Choice of Gemstones in Horoscopy

Gemstone Controversy

There is a difference of opinion regarding the application of gemstones to augment or mitigate the effect of planets in a horoscope. According to Richard Shaw Brown of the Planetary Gemologists Association, Bangkok the gem of the strongest favourable planet should always be recommended and that of the weak planet avoided. Seturam Aspari of Bangalore counters the view by suggesting that the planet that has deficiency needs to be strengthened. The use of gemstones in astrology finds little mention in classical texts and has received attention only lately. We lack authentic literature on the right choice of gemstones and have to rely on verification of the effects by personal experience. It goes without saying that the prime consideration in the choice of gemstones should be quality, absence of flaws such as spots, cracks or cloudiness. But there seems to be no clear direction on the weight of the suggested gemstone, save the sane advice not to sacrifice the quality of the gems for weight.

The opposing views on the choice of the right gemstone need to be reconciled on the test of logic, and actual experience. The use of gemstones is generally recommended on three principal counts

1) General Application: Gemstone of the favourable planet (s) for the particular Ascendant or Rasi to augment the overall good effects.

2)Transit Application: Choice of gemstone relevant to the planetary directions or transits to augment or mitigate the effects of the planets.

3)Special Application: Selection of gemstone depending on the overall assessment of the planetary impact on the individual horoscope. This may involve augmenting the strength of the favourable planet or mitigating the ill effects of the weak and adverse planets or both.

The use of gemstones in India has been in vogue as one of the remedial measures like mantra, tantra, dana (gift), havan etc to propitiate the Grahas. These measures are generally prescribed to get over the adverse effects of the planets. Obviously, the use of gemstones cannot be discounted for augmenting the weak or defective planets. In fact, my late lamented Guru Pundit Parasuram Mishra, a follower of the Bhrigu system, invariably recommended the use of gems for mitigating the ill effects of adversely placed planets with very good results. However, in practice we have found the prescription of the gemstones yielding desired results for both the favourable as well as unfavourable planets depending on the assessment of their disposition in the chart. The cases presented below illustrate the application of gems relevant to the horoscope concerned.

The native of Chart 1 was advised to wear Pukhraj (lapis lazauli), possibly in consideration of reinforcing the ongoing Jupiter Dasa. But it was noticed that Saturn, the Yogakaraka for Libra, was ill-placed in the 8th in exchange of signs with the 8th lord Venus.

Chart 1:Male:Born February 4, 1972 at 23h. 45m. at 26 N 29, 80 E 21 with a balance of 10 months 26 days of Moon Dasa at birth.

It was therefore considered necessary to fortify Saturn, the key planet for Librans for improving general prospects. Accordingly he was recommended blue sapphire instead of Pukhraj for Jupiter, the strongest planet. Within a few months of his wearing the sapphire ring, the native, an IT professional working in the Middle East, secured a key position in another organization with better

Planet	Gemstone	Stone Substitute	Herbs and Roots
Sun	Ruby	Star Ruby, Red Zircon	Bael {Aegle marmelos)
Moon	Pearl	Moonstone	Khirni (Mimusops hexadra)
Mars	Red Coral	Carnelian	Anant Mool; Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus);Hagian (Opuntia dillenii) .
Mercury	Emerald	Aquamarine (Bairooz of light green colour), Peridot	Bidhara; Argyreia (Lettsomia nervosa)
Jupiter	Pukhraj	Topaz, Yellow Pearl	Kela (Banana) (Musa sapientum); Bharangi (Clerodendron serratum); Haldi (Curcuma longa)
Venus	Diamond	White Zircon, White Sapphire	Sarponkha; Purple (Tephrosia purpurea); Anar (Punica granatum)
Saturn	Blue Sapphire	Amethyst, (Jamunia of violet colour), Blue Zircon	Bichhhoo; Lai chandan (Petrocarpus santolinus)
Rahu	Gomedha	Hessonite Garnet	White chandan (sandalwood) (Santalum album); Sarpagandha (Rauwolphia serpentina)
Ketu .	Cat’s Eye	Tiger’s Eye (Quartz group)	Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Chart 2:Female: Born November 3, 1943 at 16h. 51m. at 25 N 16, 82 E 06 with a balance of 2 years 3 months 18 days of Venus Dasa at birth.

The lady (Chart 2) suffered miscarriage in 1968 during Mars Dasa, Moon Bhukti and lost her next child also in 1969 in Rahu Dasa. Both the Putrakaraka Jupiter in the 5th and the Bhukti lord Moon come under the hostile aspect of retrograde Mars. Rahu occupies the 12th from Putrastana in the 4th leading to the loss of the child. The lady was prescribed red coral to mitigate the adverse impact of Mars. This had a salutary effect and the lady was blessed with three children in 1970, 1972 and 1974 in the sub-periods of Rahu, Jupiter and Saturn respectively.

Chart 3:Female:Born September 11, 1962 at Oh. 40m. at 22 N 35, 88 E 23 with a balance of 1 year 15 days of Sun Dasa at birth.

