All the religions of the world mention the use of crystals or gemstones for protection, healing and contemplation,

and as being a guide through the development of a person's individuality on a spiritual and material plane.

In every world's nation there has been and still exist experts who know the "secret" relationship between humans and stones whether through scientific methods, or through insight and identification with the matter.

The effects and the use of crystals or gemstones are often mentioned in the astrology of the East and the West, and this science connects crystals and gemstones with the influence of planets and stars affecting the whole of living with the spectrum of their radiation.

Determining the appropriate crystal or gemstone through the use of Astrology depends on the position of planets at the moment of birth and if the influence of a certain planet is considered "disturbing", it is recommended that a person wears a certain crystal or gemstone to diminish or neutralise these negative influences.

Astrologers emphasize that since each crystal and gemstone is unique, the precise choice has to be made. The real value of an expert is the capability to recognise and divide the nature, shape and meaning of the crystal or gemstone from it's emitting vibration and energy; the energy that actually creates this "union" with the person who wears it.

Possible effects range from strong to subtle ones, and every effect affects the psychological as well as physical plane;knowledge of which is familiar to the expert person and could be passed on to you, too. The birth-stone's effects in individuals Energy: Stabilizes the energy flow (Chackras) in and around the body. Magnetism: After the stabilisation of energy, a healthy relationship (polarity) occurs between the body cells. Psychic Influence: Helps in realising inner peace and stable directed consciousness. Fitness: Because of before mentioned effects, a condition of energy conservation is attained, resulting in increase of physical energy (body warmth). Protection: If performs a protection from psychic and mental influences. Health: Helps in maintaining the physical immunity and in neutralising any existing difficulties. Self-help: Placing your birth-stone on a troubled area, in the contact with the skin, you are performing self-help which can in a short time-span (5-10 min.) neutralise mild pains. Directions: It is undesirable to let any other person but you touch your birthstone. You can give help to another person only in cases of emergency. It is advised to keep the stone with you at all times. If you are separated from it for longer than 21 days there is a possibility that the stone will change it's vibration, and thereby break it's " contact" with you. In such a case, consult the expert. Jyotish gems have been prescribed by Vedic Astrologers for many centuries to combat the negative influences of the planets. Each planet has a corresponding gem. In India, the proper method of determining the right gem is to do a lifetime chart for the querent based on birth information. The proper stone is then prescribed. The stone must be worn in a ring or bracelet. How to wear the stone

To obtain the full benefic effect of stone, wear it while Moon is waxing on the specified day and time. Wearing it in the specified Nakshatra enhances the benefic effects of the stone. Take the stone of a size specified or greater in fractions of 1/4 Ratti rejecting fractions of 3/4 Ratti like 4 - 1/4 Ratti. Get it studded in the specified metal such that it touches the finger from bottom. If you are making a pendant then it should also touch your body. Before wearing it light lamp and incense stick and meditate on your God. Clean the ring in fresh milk and then Ganga water. Perform pooja and recite the specified mantra 108 times. Then wear the stone in the specified finger of your Left hand. After wearing the ring give alms as specified for that stone. If you are already wearing a stone then avoid wearing a contradictory stone as per the table below. By wearing the stone as specified here gives more benefic results in much lesser time.

STONE PLANET WEIGHT

METAL FINGER DAY

TIME

NAKSHATRA

RUBY

SUN

4 RATTI GOLD RING

SUN

MORNING

KRITTIKA, U PHAL, U SHAD

PEARL MON

4 RATTI SILVER LITTLE MON

MORNING

ROHINI, HASTA, SRAVANA

CORAL MAR

6 RATTI SILVER RING

MAR

MORNING

MRGSHRA, CHITRA, DHANISHTA

EMERALD REVATI

MER

4 RATTI GOLD LITTLE MER

MORNING

ASHLESHA, JYESHTHA,

YELLOW SAPPHIRE VISHAKHA, P BHA

JUP

4 RATTI GOLD FIRST

JUP

MORNING

PUNRAVASU,

DIAMOND VEN PHAL, P SHADA

1/4 RATTI

PLATINUM

LITTLE VEN

MORNING

BHARANI, P

BLUE SAPH SAT ANURADHA, U BHAD

4 RATTI 5-METAL

MIDDLESAT

EVENING

PUSHYA,

GOMEDRAH

5 RATTI 8-METAL

MIDDLESAT

NIGHT ARDRA, SWATI, SHATBHISHA

CAT'S EYE

KET

6 RATTI SILVER RING

JUP

NIGHT ASHWANI, MAGHA, MOOLA

Stone

Mantra

Contradictory Stone Diamond, B-Saph, Gomed

Items Wheat, Sandal,

Ruby Om Ghirini Suryaye Namah Ghee, Red Cloth Pearl White Cloth Om Som Somaye Namah

Gomed

Rice, Sugar, Curd,

Coral Om Am Angarkaye Namah Gur, Red Cloth Emerald Green Cloth Om Bum Budhaye Namah

