Astrological remedies vary from fasts, prayers, donations to fire rituals and mantras. Gems have long been used as astrological remedies too. And there is a logic behind how they function to improve your life.
What Is A Gem?
A Gem is a rare stone of extraordinary quality and beauty. We use the word Gem to refer not only to stones but also to something or someone who is excellent in some manner. Gemstones have highly concentrated energy and colour. They have been used from ancient times in Ayurveda as well as astrology to correct an underlying weakness and improve one’s health and life. Ancient Ayurvedic medicines use gems in the form of powder (Pishti), ash (Bhashma) and by wearing. Astrology uses gems worn against the skin. Unani medicine also uses Gems. Since the body contains all the colours in it, when there is an imbalance in the colours it causes disease. Wearing the appropriate gem helps correct the imbalance.
Planets And Gems
The ancient astrological texts define gems associated with each of the nine Grahas or planets. The gem for the Sun is Ruby, Moon, White Pearl, Mars is the Red Coral, Mercury is the Emerald, Jupiter is the Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj), Venus the Diamond, Saturn the Blue Sapphire (Neelam), Rahu the Gomed and Ketu, the Cat’s eye.
Mythology: Balasur
The mythology of Gems has two separate stories about the origin of gems. The Garuda Purana narrates the story of Balasur, a truly extraordinary Asura. Balasur was a learned Asura. In the continual battle between the Devatas and Asuras, he won the battle and took over Heaven. However, since he was a wise and just Asura, he told the Devatas that they could continue with all the rituals that were prescribed.
The Devatas, however, wanted Heaven back. So, they planned a Yagna to regain their power. The rituals required the sacrifice of a person who would give their life up wholeheartedly. The Devatas searched for a person who would sacrifice their life in this way. They could find no one. Finally, they told Balasur of their predicament. Since he has given his word that he would encourage the practice of rituals and yajnas, he stepped in and offered to sacrifice himself. He did so with all his heart.
When Balasur sacrificed his life it was with the best of intentions, So, his body turned into jewels. The Devatas attempted to transport this mass of jewels but it fell apart and scattered on the Earth. All the places where the jewels feel are the mines from where we get gemstones.
Sage Dadichi And Diamonds
Another myth that addresses gemstones is that of the Sage Dadichi. When Indra had to make his Vajra he was required to ask Sage Dadichi for his bones. Viswakarma the celestial architect fashioned the weapon out of the bones. These bones were also the source of diamonds.
Natural Benefics And Malefics
The natural benefics are Jupiter and Venus while the natural malefics are the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Mercury is a conditional benefic as when he is with a malefic he also becomes a malefic. The waxing Moon is a benefic while the waning Moon is a malefic.
Functional Benefic And Malefics – Choosing A Stone
A planet that owns auspicious houses is a functional benefic even if it is otherwise a natural malefic. And a planet that owns inauspicious houses becomes a functional malefic even if it is a natural benefic. So, when selecting a gem one must be very sure that the gem is that of a functional benefic for that particular Lagna. This is why selecting a stone to wear based on the Moon Rashi is not advisable. Always consider the ascendant Rashi before selecting a gem. See Choosing birthstones by rashi. The idea is that the gem should strengthen the functional benefic planets. Strengthening a functional malefic is not recommended.
A stone is not to be worn if the planet that it signifies is a functional malefic. If a planet rules one of the Dusthana houses (6, 8 or 12) it should not be worn. A Yogakaraka planet (owning a Kendra house (1,4,7 or 10) and a Trikona House (5 or 9) simultaneously can be strengthened with its stone.
A stone should be without flaws for it to have the best effects. It should be of the finest colour as well. Stones should be worn so that the back of the stone is open to the skin. Avoid wearing used stones .
Sun
The Sun signifies the father and the King or government. It rules the vitality of a person. The Sun also rules the heart, eyes (right for men and left for women), throat, spleen, brain and mouth. Sun affliction can cause blood pressure problems, thrombosis, haemorrhage, meningitis fever, bile issues, sunstroke, diseases of the head, face eruptions and also overheated or bilious issues. The Sun also confers authority luck, great achievements and cheerfulness. So, when the Sun is weak, problems related to the significations of the Sun are present.
