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Planetary and Astral Influences of Precious Stones: Sanskrit

In Sanskrit the diamond is called vajra, "thunderbolt," and also indrajudha, "Indra's weapon"; another name is acira, "fire," or "the Sun." (Garbe, "Die indische Mineralien," Naharari's Rajanighantu, Varga XIII, Leipzig, 1882.) All these designations are probably suggested by the brilliant flashes of light emitted by this stone. It is not easy to determine the reason that induced the Hindus to dedicate the diamond to the planet Venus rather than to the Sun or to the Moon. However, as the most brilliant of the planets, Venus was not unworthy of the honor, and if we substitute the Goddess of Love for her planet, it seems quite appropriate that she should be adorned with the most brilliant of precious stones. Certainly these sparkling gems are often enough offered at the shrine of Venus in our own day, and they often serve to win the good graces of the divinity to whom they are presented. The Sanskrit name for the sapphire, nila, signifies "blue," so that, as the topaz is the "yellow stone" par excellence, the sapphire is the blue stone (nilacman). In both cases the name indicates a variety of corundum, distinguished merely by the coloring matter. As a talisman the Hindus believed that the sapphire rendered the planet Saturn favorable to the wearer, an important consideration from the astrological point of view, for Saturn's influence was generally supposed to be unfavorable. The Hindus distinguished four classes of sapphires, corresponding to the four castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras. The respective sapphires were light blue, reddish blue, yellowish blue, and dark blue. The same distinction is made in the case of the diamond, and a like rule applies to both stones, namely, that only the appropriate stone should be worn by the members of each caste, in order to profit by the virtues inherent in the sapphire or diamond. (Garbe, "Die indische Mineralien," Naharari's Rajanighantu, Varga XIII, Leipzig, 1882.) One of the Sanskrit appellations of the hyacinth (zir on) is rahuratna,--that is, the jewel dedicated to the mysterious "dragon," that was supposed to be the cause of the periodic eclipses of the Sun and Moon. (Garbe, "Die indische Mineralien," Naharari's Rajanighantu, Varga XIII, Leipzig, 1882.) As the stone was sacred to this malevolent influence, we need not be surprised that it was believed to avert misfortune, for nothing was so effective against the lesser spirits of evil as an evil genius of great power.

According to the Hindu mystics it was very lucky to have a turquoise at hand at the time of the new moon, for whoever, after first looking at the moon on the pratipada (the first day after new-moon), should cast his eyes upon a turquoise, was destined to enjoy immeasurable wealth. (Surindro Mohun Tagore, "Mani Mala," Pt. II, Calcutta, 1881.) ZODIACAL GEMS Aquarius. January 21 to February 21. The Garnet. If you would cherish friendship true, In Aquarius well you'll do To wear this gem of warmest hue--The garnet.

Pisces. February 21 to March 21. The Amethyst. From passion and from care kept free Shall Pisces' children ever be Who wear so all the world may see The amethyst.

Aries. March 21 to April 20. The Bloodstone. Who on this world of ours his eyes In Aries opens shall be wise If always on his hand there lies A bloodstone.

Taurus. April 20 to May 21. The Sapphire. If on your hand this stone you bind, You in Taurus born will find 'Twill cure diseases of the mind, The sapphire. Gemini. May 21 to June 21. The Agate. Gemini's children health and wealth command, And all the ills of age withstand, Who wear their rings on either hand Of agate.

Cancer. June 21 to July 22. The Emerald. If born in Cancer's sign, they say, Your life will joyful be alway, If you take with you on your way An emerald. Leo. July 22 to August 22. The Onyx. When youth to manhood shall have grown, Under Leo lorn and lone 'Twill have lived but for this stone, The onyx. Virgo. August 22 to September 22. Carnelian. Success will bless whate'er you do, Through Virgo's sign, if only you Place on your hand her own gem true, Carnelian.

Libra. September 22 to October 23. The Chrysolite. Through Libra's sign it is quite well To free yourself from evil spell, For in her gem surcease doth dwell, The chrysolite.

Scorpio. October 23 to November 21. The Beryl. Through Scorpio this gem so fair Is that which every one should wear, Or tears of sad repentance bear,-- The beryl.

