Navaratna Rings, Gemstones ,Jewelry ,News

There are three main ways in which gems can be used -firstly as body ornaments, or to show rank and status and secondly, as a symbol of wealth.Thirdly- depending on ones superstitious beliefs -to bring blessings and good fortune ; to ward off evil and even to cure certain illnesses and diseases.

Navaratna, literally a sanscrict compound word meaning Nine Gems is a talisman or accessory set with Nine Gemstones.

From ancient times most of the people in Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the world believed that gemstones influenced their lives in a number of ways. Accordingly people could achieve success and gain good health by wearing an appropriate stone in a piece of jewelry.

In India a man of outstanding qualities is called Purusha Ratna(Gem of a Man) and woman of outstanding qualities is called Sthree Ratna(Gem of a Woman). The highest award given by the Indian Government to its citizens in recognition of their services to the nation is called Bharata Ratna (Gem of India). In India Navaratna is known as Maharatna or Divine Gem Stones.

Navaratna setting system, an introduction

Navaratna was a term applied to a group of nine extraordinary people in the Royal Court in India. During the reign of Wickramadhitya among the most notable of nine such person was Kalidasa . Others included Waraha Mihira who was greatly honored by the King for his learning and accurate predictions.

Superstitions linked to gems have been common in Thailand since the Ayutthaya period and some have this belief even today.Among the most common superstitions is that nine different coloured gems are a blessing. A symbol of this belief was the sash of Nine Gems-a royal decoration used to hold the reigning monarchs sword. It was believed that this sash would bring victory to the wearer in battle. The sash is also worn by the King as a decoration of rank at the time of coronation .Since days long past Thais, Indians, and Sinhalese have used the nine gems to invoke blessings and good fortune. It is beleived that these precious stones can bring blessings to the wearer and protect him/her from all danger such as fire, harm from weapons, enemies, poisonous animals, and insects. Besides these gems can bring success in Business and Agriculture , give charm to the wearer and attract followers . When the nine gems are combined , they give the owner power and influence .

Navaratna Gemstones

In Indian Astrology a number of factors are taken into consideration and the horoscope has to be drawn up according to planetary positions and their influence during various periods of life .The gems that a person should wear is decided based on these predictions.In astrology the nine planets have been assigned nine different gemstones . The rationale of the use of gem stones to avert evil effects of planets depends on a planet’s colours and vibrations. The colour of the planet is reflected on the human body through the gem . The absorption and reflection of the rays and vibrations has an effect on the wearer . The gem acts as a filter and produces good or evil effect depending on the physical requirements . If a planet emanating a ray the vibration of which is harmful to the person it is counteracted by the ray that the gem absorbs. The evil effect is thus neutralized . The correct stone deflects the maletic rays allowing beneficial rays to enter the body.

Thais use Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Topaz or Yellow Sapphire, Garnet, Blue Sapphire, Pearl or Moonstone , Zircon and Cat’s Eye (Chrysoberyl) as nine stones. In India the Navaratna stones are Ruby, Diamond, Pearl, Red Corel, Hessonite Garnet, Blue Sapphire, Cats Eye, Yellow Sapphire and Emerald. In Sri Lanka the following gems are used: Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, White Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, Hessonite Garnet, Pathmaraga and Cats Eye.

Ring set with nine Navaratna Gemstones

Today these nine gems are are popular not only in Asia but also in Europe . Apart from the use of these nine gems in making jewelry such as rings, pendants, bracelets and belts they are also used in Royal Households to decorate utensils. In Thailand they are quite often wrapped in a piece of white cloth or tri-coloured cloth of red, yellow and blue and buried beneath the central pillar of the house. Whereas the wealthy use a diamond to represent white gems the less wealthy use a white zircon or a white sapphire. Navaratna is also seen in the foundation of Hindu Temples.

The solar system comprises the Sun and all the celestial bodies that revolve around it. Each of the nine planets around the sun supposedly have an influence throughout an individuals course of life . Hence it is believed that wearing these nine gems is beneficial to an individual.

PLANET | ASSOCIATED GEMSTONE

Sun | Ruby

Moon | Natural Pearl

Mars | Red Corel

Mercury | Emerald

Jupiter | Yellow Sapphire/ Topaz

Venus | Diamond

Saturn | Blue Sapphire

Rahu | Hessonite Garnet

Ketu | Cats Eye

According to Indian Astrology , one of the more common setting has the ‘Ruby’ representing the Sun in the center. Ruby is said to give name, fame and power to its user. Diamond representing Venus is in the East. It is said that a person who wears a diamond leads a luxurious life. Diamond is also supposed to enhance the name, fame and artistic talents of the wearer . Blue sapphire representing Saturn is in the west . Blue sapphire removes evil effects of Saturn . It is said that this stone has magical power to eleviate its user to a higher status . Cat’s eye representing Ketu is in the North, this protects its wearer from hidden enemies , mysterious dangers and diseases. Coral representing Mars is in the South. It is said that Red Coral instills courage . It also helps to cure blood related diseases. Emerald representing mercury is in the North East. Emerald improves faculties related to the brain such as communication, intellect and ability to learn . Hessonite garnet representing Rahu is in the South West. The shadow planet Rahu is supposed to be responsible for all sorts of delays or very late fulfillment of ambitions . This stone improves relations with people and protects the wearer from sudden misfortunes . Yellow sapphire representing Jupiter is in the North . This stone is one of the most widely used gems that help achieve better financial status . It improves vision, gives life security and protects a person from poverty and misfortune.

