Deeply grooved ritual bead derived from the cleaned, dried pit of the fruit of the blue marble tree (Elaeocarpus angustifolius or ganitrus), also known by various other names such as utrasum bean tree. Rudraksha beads are used as prayer beads, usually strung together into a rosary, in Hindu and Buddhist religious practice. The term rudraksha derives from Rudra, an epithet for Shiva, and aksha, Sanskrit for ‘eye’, thus literally meaning ‘eye of Rudra’ or ‘Rudra-eyed’.