YH June2018 | Page 80

RUDRAKSHA M ore than 20 years ago in India, the well- known teacher Papaji (H.W.L. Poonja) told Soma that since she lived so close to the source of the highest quality Rudraksha beads on the planet, her Dharma (destiny) was to spread them to the western world. They had been kept sacred in India, with primarily sadhus and holy people wearing them. Papaji said the world is in chaos and it was time to bring the awareness of rudrakshas to the masses. He also predicted, “that the whole world would be at peace if everyone was wearing them”. Soma is doing her utmost to help fulfil papaji’s prophecy, one Rudraksha bead at a time. Soma’s journey with Rudraksha beads has been incredibly organic, inspired, and unexpected. Since a very young age, she was attracted to them and always felt their sacred energy without really understanding what they were, until Papaji’s words helped her accept the dharma bestowed upon her. She then created Aum Rudraksha Designs in 2003. Soma started slowly as a hobby, selling them here and there, also gifting them to those close to her. She started noticing how they were actively affecting these people’s lives and saw clearly the positive changes in Y O G I C H E R A L D 78