Rudraksha is considered the direct blessing of Lord Shiva and has no known ill effects on its wearer. Gemstones, on the other hand, are tied to specific planets. If a gem is wrongly prescribed by an astrologer, or its quality is poor, it can increase the troubles caused by a malefic planet.
Rudraksha works both ways: it is used to reduce the troubles of malefic planets and to strengthen the positive results of benefic ones. For example, the 12 Mukhi Rudraksha is linked to the Sun, the 9 Mukhi Rudraksha to Ketu, and the 7 Mukhi Rudraksha to Saturn, making them safer alternatives to Ruby, Cat’s Eye and Blue Sapphire.
Browse our full range of original lab-certified Rudraksha, or consult our expert to find the right bead for your kundli. For background, see the Navaratna (nine gems) entry on Wikipedia.