The Ruby is the stone for the Sun. Ruby negates the harmful effects of the Sun. For the Virgo ascendant, the Sun rules the 12th house, for the Capricorn ascendant, the 8th house and for the Pisces ascendant it rules the 6th house. Strengthening of lord of these Dusthana houses (6, 8 and 12) is not recommended. Some astrologers recommend wearing the stone only if absolutely essential and only if the Sun is in its own sign in these houses.
Moon
The Moon is the mind, the mother and all the cold, moist, receptive, changeable things. It also governs the process of impregnation, conceiving and childbirth. When the Moon is afflicted, it can cause issues with the mind, to tell lies, have cold, fevers and difficulty in making up one’s mind. The two main afflictions of the moon are Saturn who gives depression and Mars that gives recklessness. An afflicted Moon can also cause health issues such as paralysis, bronchitis, nervous disorders, epilepsy, colic, upper respiratory tract issues, varicose veins, too much drinking and other related problems. For medical reasons, wearing a white pearl helps in mental and well as lung problems.
Mars
Mars is passion, strength, force, determination, leadership and ambition. An afflicted Mars gives extravagance, sexual perversion, fanaticism, recklessness and a criminal bent of mind. Since it is a hot planet, an afflicted Mars gives inflammation, ulcers, fever, fistulas, measles, chickenpox, bleeding disorders, abortions, septic poisoning and related health problems. The red coral enhances the influence of Mars.
Mercury
Mercury is the highly convertible and dual-natured planet that rules the central nervous system, intelligence, analytical ability, reproduction, communication and memory. When Mercury is afflicted it affects the person’s principles, humility, and honesty. An afflicted Mercury will make the person dishonest and a gambler. The health issues caused by an afflicted Mercury are stammering, speech disorders, memory issues, dry cough, gout, skin issues and other related problems. The gem for Mercury is the emerald and the same rules as for the other gems apply.
Jupiter
Jupiter signifies abundance, wealth, God, Guru and favours from the King or the government. It also signifies the husband in a woman’s chart. A good Jupiter is one of the greatest blessings in the chart. When Jupiter is afflicted, the moderate nature of the planet gets converted into extremism and fanaticism. The other issues are debt, problems related to children, bad name, gluttony and being overweight. The health issues are liver-related issues, pancreatic problems, skin issues, jaundice and also flatulence. The gem for Jupiter is the yellow sapphire. However, the stone is not recommended if Jupiter is a functional malefic for the Lagna.
Venus
Venus signifies luxuries, comforts, attraction to the opposite sex and all the refined pleasures in life. It signifies the wife and conjugal life for a man. So an afflicted Venus can delay or affect the married life. Venus also gives wealth and luxuries and when afflicted causes the lack of the same. Diseases caused by an afflicted Venus are swelling, gout, anaemia, addiction to alcohol, ovarian problems, eye issues and venereal diseases. When Venus is a functional benefic for a Lagna, a diamond can be worn to enhance and strengthen it.
Saturn
Saturn is the planet that signifies delay, cold, disharmony, frugality and also slowness. When Saturn is ill-placed it can cause bone, teeth issues as well as pain because of cold, joint problems, gout, insanity, depression, paralysis and other related diseases. Saturn that is a Yogakaraka or a functional benefic can be strengthened by wearing blue sapphire.
Rahu
Rahu is the significator of diseases of both the mind and the body. It can cause depression and illusions that lead to suicide. Gomed strengthens Rahu.
Ketu
Ketu causes accidents, skin issues, paralysis and abscesses. Wearing the Cat’s Eye strengthens Ketu.
Favourable Stones By Lagna
The stones for each Lagna are as follows. Please note that the Yellow Sapphire, Red Coral, Ruby and Pearl should not be worn with Emerald, Blue Sapphire and Diamond.
Mesha/Aries: Red Coral, Yellow Sapphire and Ruby
Rishaba/Taurus: Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire
Mithuna/Gemini: Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire
Karka/Cancer: White Pearl, Red Coral, Yellow Sapphire
Simha/Leo: Ruby, Red Coral, Yellow Sapphire
Kanya/Virgo: Emerald, Diamond and Blue Sapphire
Tula/ Libra: Diamond, Blue Sapphire and Emerald
Vrischik/ Scorpio: Red Coral, Yellow Sapphire and White Pearl
Dhanus/Saggitarius: Yellow Sapphire, Red Coral and Ruby
Makara/Capricorn: Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald
Kumbha/Aquarius: Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald
Meena/Pisces: Yellow Sapphire, White Pearl, Red Coral