Diamond, Gomed, B-Saph

Wheat, Copper,

----

Moong, Bronze,

Y-Saph Om Brim Brihaspataye Namah Gur, Yellow Cloth Diamond White Cloth B-Saph Black Cloth Gomed Blue Cloth Cat's eye Brown Cloth Om Shum Shukrayaye Namah

Diamond, Gomed

Gram Pulse,

Ruby, Coral, Y-Saph

Rice, Silver,

Om Sun Shaneshcharaye Namah

Ruby, Coral, Y-Saph

Horse Bean, Oil,

Om Ram Rahave Namah

Ruby, Pearl, Coral

Mole, Oil, Lead,

Om Kem Ketve Namah

----

7 Corns, Coconut,

In ancient Vedic texts, like the Brihat Samhita, the origin and healing powers of various gems are discussed. Persons may use substitute stones instead of the more expensive gems. Red garnet can replace ruby; moonstone can replace

pearl; jade, peridot, or green tourmaline can replace emerald; and yellow topaz or citrine can replace yellow sapphire. Planet Gem Helps Heals

Sun Ruby / Red Garnet Vayu / Kapha heart, spleen, hypertension, infections, fevers, bile, hot temper, impatience, brain, acne, low energy, poor circulation, edema, eyesight, bones, arthritis Moon Moonstone/Pearl Vayu / Pitta infertility, kidney, lung and mental disorder

Mars Red Coral Pitta fevers, inflammations, ulcers, bleeding problems, weak muscles, liver, small intestines, vitality, accidents Mercury Green Gems Pitta / Mind vertigo, giddy, lethargic, mental problems, stuttering, memory loss, anxiety, nervous indigestion Jupiter Yellow Gems Vayu / Kapha weak immune system, tumors, arterial circulation, weight, jaundice, liver, abscess, pancreas, nerve and gland dysfunction Venus Diamond/Clear Zircon Vayu / Kapha infertility, weak bones, weak immune system reproductive and urinary system, kidneys, anemia,

Saturn Blue Sapphire / Amethyst / Lapis Vayu / Pitta constipation, epilepsy, paralysis, cancer, immune disease Rahu Gomedha All

weak bones, nerves, vitality,

nervousness, indigestion, loss of coordination, mental disorders

Ketu Cats Eye All poor digestion or circulation, bleeding, weak muscles, nervous system, cancer, paralysis, immune diseases

Wearing gemstones is without any doubt a concept that dates long back in the history and perhaps no one knows when and where were the first gemstones worn and who wore

those gemstones. The only thing we do know is that people have been fascinated by the beauty of gemstones and have worn them. And many of them have worn them even without knowing the good or bad effects that the gemstones may bring to them. I guess they were just charmed by some

gemstone and so they wore it. And even to the date there are many people who wear gemstones only because they are attracted or fascinated by some particular gemstone or gemstones. While on the other hand there are many people who wear gemstones to get benefits from them. And when it comes to the benefits given by gemstones, there are so many different concepts regarding which gemstone or gemstones are suitable for a person. There are a number of beliefs, methods and techniques in astrology and every astrologer generally prescribes or recommends a suitable gemstone or the suitable gemstones for his client depending upon the kind of astrology and belief he is practicing in. And as different theories or techniques of astrology use different methods to prescribe the gemstones, it is quite possible that a person may get different kinds of recommendations from different astrologers depending upon the method of astrology they follow and also upon the extent of knowledge they posses irrespective of the method of astrology they follow. So Ill discuss some of the concepts and misconceptions practiced by astrologers in prescribing the gemstones. Lets start it with the Sun Signs. Many astrologers now a days are prescribing gemstones on the basis of Sun Sign of a person which would mean that all the people born in a particular period of about a month are supposed to wear the same gemstones. And many astrologers pay importance to Sun Signs only even when predicting the nature or luck of a person, Which in my opinion is absolutely wrong because if the Sun Sign alone is to decide everything in the horoscope of a person, then there would be only 12 types of people in this world which is not found in actual practice as there are millions of different kinds of individuals having different natures and different lucks. So this theory does not hold good in my opinion. Ive been strongly recommending my clients as well as some of my fellow astrologers that they should not pay attention to the Sun Signs alone as there are a number of Signs, Planets and aspects in a horoscope and they result in so many different permutations and combinations which make people different from each other. So in my opinion no predictions should be made from the Sun Signs alone and no gemstones should be prescribed seeing the Sun Signs alone. And there is this concept of wearing the gemstones based on the date of birth alone. According to this concept, all the people born on a particular date, month and year should wear the same gemstones as they are supposed to have the same lucky gemstones which would indicate that they may somehow have the same lucks also. Which again does not sound convincing to me as it would again restrict the number of permutations and combinations which are the backbone of astrology in my opinion. Different persons born on the same dates can be and generally are quite different from each other with different natures and different lucks. So wearing a gemstone based on the date of birth alone does not sound convincing to me. In fact gemstones worn based on such theories can cause great damages to the wearer if they are not suitable according to the horoscope of the person wearing them. Then there are some astrologers who believe that the safest way to prescribe a gemstone is to find out the Ascendant in the natal chart or horoscope of a person and then prescribe the gemstone belonging to the ruling planet for that Ascendant. For example if the Ascendant in someones natal chart or horoscope is Aquarius, then Blue Sapphire is the safest prescription as Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, so Saturn becomes the Lord of Ascendant and the Lord of Ascendant can never bring bad results to the native according to these astrologers. Whereas I have personally witnessed many

