Number of Rudraksha to be Worn and where

As per different Epic Sources

Epic Source Shrimad Devi Bhagwad, 11th Book, Chapter 3 - 7

Body parts /organs No. of beads No. of beads to No. of beads to No. of beads
to be worn be worn be worn to be worn
(Chapter 3) (Chapter 4) (Chapter 6) (Chapter 7)
Sikha (Crown Hair) 1 -- 1 1
Head (Sirsa) At least 1 30
Eye (both right and left) 1/1 -- --
Fore Head(Mastak) 40 -- 40 --
Palm of hands (both right & 12/12 -- 12/12 --
left)
Wrists (both right and left) 12/12 12/12
(Manibandhe)
Throat (Kanth) 32 -- 32 --
Neck (Gala) 36
Ears (both right and left) 6/6 -- 6/6 --
(Karn)
Arms (both right and left) 16/16 16/16 16/16 16/16
(Bahu)
Chest / Heart 108 50 108 --
Shoulders (Skande) -- -- 500
Yajnopaveet (sacred thread) -- 108 -- 108
Japa Mala Mala of 108 / 50 or 27 beads

Chapter 3: You can use the Rudrakshas after tying, stringing together with gold or silver always on
your Sikha, the tuft of hair on the head or on your ears. On the holy thread, on the hands, on the
neck, or on the belly (abdomen) one can keep the Rudraksha after one has repeated sincerely and
with devotion the five lettered mantra of Shiva, or one has repeated the Pranava (Om). Holding the
Rudraksha implies that the man has realised the knowledge of Shiva Tattva. O Brahman! The
Rudraksha bead that is placed on the tuft or on the crown hair represents the Tara tattva, i.e., Om
Kara The Rudraksha beads that are held on the two ears are to be thought of as Deva and Devi.

Chapter 4: If a rosary be made of 108, 50 or 27 Rudrakshams and if japam be done with that,
immeasurable merits are obtained. If anybody wears a rosary of 108 seeds, he gets at every moment
the fruit of performing the Asvamedha sacrifices and uplifts his 21 generations and finally he resides in
the Shiva Loka.

Chapter 5: One is to wear the Rudraksha rosary on ones head, throat or ear and controlling one self,
one should make japam with the rosary. On the throat, head, breast, or the ears or on the arms, the
rosary should he held with the greatest devotion.
It is advisable to use the true Rudraksha with gold and jewel, on the head, neck or on ones hand. The
devotees of Sri Rudra should always use at least one Rudraksha on the head. Those who hold
Rudraksha on their ears, crown hair, throat, hands and breast, get Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara
under them as their Vibhutis (manifestations, powers).
He who holds in his hand, breast, throat, ears, fore head, the Rudraksha, becomes an image of Rudra.
There is no manner of doubt in this. By holding Rudraksha, men become invulnerable of all the beings.

Chapter 6: If Rudraksha be placed on the head then the flesheaters, drunkards, and the associates
with the vicious become freed of their sins. If anybody dies by holding Rudraksha on his throat or on
his two arms, he uplifts his twentyone generations and lives in the Rudra Loka. If any body holds
Rudraksha on his head he gets Koti times the fruit on his ears ten Koti times the fruit, on his neck
one hundred Koti times the fruit, on his holy thread, ayuta times the fruit on his arm, one lakh Koti
times the fruit and if one wears Rudraksha on ones wrist, one attains Moksha. Even if a man be
without any Bhakti and if he wears on his throat the Rudraksha rosary though he does always vicious
acts, he becomes freed of the bondage of this world. He who makes a vow to hold 1000 Rudraksha,
becomes like Rudra the Devas bow down before him.

Chapter 7: The devotee should have two or three rounds on the neck. On the earrings, on the crown
of the head, the head, on bracelets, on armlets, on necklace, on the ornament worn on the joins one
should hold Rudraksha always, whether one sleeps or eats. Holding 300 Rudraksha is the lowest
holding 500 is middling holding 1000 Rudraksha is the best. One should wear the rosary of fifty
Rudraksha seeds, suspended up to the belly, uttering the Vamadeva mantra.

