Research Date: 02 April 2025
Time: 8.40 pm
Objective / Purpose: How to identify fake Rudraksha, through a scientific analysis by comparing artificial rudraksha bead against a naturally grown rudraksha.
Materials: Factory made fake 13 mukhi/faces rudraksha bead, natural Nepali 13 mukhi/faces rudraksha bead, X-Ray machine, Digital weighing machine, Vernier caliper.
Procedure:
1. Identification of fake rudraksha through general hypothesis.
2. Comparing it with real natural rudraksha from the outer structure and characteristics.
3. Conducting X-Ray test for both the rudraksha.
4. Understanding the internal structure and characteristics from the X-ray test report.
Diagrams/Figures:
Actual photographs of both the rudraksha beads:
X-ray test report –
Observations :
| Sample | Weight | Size | Color | Material type | Face/Mukhi |
| ‘A’ | 7+ grams | 29 mm | Honey brown | Wood | 13 |
| ‘B’ | 3.8 grams | 30.5 mm | Light brown | Wood | 13 |
- Sample B and Sample A has got different fragrance.
- Around 10 seeds are visible in A, 5-6 seeds are visible in B.
- X-Ray shows more white area in A. Proportionately distributed white and black areas visible in B.
- Central hole is wide and open with finishing in A. B has hollow central portion passage with a special pattern.
- Sample A has plain furrows from outside. B has a thorny exterior surface.
Analysis:
1. In A, an odor of chemical paint can be felt. In B, natural woody smell is felt.
2. It is not very common to see almost all the beads in a rudraksha, A has it all. A has many compartments vacant. As the rudraksha fruit might not be fully ripened or mature.
3. The major white space seen in A is some foreign material such as Glue mixed with rudraksha powder. While B is looks normal. Generally, Glue is a synthetic, white adhesive, often described as a polysynthetic resin, which is made from formaldehyde & urea. Here the intensity of the X-rays will be reduced as they pass through the material.
4. The central passage in A looks unusual, while that of B is very much normal.
5. Furrows can be plain and thorny in nepal rudraksha
Conclusion:
To an experienced eyes who have seen many natural rudraksha the Sample A is simply a suspicious bead. If you dip a rudraksha in water for 10-15 days, a fake bead which is fabricated using adhesives will start detaching from each other piece by piece and between each piece you will find glue filled. This proves that A is a factory made artificial fake rudraksha 13 mukhi bead. Refer the below image in which the bead is cracked and a thin layer of Glue can be noticed. Surprisingly, this factory made rudraksha bead was received by me with Lab certificate of authenticity sold to me by a very famous rudraksha online store.
References: N/A.
Researcher: Punit M. Kansara