cases where people wearing gemstones based on the above mentioned concept have suffered huge financial, physical and emotional losses after wearing the gemstones. Some astrologers even believe in prescribing the gemstone based on the birth constellation which was rising at the time of birth of a person. Whereas in my opinion, this is again a theory with very limited scope and needs a very little knowledge on the part of the astrologer to assign a gemstone to some person. All you have to do is put the birth details provided by the person in a software and get a horoscope on your screen in matter of seconds, look at the Ascendant or the Constellation and assign the gemstones. And believe me, prescribing a gemstone is not as easy and simple as any of the above mentioned methods make it look. There are a number of aspects and concepts which are to be analyzed properly before predicting anything from a horoscope and before prescribing any gemstones. And there is one more belief among some astrologers practicing in Vedic Astrology. The astrologers practicing in this belief prescribe the gemstones based upon the ruling periods of planets irrespective of the fact whether they are working positively or negatively in a horoscope. For example, if a native is running under Saturns main period and Jupiters sub period, such astrologers would prescribe him a Blue Sapphire and a Yellow Sapphire without even bothering to know whether both of these planets are working positively or negatively in the horoscope of that native. Gemstones worn according to this theory can be the most destructive ones compared to all other theories, if any or both of the planets having their ruling periods are negative. A planet gains additional strength in its ruling periods whether it is positive or negative. And in case of negative planets, the strength of a negative planet is already at very high levels during its ruling period and youre just adding more to its strength by wearing the gemstone for that planet. Imagine the kind of damage it can do when it is already at its worst and you are supplying it with additional energy. On the other hand if the planets having their ruling periods are positive, wearing gemstones for them will further enhance the benefits coming from them. So it is of foremost importance to check the nature of a planet before prescribing gemstone for that planet. And last but not the least, there are some astrologers who believe that gemstones should be worn for the planets which are working negatively in your horoscope and not for the planets which are working positively in your horoscope. They believe that the nature of the planets acting negatively in your horoscope can be changed by wearing gemstones for them. And some of them even go further and say that they have especially charged these gemstones so that they would transmit only positive radiations to your body even if those planets are working negatively for you. And with due respect to the beliefs of every astrologer, let me tell you one thing that the functional nature of a planet for a person is decided as and when he takes birth and it can not be changed merely by wearing a gemstone for that planet. Gemstones work in a scientific way and they only transmit the energy of the planet they belong to, into your body, which means that they can only strengthen the energy of a planet inside your body and accordingly change the strength of the radiations emitted by you. But they are not capable of changing the functional nature of a planet. For example, an Injection of Insulin when injected in a persons body is only supposed to increase the amount of insulin present in the body of that person. So it should only be used in case of the persons who are suffering from High levels of Blood Sugar. And what would happen if you inject the same amount of insulin in the body of a person who is already suffering from Low Blood Sugar. Well this one is easy, and there are no points for guessing it. So as soon as you wear a gemstone for a planet which is negative for you, its negativity gains strength and starts bothering and troubling you

with even more strength. So it is my strong advice to everyone reading this article that if someone recommends wearing a gemstone saying that this will change the nature of the planet, and the negative planet will start behaving positively, dont buy this opinion and just find an excuse to leave the place as soon as you can. The effects of negative planets can only be reduced by the use of some special astrological remedies, and the use of gemstones is absolutely prohibited for the planets indicating negative results in your horoscope. So the gemstones are worn only for positive planets and not for the negative planets. And talking about the positive planets, let me tell you one more secret that even a planet working positively in your horoscope is quite capable of giving some side effects. And as you wear the gemstone for this particular planet, you start getting many of its positive results along with some negative ones, which may be different in different cases. For example, if Saturn is working very positively in someones horoscope and it is giving good results in the professional life of this person with an added side effect which brings throat problems in the case of this person. Now as this person wears a Blue Sapphire, his professional life will become far better while at the same time, his throat will start giving him more problems. However this phenomenon holds good only in some cases and generally the planets working positively for a person are capable of giving their good results to the native without any major side effects. And wearing gemstones for such planets would definitely enhance the chances of success in the fields of your life ruled by the lords of the gemstones you are wearing. Now coming to the end and summarizing the discussion, the gemstones should only be prescribed and worn after a proper analysis of the horoscope and not by looking at just one sign, date or constellation. And the most important thing to remember is that never wear gemstones for the planets working negatively in your horoscope and only wear gemstones for the planets working positively in your horoscope and which are not giving any major side effects. By Himanshu Shangari