Navaratna (Sanskrit: नवरत्न) is a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems". Jewelry
created in this style has important cultural significance in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, among other
religions.
Royal setting
The ancient origin of the 9
Gems—called Navaratna in Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, Burmese, Indonesian,
and Nepalese, Navarathinam in Tamil, Navarathnalu in Telugu,Navarathnam in Malayalam, Navaratne in Singhalese, and Nawarat or Noppharat in Thai—has proved
impossible to trace. Yet such importance is given to this combination of nine
gems that they are recognized as sacred and royal in almost all the countries
of Asia,
including, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam,Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, regardless
of religious and cultural differences.
Gems and planets
Late Thai astrologer Horacharn Thep Sarikabutr has given
the meaning of these nine gems in his Parichad-Jataka (chapter 2, verse 21, page
35–36) translated as follows:
"Top quality and
flawless ruby is the gem for the Sun, natural pearl for the Moon, red coral for
Mars, emerald for Mercury yellow sapphire for Jupiter, diamond for Venus, blue
sapphire for Saturn, hessonite for Rahu (ascending lunar node), and cat's eye
for Ketu (descending lunar node)."
maaNikyaM taraNeH
sujaatyamamalaM muktaaphalaM shiitagoH
maaheyasya cha vidrumaM
marakataM saumyasya gaarutmatama
devejyasya cha puShparaajamasuraachaaryasya vajraM shaneH
devejyasya cha puShparaajamasuraachaaryasya vajraM shaneH
niilaM
nirmalamanyayoshcha gadite gomedavaiduuryake
Translation:
9. Cat's Eye for Ketu (the descending node of the
Moon),
...these gems must be high-born and flawless.
...these gems must be high-born and flawless.
Setting arrangement
The traditional setting and
arrangement of these nine gems is shown in the illustration. A ruby
(representing the Sun) is always in the center, surrounded (clockwise from the
top) by a diamond, a natural pearl, red coral, hessonite, a blue sapphire,
cat's eye, a yellow sapphire, and an emerald. This is the same placement as the
Nava-graha Yantra.
Traditionally, no gem other
than a ruby or a red spinel is set in the center of a nine gems arrangement. To
do so is believed to go against the flow of nature. Because the Sun is the
center of the solar system, its gem is positioned in the heart of a Navaratna.Talisman.
For an example of the
navaratna in a necklace setting, see Thailand's "The Queen Sirikit Navaratna."
Navaratna gem purity
In the above sloka the words sujatyam-amalam (sujati=high born,
and amala=completely pure or
flawless) are significant. According to Asian belief systems, only clean,
top-quality gems are considered to be auspicious.
In further support of this
mostly overlooked dictate, in the Hindu "Garuda Puranam,"
chap. 68, verse 17, it is stated by narrator Sri Suta Goswami:
"Pure, flawless
gems have auspicious powers which can protect one from demons, snakes, poisons,
diseases, sinful reactions, and other dangers, while flawed stones have the
opposite affect."
"A gem free from
all impurities and radiating its characteristic internal luster should be
looked upon as an escort of good luck; a gem which is cracked, fissured, devoid
of luster, or appearing rough or sandy, should not be used at all."
Gems in sidereal astrology
According to Hindu astrology,
life on earth is influenced by the navagrahas, or nine influencers. The
placement of the navagrahas in one's horoscope
supposedly have an influence throughout an individual's life. Wearing the nine
gems is said to provide an astrological balance and benefit to the wearer.
Hindu astrology also says that these gems potentially may have both positive or
negative influences on human life, and that astrological gems should be worn
only after consulting a Vedic astrologer, who is also conversant with gems.
Based on an individual's sidereal horoscope, either a
single gem or a combination of compatible gems is advised to be worn to harness
beneficial planets or counteract harmful planets. The supposed
"astrological" or "piezoelectric" benefit of wearing or
donating gems has not been scientifically quantified.