Mukhi
A rudraksha bead is classified by its mukhi — the number of natural faces or clefts running down it. Each mukhi is associated with a planet and a deity, and the bead is chosen to suit the wearer's chart rather than picked at random.
How it differs from a gemstone
Rudraksha is generally treated as gentler than a gemstone. Where a stone is said to amplify a planet sharply, a bead is described as settling and protecting, which is why it is often suggested where a gemstone would be too strong or too risky.
Wearing it
The traditional instructions concern cleanliness and continuity more than ceremony: the bead is kept clean, not worn in circumstances that would soil it, and worn consistently rather than occasionally. The mukhi shown here follows from your ascendant lord.
Common questions
How do I know which mukhi to wear?
The usual basis is the lagna lord, which is what this page uses. Some practitioners prescribe by the planet a person most needs supported instead, which is a reading rather than a lookup.
Is rudraksha safer than a gemstone?
It is generally treated as gentler. A gemstone amplifies its planet sharply, while a bead is described as settling and protecting, so it is often suggested where a stone would be too strong.