Stones used for astrological reasons may have some natural inclusions , but all these stones should be transparent, translucent and flawless.

Wearing Navaratna depends on three factors ,purity of the stone is very important to transmit the vibrations to the wearer . It is believed that gemstones with cracks will block the path of the light or the rays.. These gems should be natural without any treatment. Larger stones are recommended to convey the ,maximum benefit to the wearer . The will power and the belief of the wearer are also important .

According to the Vedic Sanskrit Authority only pure top quality gems are considered to be desirable. Sri Agni Puranam Chap:246 states “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 and devoid of luster or appearing rough or sandy should not be used at all.

Sri Garuda Purana chapter 70 states that ” if anyone wears a gem with many flaws out of ignorance , then, grief, anxiety, sickness, death, loss of wealth and other evils torment them.”

Physical Properties of the Nine Gems

Corundum

Out of the nine, five stones namely Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pathmaraga, White Sapphire and Yellow Sapphire belong to the Corundum family.

Crystal system: Trigonal

Refractive index:1.759-1.760

Hardness: 9.0

Chemical composition: Aluminium Oxide

Density 3.98

Name derived from Sanskrit, “Kuruvinda”. Corundum is a crystalline form of Aluminium Oxide .It has different colours when impurities are present. Transparent specimens are used as gems , called Ruby if red, Padmaraga if pinkish orange while all other colours are called sapphires, usually with the colour specified as a prefix to the word sapphire for example Yellow Sapphire.

Pure corundum is colourless often called white sapphire. Chromic oxide causes brilliant red , thereby producing rubies. Ferric oxide causes yellow colouration , titanium oxide produces vivid-blue. Some corundum in Sri Lanka have patchy colours and colour bands . Sri Lankan corundum typically carries zircon crystals as inclusions known as ‘zircon haloes’.

Pearls

Hardness: 2.5-4.5

Chemical composition: calcium carbonate.

Natural Pearls are organic gems formed in bodies of certain salt water and fresh water Mollusks . They are made up of mostly fine platy crystalline layers called Nacre causing the distinctive pearly luster . Appearance is translucent to opaque . Body colour is white or cream, pink green black and blue colours are also available . The cause of colour is due to the interference of light reflected off platy crystal layers in nacre. Identification characteristics are gritty to cutting edges of teeth. Most imitations are smooth. There are cultured pearls. There are also glass and plastic imitations in the market.

The shapes of pearls are categorized as round, pear shaped, egg shaped and drop shaped.

Hessonite Garnet

Crystal System: Cubic

Refractive Index: 1.740

Hardness 7.25

Specific Gravity: 3.5-3.7

Chemical Composition: Calcium Aluminium Silicate.

It is a variety of grosular garnet

The colour of hessonite is like the colour of honey shining under a ray of light. The colour is due to the presence of Manganese. This gem contains inclusions which look like scattered island of flat bubbles . The best hessonite garnets are found in Sri Lanka, as the Spessartite too, occurs in deep goden yellow and yellow brown colours ,these could be mistaken for hessonite.

Tourmaline

Crystal system: Trigonal

R.I : 1.624-1.644

Hardness: 7.5

S.G: 3.5

Chemical Composition: A complex Borosilicate of Aluminium

It exhibits more range of colours than any other mineral . It has colours such as red, blue ,yellow, pink, black and green. Green is from Iron ,Chromium and Vanadium. Pink is from Manganese. Its original- Sinhala name is Thora- malli. Mal is the Sinhalese term for flower . Thora is the name of a plant .Tourmaline is a pyroelectric mineral , meaning when warmed it attracts dust and light weight particles.

Varieties:

Rubellite: Pink to red Tourmaline

Indicolite: Light to dark Tourmaline

Dravite: Brown Tourmaline

Anchorite: Colourless Tourmaline

Schorl: Black Tourmaline

Water melon Tourmaline: Tourmaline with red center surrounded by a green layer.

Verdelite: Name rarely used to describe green tourmaline.

Sybarite: Purple variety.

Paraiba Tourmaline: Neon blue variety

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye

Crystal system: Orthorhombic

R.I : 1.746-1.755

Hardness: 8.5

S.G 3.5-3.8

Chemical composition: Berryllium Aluminium Oxide

Ordinary chrysoberyl is a yellowish green , transparent to translucent. In Sri Lanka chrysoberyls are found as water worn pebbles. Cymophane is popularly known as cat’ eye. This variety exhibits a pleasing chatoyant effect that reminds one of an eye of a cat. When cut to produce a cabochon the mineral forms a light green specimen with a silky band of light extending across the surface of the stone . Chatoyancy , like Asterism is a reflection effect brought about by the stone inclusions . Some common colours in which cat’s eye occurs are milky white to grey, bluish or greenish white and apple green and greenish orange.