Friendship Mala Appreciation
After playing with Rudraksha for so long, the one I'm most attached to is this mala in my hands. Had nothing going on today, so I took it out and shot a few sets of photos to show everyone its current state.
I acquired this mala a few years ago—at the time it was just an ordinary yellow-skinned Rudraksha (large), with decent grain / texture and good density, nothing particularly outstanding. I never expected that after breaking-in (patina process) for so long, the color and patina now would turn out far better than I anticipated.
A Rudraksha Gifted by a Friend, Broken In for Three Years — Appreciation
When I first got it, the beads were pale in color, dry on the surface, with no luster at all. Back then I knew nothing—I just picked it up and started playing with it. After a week I noticed the color hadn't changed much; instead it turned dull, and I felt pretty unsure at the time.
Later I looked up a lot of information and realized the base preparation hadn't been done properly—the alkaline bloom and residue on the surface hadn't been cleaned off. So I started the base preparation over, brushing with a stiff-bristle brush for about a month, twenty minutes a day, cleaning the alkaline bloom off the surface and deep in the grain / texture. Around then the bead surface began to develop a warm matte feel, and the touch felt different too.
After the base preparation, I just wore and played with it normally, brushing more and playing less for the first three months. Once the glossy sheen developed, I gradually increased playing time, and after about six months the color deepened and that layer of surface sheen emerged.
How It Looks Now
This Rudraksha is now a deep red, translucent and bright, with a thick patina and a strong jade-like quality. In sunlight, each bead glows with a warm luster; the dragon-ridge (ridge line) areas are translucent, the grooves slightly darker in color, and the grain / texture has a strong three-dimensional feel. It feels pleasantly weighty in the hand—a wonderful touch.
My friend said this mala looks redder than his three-year one and asked me for my secret. There really is no secret—just don't be lazy, don't apply oil, don't mess around with it.
Looking back on these two years of breaking-in (patina process), there really was no special trick—just patience. Playing and brushing a bit every day, no rushing, no messing around. When problems came up, I researched and found solutions, never giving up. Over time, the mala naturally rewards you.
Summary
In the end, playing with a mala isn't about the mala—it's about cultivating your own temperament. You can't rush, can't be lazy, can't be lazy. Those twenty minutes each day, watching the beads slowly change, the heart slowly settles too.
That's it for the photos of this mala; I'll update when there are new changes. Thanks to everyone who read this far—see you in the next post.
