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Bhavati
daivam
Most important in these synonyms is the colour of this gemstone which is Yellow. Peeta
means yellow. But there are several gemstones which are yellow in colour. This includes
yellow beryl, yellow sapphire, yellow topaz, yellow citrine and yellow tourmaline.
So what exactly is Pukhraja or Pushpragam?. Please note that most of the commentators
of classics have used the word topaz as the synonym for Pukhraja. Also nobody can
claim that yellow sapphire was called topaz in those times; as topaz or pushparaga has a
hardness of 8. Yellow sapphire has hardness of 9.
Today almost 99% of the astrologers and gemstone dealers sell yellow sapphire as
Pukhraja. The reason is very simple. A clear and bright coloured yellow sapphire can cost
you anywhere between Rs 5000 /carat to Rs 25000 /carat; depending on its size, cut, clarity &
colour. But a real topaz can only cost you 2000 to 3000 Rs /carat in its utmost finest quality.
Now there is a problem with yellow topaz as well. If you go to market to buy a yellow topaz,
you will only end up with citrine which is far cheaper than yellow topaz itself. It is so
controversial that if you happen to differentiate between topaz and citrine while buying it,
the seller will strongly oppose it and you may get dejected as a fool.
First of all let me quote some classics texts to prove that Pushragam is the stone related to
Jupiter:
Vaidyanath (Describing Jupiter and its qualities):
Devacharya Saukhyavigyansagara subhdo devejya jeevastubhaytovrajet purandaracharya dvipaat
budhalayagramcharo guruh; trishat varshani guruh shakhadhipo jevah ; devta indrah; devjayasya cha
Pushparaga
Mantreshwar. Grahbhedadhyaya, sloka 29:
Manikayam Tarne, sudharyamamalam muktaphalam sheetgo,
Maheasya cha vidrum, markatam saumyasya garutmatam,
Devdayasya cha pushpragam suramatyasya vajram shane
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Yellow sapphire
(Peela Neelam)
Trigonal
Crystal Habit
Yellow Topaz
(Pukhraj)
orthorhombic
sixsided barrel
shape tapering to
pyramid
terminations
Hardness Scale
9
Refractive Index 1.760 to 1.773
(RI)
Specific gravity 3.90 to 4.10
(SG)
Gem Colour
Yellow
Chemical
Al2O3
Composition
Topaz or Pukhraja
Yellow
neelam
elongate,
prismatic
Citrine
(Sold as topaz)
trigonal
crystal
system
Enantiomorphic
8.00
1.610 to 1.630
7 to 7 1/2
1.550.
3.54
2.6 2.7
Yellow
Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Yellow
SiO2
sapphire
or
Peela Citrine
As it must be clear through the pictures, all the three gemstones look equally alike and
appear like Pukhraja. A true Pukhraja can only be determined through lab tests. It is
generally clean and should not cost much. Yellow sapphire which is sold as Pukhraja is not
pukhraja and it is a very expensive gemstone.
In Manimala sloka 395, author says:
That a man who wears a faultlessly yellow topaz possessed of a beautiful shade, weighty,
exceedingly cool, flawless, and perfectly round, reaps fame, heroism, happiness, wealth and length of
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days. That topaz which is spotted, rough, white, yet dirty, light, void of lustre and containing
grits is noxious.
Pukhraja or Topaz as known to ancients:
This stone was called Pittdoh in Hebrew; by professor Aaron Pick, and Pittoh by
Gesenius, who thought that it
was derived from the Sanskrit
Today almost
99% of the astrologers and
word Pitta and that the
gemstone
dealers
sell
yellow
sapphire
as
Greek
Topasion
is
a
Pukhraja.
transposition from Pittdoh to
Tipdoh. The topaz is one stone
noticed in the Bible and was in the Middle Ages, considered to be the emblem of Apostle
James the Younger.
According to the ancients the topaz would become pale and obscure if it came in contact
with the poison. It soothed anger and quenched the heat of boiling water. It drove away
nightmares and sadness, strengthened the intellect, sharpened the wit, bestowed courage and
if bound on the left arm or hung round the neck, set in gold, it dispelled enchantments.
Who Should One Wear A Pukhraja:
ll gemstones should only be worn in the case when a certain planet associated to a
gemstone is weak but benefic. The gemstone of malefic planet who are functional
malefic should be strictly avoided. Topaz should be worn when Jupiter is benefic
but weakly placed in the horoscope. Good results from a weakly placed Jupiter in horoscope
and Shadbala table can be acquired by wearing a clean and proper coloured Pukraj.
Pukraj should not be worn with Rahu Ratna Gomedaka and Markat Mani or Emerald. It
should be embedded in Gold and should be worn in Index finger of the right hand. It can
also be embedded as a pendant in the necklace.
Weight:
lease note that weight of gemstone is not specified in classics. It is not necessary to
wear gemstones in particular weights. It is clear and understandable that gems should
be of certain weight and size so they can allow the light to pass through (which can be
any size above a carat). But particular weights are not mentioned in classics. I have seen
astrologers recommending gemstones in rattis and heavy weights without any specific reasons. This is
a bogus practise and has no base behind it.
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