The red coral is rated highly as an effective gemstone in preventing miscarriage. This has been amply demonstrated in many cases. This young lady (Chart 3), daughter of a bosom friend, suffered the agony of miscarriage twice.The Moon and Mars play a vital role in pregnancy and their mutually adverse disposition tends to induce complications. In this case, as in the previous one, Mars has an adverse 8th house aspect on the Moon, which led to the termination of pregnancy. The miscarriage setback occurred during Mercury and Ketu Bhuktis, both coming under the Martian aspect. Well protected with a red coral, she was soon blessed twice with baby girls in the Bhukti of the 5th lord Venus. The most favourable planets – exalted Mercury in Bhadra Yoga, Venus and the Sun in Swakshetra well aspected by Jupiter played their expected role and ensured a happy and affluent life without augmentation/with their favourite gems. An M.Phil, she is married to a well qualified (IIT/IIM) husband, who rose to a highly prestigious position in a private bank.

Chart 4:Female: Born March 29, 1977 at 9h. 30m. at 28 N 39, 77 E 13 with a balance of 5 years 5 months 16 days of Jupiter Dasa at birth.

The young girl’s (Chart 4) family deeply concerned at her failing to conceive for over ten years after marriage sought astrological advice. Her chart revealed the 5th house coming under the impact of multiple planets. Retrograde Saturn, the 7th and 12th lord Mars, the 8th and 11th lord Jupiter, the 5th lord Mercury and the 1st and the 6th lord Venus all aspect the 5th to come in the way of normal fructification of the 5th house signification. Rahu occupies the 5th from the Chandra Lagna or the Moon-sign. The 5th lord Mercury and the 5th lord Venus from Chandra Lagna are both involved in Grahayuddha and also hemmed between malefics. The situation appeared irretrievable, but a glimmer of hope was seen from the position of as many as six planets together with the Ascendant fortified through Vargottama strength. A pendant of green aquamarine, white zircon and blue amethyst was recommended. This remedy bore the fruit with the young lady giving birth to a healthy girl child during the combined Dasa-Bhukti of Mercury and Rahu, both involved with the 5th house in Vargottama strength.

Chart 5:Male: Born February 13, 1977 at 8h. 46m. at 28 N 39, 77 E 13 with a balance of 4 years 5 months 25 days of Mercury Dasa at birth.

This youngman (Chart 5) working in an MNC was getting very frustrated due to his stagnation in job and failing to get the promotion that was long due. His chart showed the Dasa of the Sun operating. The Sun is the lord of the 6th (service) placed in the 12th in Vipareeta Raja Yoga, capable of granting success and is also the lord of the 10th placed in the 4th from the Chandra- Lagna. But the Sun is enfeebled occupying an inimical Trsign and Neecha Navamsa. He was advised to wear rose ruby to mollify and strengthen the Sun and also a piece of white sandalwood for Rahu occupying the 8th from the Ascendant and joining the Sun in Navamsa. The propitiation of the planets in distress came to his rescue paving the way for his much awaited promotion. No doubt Rahu occupies the 8th from the Ascendant and the 12th from the Moon, but his dispositor Venus is exalted in the Ascendant and in the 5th from the Moon and hence enabled Rahu to grant the boon after he became free from his shackles through propitiation. Sometimes, the use of vegetation for planets (sandalwood for Rahu in this case) has been found to be quite effective

Chart 6:Female: Born October 25, 1975 at 14h 15m at 28 N 39, 77 E 13 with a balance of 1 month 27 days of Mars Dasa at birth.

Jupiter and Mercury strongly disposed in own mansion in Kendras from the Chandra Lagna ensured good academic progress, but the native’s Ph.D and marriage both got involved in delay much to her and her family’s frustration in the case of Chart 6. Saturn occupies the 7th (marriage) in an inimical sign and aspects the 9th (higher study), a potent delaying factor. Venus, the Kalatrakaraka and also the lord of the 10th governing achievement, is handicapped by occupying the 8th Dustana. A pendant of blue amethyst and white zircon was recommended to propitiate the two delaying planets, paving the way for her settlement of marriage as well as clearing her PhD. The happy events materialized in the Moon Bhukti of Jupiter Dasa. She is now a leading happy family life with a prosperous husband and a son.

Chart 7: Male: Born December 28, 1928 at 20h. 19m. at 22 N 35, 88 E 23 with a balance of 11 years 2 months 6 days of Saturn Dasa at birth.

The native of Chart 7, a scientist working in a premier organization, was keen on a foreign assignment. His chart showed Mars, the lord of the 10th (occupation), occupying the 12th opposite the 12th lord Mercury and the 7th lord Saturn, all strong significators of foreign sojourn. Jupiter, the 9th lord (distant journey), occupies the 10th in Rasi and the 9th in Bhava. The indicators for fulfillment of his desire appeared quite clear. However, he was advised to arm himself with red coral ring to augment Mars. He was already in his early 40’s and passing through the Dasa of Venus, occupant of the 7th entrenched in the constellation of Mars. The sub-period of Mars commenced in March 1970 and facilitated his going abroad on a two-year study leave. The sub-period of Jupiter, aspecting both the 7th and the 12th lords, proved more rewarding, securing for him a permanent job abroad. It has been observed that the 10th lord placed in the 12th is a strong indication for a career abroad.

(To be contd.)