Vaijayanti Plant Seeds(10)

The seeds commonly referred to as Vaijayanti Seeds are most famously derived from the plant Job’s Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi). These unique botanical structures are not true seeds in the conventional sense, but rather the hard, bead-like utricles (or pseudo-fruits) of a tall, annual grass native to Southeast Asia. The seeds are naturally tear-shaped, smooth, and possess a distinct, pearly-white or grey-brown shell that is durable and hard. Most remarkably, they often feature a ready-made hole at both ends, a characteristic that has made them highly valued for centuries as natural, ready-to-string beads for ornamentation and spiritual practices.

The cultural significance of these seeds in India is profound, primarily due to their association with the Vaijayanti Mala (garland), believed to be the preferred adornment of Lord Krishna. For this reason, Vaijayanti beads are considered sacred and are used in Hindu puja rituals and meditation to create a sense of harmony, devotion, and spiritual connection, believed to bring wealth and prosperity to the wearer. In a separate context, the term “Vaijayanti” can also refer to the seeds of the Caesalpinia bonduc (Fever Nut), which are valued more for their potent medicinal properties in Ayurvedic tradition than for their use in making ornamental or prayer beads.