Posted by Richard S. Brown, GIA on October 05, 1999 at 14:08:11:Nava-Ratna:

The Nine Sacred Gems In The Vedas
Richard S. Brown, GIASRI NAVARATNA –

A flawless collection of the 9 gems:

A "Nava Ratna" set with nine perfect gems. In the center is a flawless (loupe clean) "red lotus" colored Burmese RUBY surrounded (clockwise from the top) by flawless diamond, flawless natural pearl, flawless red coral, flawless hessonite, flawless blue sapphire, flawless cat's eye, flawless yellow sapphire, and flawless emerald.

I would ask you readers to carefully consider the following bone fide Vedic references on gemology:

(The great sage) Sri Suta Goswami, has spoken the following words in the ancient Garuda-puranam, chap 70, regarding the dawn of creation:

"The blood of the great demon Vala was taken by Surya, the Sungod, who then fled into the blue vastness of space....Ravana attempted to block Surya's flight like a solar eclipse....Appearing afraid of Ravana, the Sungod dropped the demon's blood, which fell down in the deep pools of ancient Bharata (which included Burma, Siam, India, and of course Sri Lanka)....Beautiful and effulgent rubies, in all shades of color, possessing manifold virtues, originated on these shores....The rubies from these fragrant lands are found in a variety of hues....Some are like human blood, etc.....Being illuminated by rays of the Sun, this crystal species shines forth with wonderful color and brilliancy."

NOTE: Here is a direct bona fide Vedic link between Surya and rubies.
In chapter 69 it is further stated by Suta Goswami:

"The teeth of the demon Vala....fell like stars into the oceans below and became seeds for a species of gems with the luster of full Moon beams. Entering into the shells of oysters these seeds became pearls."

NOTE: Another direct link that matches the nine planets (Graha-devas) with associated gems, viz., natural pearl for Chandra, the Moon.

There are nine foremost gems which are known as the Nava-ratna. This quote attributed to the Sanskrit "Brihat Jatak" or Vast Production , reads as follows:

Manikyam dinanayakasya vimalam muktaphalam shitagoh
maheyasya cha vidrumam marakatam saumyasya-garutmakam
devejyasya cha pushparagam sura-achryasya vajram shaneh
nilam nirmalamanyayoshcha gadite gomeda-vaiduryake

Translation: The Sun's gem is pure ruby, Moon is (natural) pearl, Mars is red coral, Mercury is emerald, Jupiter is yellow sapphire, Venus is diamond, Saturn is blue sapphire, Rahu is hessonite, and Ketu is cat's eye.

A slightly different version of this ancient Sanskrit verse is also quoted in the "Mani-mala" page 575, verse 79 by S. M. Tagore (1879), and also in the ancient "Parijataka," The Tree of Paradise, chap. 2, sloka 21 compiled by Sri Vedyanath, son of Venkata-dhari, and reads in Sanskrit as follows:

Manikyam taraneh sujatyamamalam muktaphalam shitagoh
maheyasya cha vidrumao nigaditah saumyasya-garutmakam
devejyasya cha pushparagam asura-achryasya vajram shaneh
nilam nirmalamanyayoshcha gadite gomeda-vaiduryake
Translation:

1) Ruby for the Sun,
2) Pearl for the Moon,
3) Coral for Mars,
4) Emerald for Mercury,
5) Yellow sapphire for Jupiter,
6) Diamond for Venus,
7) Blue sapphire for Saturn,
8) Hessonite for Rahu (the ascending node of the Moon),
9) Cat's eye for Ketu (the descending node of the Moon),

In this important sloka the words, "sujatyam-amalam" (sujati=high born and amala=completely pure or flawless) are very significant. According to bona fide Vedic authority only flawless top quality gems are considered to be auspicious.

To further support this important yet mostly over-looked dictate I will quote the following slokas:

In the "Garuda Puranam," chap. 68, verse 17 it is stated by Sri Suta Goswami,

"Pure, flawless gems have auspicious powers which can protect one from demons, snakes, poisons, diseases, sinful reactions, and other dangers, while flawed stones have the opposite affect."

Again we quote from the ancient "Agni Puranam" chap. 246, slokas 7 & 8:
"A gem free from all impurities and radiating its characteristic internal luster should be looked upon as an escort of good luck"

A gem which is cracked, fissured, devoid of luster, or appearing rough or sandy, should not be used at all."

This point is also made in many chapters of Sri Garuda Puranam, such as this quote on rubies by Sri Suta Goswami,

"A ruby, although genuine, should not be worn if it has strong color banding, excessive inclusions within like numerous internal cracks, a sandy appearance, a rough surface, or is dull and lusterless. Anyone using such a flawed ruby, even out of ignorance, will suffer from disease, or loss of fortune."

All these nine gems are considered equally sacred, and they only differ according to the astral influence of their ruling planets. In essence the table of Asian Birth stones is as follows:

The Nine Gems, Nine Planets & Vedic Zodiac

9 GEMS / RULING PLANET / ZODIAC (MOON) SIGN

Ruby / Sun / Leo
Pearl / Moon / Cancer
Coral / Mars / Aries & Scorpio
Emerald / Mercury / Gemini & Virgo
Yellow Sapphire / Jupiter / Sagittarius & Pisces
Diamond / Venus / Taurus & Libra
Blue Sapphire / Saturn / Capricorn & Aquarius
Hessonite / Rahu* / N/A
Cat's eye / Ketu* / N/A

* NOTE: According to the ancient science of Asian "Sidereal" Astrology, Rahu and Ketu do not rule any of the 12 zodiac signs. Being aprakasha or "shadow planets," they reflect the qualities of the lord of the sign they occupy. Example: If Rahu is located in Virgo, a sign ruled by Mercury, you should look to the position of Mercury in the chart and predict similar results for Rahu.* Vedic Gemology Book

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