Choice of Gemstones in Horoscopy-II

Importance of Ascendant Lord
Dr. B. V. Raman always stressed fortifying the Ascendant lord to ensure better prospects. This has proved very effective in several cases.

Chart 8: Male: Born April 29, 1971 at 13h. 10m. at 26 N 55, 75 E 49 with a balance of 13 years 9 months 7 days of Rahu Dasa at birth.

Failure to clear the MBA admission test prompted the worried father of the boy (Chart 8) to seek astrological advice. Jupiter, the Dasa lord, is constrained by occupation of Saturnine constellation opposite Saturn, the malefic lord of the 7th and the 8th. But being the auspicious lord of the 9th aspecting the 4th lord Venus in exaltation and occupant of the 4th in Bhava, Jupiter did promise success. The Ascendant lord Moon occupies the 12th in Rahu’s Nakshatra and hemmed between malefics is severely handicapped. The boy was advised to put on a pearl ring to reinforce and propitiate the adversely placed Ascendant lord. This had the desired result and the boy got through the test in the next attempt and successfully completed his MBA. The fortified Ascendant lord also cleared the way for a successful professional career as promised by the Sun exalted in the 10th asspected by the 10th lord and exalted Venus well placed in the 10th from the Moon. He is now well settled in life with a happy family life, blessed with the necessary comforts of life. Propitiation of the all important Ascendant lord seems to have been quite rewarding.

Chart 9: Male: Born March 5, 1974 at 3h. 20m. at 26 N 27, 74 E 38 with a balance of 1 year 3 months 18 days of Jupiter Dasa at birth.

The native of Chart 9 despite intensive preparation was unable to clear the test for CA and felt much frustrated. On examination his horoscope revealed the Ascendant and its lord Jupiter suffering from severe affliction. Rahu positioned in the Ascendant came under the aspect of Saturn and Mars. Jupiter occupies the 3rd involved in Graha Yuddha (planetary war) with Mercury and in the highly unfavourable 8th from the Chandra Lagna (Moon-sign). The position appeared truly grave, but a chance was taken for propitiating Jupiter by recommending the use of pukhraj. This paid dividends and the boy cleared his CA in the next attempt. However, even the gemstone of pleasure for Jupiter could not fully overcome the grave affliction to which the Ascendant and its lord are subjected, causing his health to be seriously affected during the Dasa-chidram of Mercury Dasa, Saturn

Chart 10: Male: Born September 2, 1965 at 9h. 57m. at 26 N 29, 80 E 21 with a balance of 10 years 11 month 29 days of Saturn Dasa at birth.

Bhukti, both strong Marakas. Even the best remedial measures have limitations. He was advised Mahamrityunjaya Japa to overcome the Maraka effect.

The native of Chart 10 married in 1993 under the direction of Mercury-Saturn, both auspicious Yogakarakas well placed in Kendra-Trikona and was blessed with a son. However, Venus Dasa brought about separation between the couple, ultimately leading to divorce in 2003-04. Venus is the Ascendant lord as also Kalatrakaraka and is weakly placed in debility in the 12th, hence failed to sustain the marriage. The young man was advised to put on a diamond ring to fortify Venus. This ensured his second marriage to a well qualified girl in 2007 in the sub-period of Mars, the owner of the 7th aspecting the 7th. A son was bom in 2010 and he now has a happy family life.

• There appears to be no clear advice on the weight of recommended gemstones. My Guru Pandit Misra suggested the minimum weight of dhk Rattis for gems to be effective. Sometimes* it is required to recommend 3 or 4 gemstones, for which he advised each gem to weigh 2 Rattis. For substitute gemstones the minimum recommended weight is & Rattis.

Some authors suggest different minimum weights for each planet. These guidelines are generally followed by practitioners subject to certain modification prompted by personal experience, but without compromising on quality.

• Some authorities suggest avoiding use of gemstones of unfriendly planets together. Accordtngly> using red coral and blue sapphire at the same time is discouraged My Guru reconciled this condition by recommending such gems of lesser than the minimum required weight.

• The selection of the suitable gemstone should preferably be made after proper analysis and assessment of the individual horoscope and In particular, the problem under consideration.

• The gemstones prove much more effective if they are used after proper propitiation by way of Sudhhikarana by recitation of Bija Mantras related to the planet concerned and its reigning deity and gifting the foodgrain and other materials governed by the planet.

• The use of Vanaspati (plant roots) ruled by the planets is sometimes quite effective, especially when the planets come under affliction.