Image title: Seed Rosary (rudraksha-mala]

The Seed rosary (rudraksha-mala) is considered sacred.—The rudraksha seed, rough and brown, comes from a tree (Elaeocarpus ganitrus). Short garlands are carried in the hand by yogis and depicted in the hands of images, often paired with the Yogi’s hand-held water vessel. As the Great Yogi, Shiva often carries these two emblems. Long garlands of rudraksha seeds may be wound in the hair and garland the body. Sometimes the seeds have one or more flat sections. Those with a single flat section are rare and particularly auspicious and precious.

Notes: Shiva has many attributes which symbolize his powers and help to identify his images. A number of them are related to wrathful manifestations and to his aspect as the Great Yogi.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.