Navaratna: The Nine Precious Gems

The nine gems or Navaratnas are -

• Ruby
• Diamond
• Emerald
• Blue Sapphire
• Yellow sapphire
• Cat’s eye
• Garnet
• Red coral
• Pearl

RUBY:  a Ruby is a gemstone whose color can vary from pink to red-blood depending on its chemical combination.  It comes from word ”Ruber”, Latin for “red”.

Ruby is the stone of the sun and hence has a supreme position among the navaratnas.  Ruby was used by royalty to focus and sustain their ability to command and rule.  It enhances straits such as leadership, will power, purity and independence.  It contributes to vigor, self-image, public perception, virtue and the capacity to command.

• Sun signs: Leo, Aries and Sagittarius
• Celestial ruler: Sun
• Natural occurrence:  Thailand, Cambodia, Afghanistan
• Category: mineral variety
• Cosmic Color: red
• Diaphaneity: transparent

Diamond: Diamond is the hardest known naturally occurring mineral.  It is a crystalline allotrope of carbon and its high dispersion of light gives it a sparkling glow.  It is not only the most sought after stone in the jewellery industry, but its healing properties are of great value in astrology. 

• Sun signs: Taurus, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius.
• Celestial ruler: Venus
• Natural occurrence:  south Africa, Namibia, USA, Canada, Venezuela, Ghana, Indonesia.
  • Category: Native minerals
  • Cosmic Color: white
  • Diaphaneity: transparent to sub-transparent to translucent

Emerald:   Emerald is a green colored stone whose green hue is obtained from the presence of chromium and vanadium in it.  Emerald’s green hue can additionally contain grey, blue and yellow hues and an emerald’s color is one of the components taken into consideration while grading it.  Emeralds are extensively used in jewellery making and in astrology.

Emerald is worn to please Mercury and is regarded as a traditional birthstone for May borns.  Interestingly,  in some cultures Emerald is the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary, 20th anniversary or 35th anniversary.  Emerald gives mental alertness, memory, communication skills and mental control. 

• Sun signs: Gemini, Virgo, Taurus and Libra.
• Celestial ruler: Mercury
• Natural occurrence:  Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia.
• Cosmic Color: green
• Category: Beryl variety
• Chemical formula: Beryllium aluminum silicate with chromium.

Yellow Sapphire: Yellow Sapphire is an expensive and rare gemstone, found in hues of yellow, Orange and gold.  It belongs to the corundum family and yellow sapphire is a twin of ruby and blue sapphire.  Its color varies between shades of bright yellow and golden.

Jupiter is the ruling planet for Yellow Sapphire.  Jupiter represents wisdom and religion in human life.  The wearer of yellow sapphire gets the knowledge of law, ethics, wit, wisdom, happiness, physical power and good health. It is most beneficial to writers, businessmen, traders and barristers.

• Sun signs: Sagittarius, Pisces, Aries and Scorpio.
• Celestial ruler: Jupiter
• Natural occurrence:  Himalaya, Ceylon, Russia
• Cosmic Color: light blue
• Category: mineral variety
• Chemical formula: aluminum oxide

Blue Sapphire: Blue sapphire is a beautiful transparent gem with a deep blue hue.  Basically, sapphire, ruby and topaz belong to the same class of stones.  A variation in their chemical composition gives them different colors.  Aluminum oxide is the main constituent of blue sapphire.  In hardness and refractive index, it is similar to topaz and ruby.

1. It is believed that the gemstone has the power to prevent diseases like paralysis, teeth problems, and asthma and bone problems.

• Sun signs: Capricorns, Aquarius, Taurus and Libra
• Celestial ruler: Saturn
• Natural occurrence:  Thailand, Sri Lanka, East Africa, United States.
• Cosmic Color: violet
• Category: mineral variety

Coral: A Coral is not a true stone.  It is in fact the fossil of a sea creature known as coral.  Heat and light play an important role in the formation of a coral. They vary in their color and can vary from orange to deep red.  Red corals are the variety generally used in astrology. 

Corals are worn to please Mars.  Red coral helps in the stimulation of courage, energy, insight an gives an ability to win over opponents.  Geminis and Virgos should be careful in using corals.  Red Coral is especially good for Aries, Scorpio, Cancer and Leo.

• Sun signs: Aries, Scorpio, Cancer and Leo.
• Celestial ruler: Mars
• Cosmic Color: Yellow
• Natural occurrence:  found in sea beds. Can be found in Mediterranean Sea.
• Category: animal fossil.

Pearl:  Like the Coral, a Pearl also is not a stone.  It is a hard, roundish object composed of calcium carbonate.  It is produced by a living shelled mollusk.  However, pearls can be produced artificially.  Cultured pearls are produced by artificially inseminating the shells.  Also, different kinds of pearls are available. 

• Sun signs: Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio
• Celestial ruler: Moon
• Cosmic Color: orange
• Natural occurrence:  found in fresh water and salt water sources
• Category: produced by a living shell mollusk

Cat’s Eye: Cat’s eye is the gem of Ketu, called the South Node in the West.  Cat’s Eye is called so because of the fibrous inclusions or cavities within the stone.  It is available in colors of white, sky blue, green and black.  Green Cat’s eye is the most expensive.  While it is a unique stone that is used in ornamentation, it is also used for astrological purposes as well.

For a gemstone to show its effect best, it should be cut en cabochon, with fibers and fibrous structures parallel to the base of the finished stone.  The person who wears it is relived of uncertainties in life.  He/ she gains concentration and becomes confident about decisions taken.

• Sun signs: Sagittarius, Pisces
• Celestial ruler: Jupiter
• Cosmic Color: Infra red
• Natural occurrence:  Brazil, Sri Lanka

Hessonite:  Hessonite or cinnamon Stone is a rare variety of grossular. Its name is derived from the Greek word Hesson.  It is orangish red in color and is highly glossy even in its natural form.  It sometimes also has a glowing honey color. 

It is worn to please the shadowy planet Rahu and wearing the stone is known to protect people from the ill effects of Rahu.  It balances the influence of modern life on human beings and heals the person achieve a sense of clarity and attaining general popularity in public.  It is a good gem to be worn in a modern age that we are living in today.  Aquarians especially benefit from Hessonite.

• Sun signs: Rahu
• Natural occurrence:  Sri Lanka, Brazil, California.
• Cosmic Color: Ultra Violet
• Category: grossular variety.