What is the meaning of Bhadrakshas and Indrakshas ?

Rudraksha are produced in countries like India, Indonesia and many other countries, it is not wholly accurate.

Beads produced in Nepal are called "Rudraksha"

Beads have clear lines (mukhi), with natural hole, round to oval shape and each mukhi has a tiny seed inside it. One can see the bead varies from one mukhi to twenty-nine mukhi. Nowadays no higher mukhi-numbers can be found. Size of the beads is generally above 15mm size.

Beads produced in India are called "Bhadrakshas" 

Beads produced look like Nepali rudraksha but the surface is smooth with some design throughout the surface of beads .The bead doesn't have natural hole and human drilling is needed for this beads to put on a mala or for wearing.

Beads produced in Indonesia are called "Indrakshas"

The size is very small. It doesn't have clear mukhi. There is just marking of lines without groove and deep depression. No natural hole and generally the lines are not so clearly visible.

What is the meaning of Mukhi or Faces of Rudraksha ?

Botanically, the holy rudraksha tree is known as 'Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb' and belongs to the family Tiliaceae, a large evergreen broad-leaved tree with a wide crown. Altitude-wise, its habitat starts from 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 in habitat. The trees are almost 15 to 60 meter in height. This tree grows fast and carries these seeds/fruits within seven years. These trees are mostly found in abundance in Nepal, in the Himalayan slopes and also in parts of India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Its English name is Utrasum Bead Tree. 

In Indonesia the Rudraksha Tree is called Ganitri Tree or Jenitri Tree. Around 70% of the Rudraksha trees are found in Indonesia, 25% in Nepal and 5% in India.

Rudraksha beads are the seeds of the Rudraksha fruit obtained from Rudraksha trees. Rudraksha beads are covered by an outer shell of blue color on fully ripening, so they are also called blueberry beads and the sweet tasting fruitflesh can be used for treatment of various diseases. It is kept in water for a number of days and then Rudraksha is taken out after peeling off the pulp and brushing it clean.

Rudraksha is a rare gift of nature to mankind in the sense, that most beads come with a natural hole drilled in the centre, as if nature intended man to use the rudraksha bead to form a chain. Such rudraksha beads are considered especially auspicious. Rudraksha is often believed to symbolize the link between earth and heaven, between man and god. Hence Rudraksha is the object of veneration and also a source to reach the higher self.

Each seed also possesses from 1 to 38 vertical lines running down its surface, like the longitude lines on a globe. These lines are known as mukhi, or faces, and are natural formations of the seed. Seeds with one vertical line are known as Ek-mukhi (one facet), which are very rare; those with two lines are Dui-mukhi (two facets), and so on. Each bead has different effects on the wearer, depending on the number of mukhi or faces it has. Each of the many types of Rudraksha Beads have a governing Deity and specific powers and properties.

What is Rudraksha ?

Rudraksha Tree                                                  

        

Rudra" is a name of Lord Shiva whereas "Aksha" means tears.

Different Stages of Rudraksha Beads

Rudraksha bead is a plant product, contains carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and trace elements in combined from. The percentage compositions of their gaseous elements are determined by CHN analyzer and by gas chromatography. The results shows that rudraksha beads consist of 50.031% Carbon, 0.95% Nitrogen, 17.897% Hydrogen and 30.53% Oxygen.

The word Rudraksha has its etymological beginnings in the two Sanskrit words "Rudra" and "Aksha" meaning Lord Shiva and Teardrops respectively.