What do Gemstones or Ratna do? Why and How do they affect human beings?

The write-up explains why and how gemstones affect us.

The bodies in the sky like (constellations, various planets, sub-planets, etc), are constantly influencing us and we are feeling, acting, and behaving accordingly. These forces from heavenly bodies are present all the time in the form of fields around us. This field can influence us because we are made up of its constituents, just like gravity acts on us. After all, we have mass in our body.

The effect of all the spatial bodies including constellations can be linked to 1 of the 9 planets (grahas) accepted in Vedic Astrology.1 out of these 9 planets also rules one or more signs (rashis).

On the gross level, the field of each planet influences a native depending upon its core influence on him. This core influence can be known by reading the birth chart of the native or by studying the “maps of spatial bodies in the sky” at the beginning of his life on planet Earth.

What we are made up of and the corresponding planet (graha) that governs this aspect according to Jyotish (Indian Astrology) are:

Human beings have a soul, a mind, and a body. The body is made up of 5 basic elements called 5 maha bhutas/ 5 tatwas in Sanskrit. These five building blocks are fire, earth, air, water, and sky. They also govern our five primary senses to experience life: sight (eyes), smell (nose), touch (skin), taste (tongue), and hearing (ears).

Our life on planet Earth is trapped in two extremities in the material world.

1. Material pursuit: having a sense of I ness, completely trapped in the world of illusion (Maya), having all the 6 weaknesses (or 6 ripus), enjoying the stay in the world and wanting it to last forever, living life in the pursuit of materialism and pleasures.

2. Spiritual pursuit: looking for a way out from this material world: either pursuing exit/ death or in a more advanced form seeking detachment from the material world and progressing towards self-realization with the Divine Supreme (Nirvana or liberation from this cycle of birth and rebirth).

 

In addition to this, each planet is associated with some attributes, qualities, and characteristics that it grants to a human being depending on its placement in the birth chart.

Some of the basic characteristics and attributes of the 9 planets, along with their corresponding gemstone are :

 

 

Planet	Attributes, qualities, and characteristics	Corresponding Gemstones and their Names
Sun	Leadership, management, spirituality, knowledge of beats and rhythm (dancers/musicians), etc.	Ruby
Moon	Compassion, imagination, healing, nurturing, social skills, etc.	Pearl
Mars	Strength, logical thinking, courage, discipline, ability to defend or attack, etc.	Red Coral
Mercury	Learning ability, analytical ability, communication, humor, etc.	Emerald
Venus	Sensuality, worldly intelligence, artistic qualities, fighting spirit, self-motivation, the spirit of enjoyment/ entertainment, etc.	Diamond
Jupiter	Wisdom, judgment, knowledge, righteousness, etc.	Yellow Sapphire
Saturn	Hard work, patience, perseverance, ability to tolerate pain (physical and mental), etc.	Blue Sapphire
Rahu	Research, innovative thinking, diplomacy, ability to spy	Hessonite
Ketu	Intuition, mathematics, detachment, ability to hide, ability to do precision work, etc.	Cat’s Eye

 

To gain comprehensive insight into the 9 planets, called Navagraha in Sanskrit, read our article:
9 Planets and Their Characteristics in Astrology: A Complete Guide

Moreover, each planet is responsible for some important aspects of one’s life (like health, spouse, property, career, education, etc). How well the planet takes care of these aspects is a combination of various factors. That is also seen according to its placement, strength, and relationships with other planets in the birth chart, etc. The final effects that a human being experiences, in general and/or at a particular time, is a combination of all these factors. It can be desirable, undesirable, or just neutral.

So every planet has a significant role to play in our lives.

Vedic Scriptures teach the association of each planet with a particular gemstone.

A gemstone acts as a regulator as it can alter the intake of energy associated with the planet, present in the form of a field around us.

A gemstone can augment the transfer of this planetary energy to us: thereby making the planet stronger for a native.

or

A gemstone can hinder or reduce this transfer of energy to us: thereby making the planet weaker for a native.

The moment one wears a gemstone for a planet, all the aspects signified and governed by it are influenced and accordingly the feelings, thoughts, and actions of human beings are altered. This can be good or bad. So whether to increase the strength of the planet or to reduce it requires judicious evaluation on the part of Vedic astrologers.

Wearing a prescribed gemstone in a prescribed manner brings desirable internal changes and enables one to influence his outer world for his benefit.

The gemstone should be natural, free from large inclusions and it should not be broken.

Caution with the use of Ratna!

Gemstones alter human behavior in many different ways depending upon numerous factors listed above. The suitability of a gemstone based on the following criteria should be evaluated before prescribing it to ensure the well-being of the native, though the list is not exhaustive.

1. Suitability of the planet in Rashi Chart (D1) and other Divisional Charts up to D30 (Dn: Varga Chakras). Lordships, placement, yogas, graha drishtis, rashi drishtis, and argalas from important Lagnas like Lagna (LA), Arudha Lagna (AL), Hora Lagna, Ghati Lagna in important divisional charts.

2. The natural signification (naisargik karak tatwa) of the planet.

3. The variable soul level significance (chara karak tatwa) of the planet for the native.

4. Panchanga or 5 Tatwa (5 basic elements) lordship of the planet for the native.

5. Suitability of the planet according to 27 Constellation (Nakshatra) scheme for the native from Lagna (LA) and Moon both: janma, sampat, karma, manas, sanghatik nakshatra etc.

It is quite possible that a gemstone is good for one aspect of life like work and is completely disastrous for many other aspects like marriage, relationships, and health.

It is equally likely that one single gemstone is good for many aspects for a native like business, health, marriage etc. It all depends up on case to case.

An ethical Vedic astrologer must indicate all the aspects (good and bad) of wearing gemstone to a native. To wear it or not should be the final decision of the native himself.

-If you would like to wear a gemstone, then Contact Gaurav Dave for consultation. He is a Vedic Astrologer and a graduate Gemologist, and will use the best of his knowledge to give you the right advice.