Appreciation after cleaning
Today, when cleaning up the table, I found a few old photos. Comparing them with the mala (prayer beads) in my hand now, the changes are really significant. I took a new set of pictures and talked about how I've been breaking-in (patina process) them all the way.
This mala was collected a few years ago. At that time, it was just an ordinary yellow-skin Rudraksha (large) with okay grain / texture and good density, nothing particularly outstanding. Unexpectedly, after breaking-in for so long, the current color and patina are much better than I expected.
Appreciation of Rudraksha mala (prayer beads) just after cleaning
When I first got it, the color of the seeds was light and the surface was dry and lacked any luster. At that time, I didn't know anything and just started breaking-in. After a week of breaking-in, I found that the color didn't change much and instead became dull. I was quite worried at that time.
It took me a long time to figure out that I started breaking-in without cleaning the surface properly. I used a hard brush to dry-brush for more than half a month, 20 minutes every day, until the alkaline bloom was brushed off, and then the surface of the seeds began to have a moist feeling.
After the initial stage, follow the normal rhythm. In the first three months, brush more and play less. After achieving a glossy sheen, reverse the approach. After about half a year, the color deepens and the surface luster becomes more moist. There's no need to deliberately pursue any specific effect.
What it looks like now
The current color of this Rudraksha is dark red, translucent. The patina is very thick and has a strong jade-like texture. Under sunlight, each seed emits a gentle luster. The dragon-ridge (ridge line) is translucent, and the color in the grooves is slightly darker. The three-dimensional sense of the grain / texture is extremely strong. It feels heavy in the hand and has a great touch.
Recently, a novice saw this mala and asked me if I added any potion. Absolutely not. It's just hard work, 20 minutes of brushing every day, accumulated over the years.
Looking back at the breaking-in process of these two years, there really isn't any special secret. It's just patience. Play and brush it every day, without being impatient or causing disruptions. When encountering problems, look up information and find ways to solve them, without giving up. Over time, the mala will naturally give you rewards.
Summary
After being in this business for a long time, the most common question I hear is "When will it turn red?". In fact, there's no shortcut. Once you've brushed enough and played enough, the color will naturally come. Being too eager to start breaking-in the mala is more likely to make the seeds look messy.
That's all for today's set of pictures. I'll continue to play with this mala in my hand and update the changes after some time. Friends with the same mala, leave a comment in the comment section and let's talk about which stage you're at now.
