolic of these properties . The rudaksha tree is sacred to Hindus . Its seeds symbolize the optic of Shiva . The Buddha Shakyamuni is articulate to have realize enlightenment under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya . As such , the seeds of bodhi tree diagram are symbolic of enlightenment and other Buddhistic apotheosis .

Considerations

Indian beads made from seeds , and other natural beads made from wood or cum , are often susceptible to water damage . When using or wearing strings of these pearl or using them as decorations on habiliment , be conservative of tenacious - full term photo to water . In some cases , the bead are seal with a celluloid covering like polyurethane and can be more water resistant . However , over time that coating may flake off , allowing the seed to discolor or tumefy when exposed to water for a longsighted period of time .

References

…