Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 6
द्वात्रिंशत्कंठदेशे तु चत्वारिंशत्तु मस्तके । एकैक कर्णयोः षट् षट् वक्षस्यष्टोत्तरं शतम् । यो धारयति रुद्राक्षान्रुद्रवत्सोपि पूज्यते
dvātriṃśatkaṃṭhadeśe tu catvāriṃśattu mastake | ekaika karṇayoḥ ṣaṭ ṣaṭ vakṣasyaṣṭottaraṃ śatam | yo dhārayati rudrākṣānrudravatsopi pūjyate
ಕಂಠದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂವತ್ತೆರಡು, ಮಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನಲವತ್ತು; ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಕಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆರು‑ಆರು, ವಕ್ಷಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರ ಎಂಟು ರುದ್ರಾಕ್ಷ ಧರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಹೀಗೆ ಧರಿಸುವವನು ರುದ್ರನಂತೆ ಪೂಜ್ಯನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Sūta (continued narration)
Scene: A devotee adorned with multiple rudrākṣa strands: a heavy 108-bead chest garland, neck mala, head circlet, and ear ornaments; nearby, priests or devotees offer respect as to Rudra.
FAQs
The body itself becomes a field of sacred observance; adopting Shaiva marks is portrayed as conferring Rudra-like reverence.
No tīrtha is named; the verse is a procedural teaching on Rudrākṣa-wearing.
Specific counts and locations for wearing Rudrākṣas: 32 neck, 40 head, 6 per ear, 108 chest.