Epic Source Shiva Maha Puran Vidyeshwar Samhita, Chapter 25

Body parts /organs Number of beads to Number of beads to Number of beads to

be worn (Option 1) be worn (Option 2) be worn (Option 3)
Crown (Mukut) 550
Yajnopaveet 360 (3 rows of 120 108 --
each)+ 3
Sikha (Crown Hair) 3 1 1
Head (Sirsa) - 300 (Isana) --
Fore Head ( Mastak) -- -- 40 (Isana)
Ears (both right & 6/6 (Tatpurush) -- 6/6 (Tatpurush)
left)(Karn)
Throat (Kanth) 101 (Aghora) -- 32 (Aghora)
Neck (Gala) -- 50 (Aghora) --
Heart / Chest - - 108 (Aghora)
Arm (both right and left) 11/11 (Aghora) 16/16 (Aghora) 16/16 (Aghora)
(Bahu)
Wrists (both right and left) 11/11 (Aghora) 12/12 (Aghora) --
(Manibandhe)
Palm of hand -- -- 12 or 24
Karpur dvara (both) 11/11
Shoulder (Skande) 500
Waist region / Stomach 5 - 15 (Vaamdev)
Other Organs Any 3, 5 or 7 malas
(Pancbrahma / Beej)
Total 1,100 1,015

For Option 1: A person who wears 1100 Rudraksha on his body becomes equivalent to the Lord
Rudra. The benefit of wearing these 1100 Rudraksha cannot be described even in hundred years.
One who wears Rudraksha according to the following numbers becomes 'Divya' and laudable. In this
manner he gains resemblance to Mahesh.
For Option 2: One who is determined and wears (more than) 1000 Rudraksha in this way becomes
equivalent to Rudra and all Gods bow in front of him.
For Option 3: Whoever wears Rudraksha in a holy way becomes a devotee of Shiva and is
worshipped and adored by everyone like Shiva, whenever they are watched by others. (At that
moment person wearing Rudraksha becomes adorable).
Epic Source Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad

Body parts /organs Number of beads to be worn Mantras

Crown/Crest/Tuft of hair (Sikha) 1 Isana
Head (Sirsa) 30 Isana
Throat (Kanth) 2, 3, 5, & 7 rows of Rudraksha Mala Tatpurush
Neck region (Gala) 36 Aghora
Arms (both right and left) (Bahu) 16/16 Aghora
Wrist (both right and left) 12/12 Aghora
(Manibandhe)
Yajnopaveet/Janeu (Sacred Thread) 108 beads
Shoulders (Skande) 500
Stomach 50 Vyomvyapi

Rudraksha beads of equal size, round, smooth, strong (hard), big and thorny are considered
auspicious. The wise should wear in his body and limbs a garland of beads that are equally shaped,
smooth, sound, pleasing, and big is size, tied in a silk thread. A worshipper of Siva should wear
Rudraksha all over the body. One should wear Rudrakshas round his crown, ear-ring, chain, round the
ear, armlet, at all times, and especially round the stomach/waist, irrespective of the fact whether he is
sleeping or awake. 300 Rudraksha are inauspicious, 500 medium and 1000 the best for wearing. The
wearing in the ears will produce the effect of the gift of eleven thousand cows and the wearer attains
the state of Eleven Rudras. Of all the places the result of wearing in the ears is beyond the speech to
describe.

Epic Source Nirnaya Sindhu & Dharma Sindhu

Body parts /organs Number of beads to be worn

Eyes (both right and left) 1/1
Throat (Kanth) 32
Forehead (Mastak) 40
Ears (both right and left) (Karn) 6/6
Palm of hand (both right and left) 12/12
Arms (both right and left) (Bahu) 16/16
Sikha (crown hair) 1
Heart (chest) 108

Epic Source Chandrajnan Agama, Chapter 7

Body parts /organs No. of beads to be worn Mantra

Sikha (Crown Hair) 1
Head (Sirsa) 30 Isana
Fore head (Mastak) 40 Isana
Neck (gala) & Throat (Kanth) 32 Tatpurush
Ears (both right and left)(Karn) 6/6 Tatpurush
Arms (both right and left)(Bahu) 16/16 Aghora
Palm of Hands 12/12
Wrists (both right and left)(Manibandhe) 12/12 Aghora
Stomach 50 Vyomvyapi
Shoulders (Skand) 500
Chest 108 Aghora
Japa Mala Mala of 108 beads to be made
One should put on a garland of 2, 3 and 5 rounds of Rudraksha. One should wear Rudrakshas in all
conditions like sleeping, walking, eating, drinking etc. on different parts of the body as an ornament
such as head gear, ear ring, necklace, waist belt etc. Wearing of 300, 500 & 1000 is considered to be
low, medium and best state respectively. 3, 5 or 7 lines of garland of Rudraksha should be worn by
uttering Panchabrahma mantra and Sadanga mantra or all Rudrakshas may be put on by the original
mantra (Om Namah Shivaya).