Rudraksha is used for the berries, there is a long tradition of wearing 108 rudraksha beads in India, particularly within Shaivism, due to their association with Shiva, who wears rudraksha garlands. The mantra Om Namah Shivaya is repeated japa using rudraksha beads.Hindus have used Rudraksha malas as rosaries for meditation purposes and to sanctify the mind, body and soul since the 10th century at the earliest.