Sagittarius. November 21 to December 21. The Topaz. Who first comes to this world below Under Sagittarius should know That their true gem should ever show A topaz.

Capricorn. December 21 to January 21. The Ruby. Those who live in Capricorn No trouble shall their brows adorn If they this glowing gem have worn, The ruby. An old Spanish list of the gems of the zodiacal signs differs from those given above, and probably represents Arab tradition: (Morales, "De las virtudes y propiedades marvillosas de las piedras preciosas," Valladolid, 1604, fols. 15a, 15b.) Aries--Crystal Taurus--Ruby and diamond Gemini--Sapphire Cancer--Agate and beryl Leo--Topaz Virgo--Magnet Libra--Jasper Scorpio--Garnet Sagittarius--Emerald Capricorn--Chalcedony Aquarius--Amethyst Pisces-- Of planetary stones (Rantzau, "Tractatus de genethliacorum thematum judiciis," Francofurti, 1633.) there is assigned to the sun the jacinth and the chrysolite, when this latter name was applied to the yellow Brazilian chrysoberyl, while the moon controls the beryl, the rock-crystal and also the pearl. To the share of Venus fall the sapphire and carbuncle as well as coral and pearl; usually the emerald is the stone of Venus. Mars lays claim to the diamond, jacinth, and ruby, the last-named stone according with the ruddy hue of our neighbor planet. Under the control of Jupiter are placed the emerald, sapphire, amethyst, and turquoise, so that the planet has the richest assortment of gems; it will be remarked that the celestial sapphire unites the influence of Venus and Jupiter, the two especially propitious planets. Lastly, far-away Saturn must be content with all dark, black, and brittle stones; there was, indeed, little inducement to wear a Saturnian stone, for the influence of this cold and distant planet was always regarded as baleful. The planetary controls of precious stones as given in the Lapidario of Alfonso X, according to "Chaldaic" tradition, show that the same stone was influenced in many or most cases by more than one of the "seven planets" (including the Sun and Moon). Thus the diamond, belonging to the first degree of the sign Taurus, was dominated by both Saturn and the Sun; the emerald was controlled by Jupiter, and also by Mercury and by Venus. The red jargoon was influenced by Mars, the yellow variety by Jupiter and the white jargoon by Venus. The carnelian received virtue from the Sun and from Venus. The ruby, although more especially a sunstone, came as well under the influence of the Planet of Love. Coral belonged both to Venus and to the moon, while lapis-lazuli and chalcedony only owed allegiance to Venus; this planet also 0lent virtue to the beryl(Lapidario del Rey D. Alfonso X; codice original, Madrid, 1881, fols. 101-109.) Among the Mohammedans, six of the seven heavens were supposed to be made of precious substances: the first was of emerald; the second, of white silver; the third, of large white pearls; the fourth, of ruby; the fifth, of red gold; and the sixth, of jacinth. The seventh and highest heaven, however, was of shining light. (Lane, "Arabian Society in the Middle Ages," ed. by Stanley Lane-Poole, London, 1883.) Here we have the three precious colored stones, emerald, ruby, and sapphire (jacinth), to which is added the pearl. The scarcity of the diamond in early times, and its comparative lack of brilliancy before the invention of rose and brilliant cutting, account for the absence of this king of gems.

Rabelais, (Pantagruel, liv. v, chap. xlii, Paris, 1833.) describing the temple of the oracle of the "Dive Bouteille," says that of its seven columns the first was of sapphire; the second, of jacinth; the third, of "dyamant"; the fourth, of the "male" balas-ruby; the fifth, of emerald, "more brilliant and glistening than were those which were set in place of eyes in the marble lion stretched before the tomb of King Hermias"; the sixth column was of agate, and the seventh of transparent selenite," with a splendor like that of Hymettian honey, and within appeared the moon in form and motion such as she is in the heavens, full and new, waxing and waning." We are then told that these stones were attributed to the seven planets by the Chaldaeans, as follows: Sapphire Saturn Jacinth Jupiter Diamond Sun Ruby Mars Emerald Venus Agate Mercury Selenite Moon Some of these attributions differ from those usually made and may represent another tradition.