Rishi Goldsmith's blog

Species

Metallic oxides are responsible for imparting color to this mineral. If not for these impurities present in the crystal structure of corundum, it would be colorless. Red stones of the corundum species are termed as rubies while the yellow coloured stones are termed as yellow sapphire or Pusparaj/Pokhraj and the rest colors are known as sapphires with the color prefix.
Corundum is found in many colors besides red and blue. Colorless Sapphire is called leuko-sapphire, yellow, violet, green and even brown colors may be found. Also sometimes found is a very rare and highly valued orange color, known as 'padparadscha' (from the Sinhalese word for 'lotus flower'). Occasionally color-changing sapphires can be found; asterism and star-stones come in almost all colors.

Hardness

Hardness is the same as ruby (9 on the Moh's scale) and also differs differently in different directions (an important factor which need to be kept in mind during cutting).

Determination of Specific Gravity

Specific gravity of a gemstone is the ratio of its weight to the same volume of water. Since there is no definite demarcation between ruby and sapphire, the same tests for measuring specific gravity are used as those for ruby. The Clerici solution is used to measure the specific gravity of sapphire as this solution is the heaviest among the high-density liquids available. The stone when suspended in the Clerici solution should be clean and dry as the tweezers and other apparatus used for the test. Care is should also be taken that these are free from other organic solutions before immersing the gem in the solution. Natural sapphire will have an SG approximating 3.99. An exception is iron-rich yellow, green and blue-green sapphires, which may have specific gravity as high as 4.00. Once the SG is confirmed to be that of corundum, the gemologist moves on to the next step.

Refractive Index

Light rays leaving one medium and entering another obliquely seem to bend a little at the place of contact. This is called refraction of light. During gem testing, measuring the refractive index or RI helps the gemologist observe the indices of refraction of light on a particular species of gemstone. The refractive index for sapphire is measured exactly in the same way as that of ruby, both being of the same species, their RI is the same. Spot readings are taken for cabochon cut sapphires; faceted stones are placed facedown on the glass of a Refractometer with a small amount of contact liquid and the reading is taken. The RI of sapphire will be 1.76 to 1.77.

Double Refraction

When a ray of light enters a crystal having a Trigonal system in directions other than the optic axis, it splits into two distinct rays. This is known as double refraction. The Sapphire, being of the Trigonal crystal structure shows two indices of refraction in a polariscope. These are known as the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray. Birefringence is the difference between the highest and lowest refractive indices. Sapphire has a birefringence of - 0.008, with a negative sign because the ordinary ray is f greater value.

Pleochroism

The fact that there are two rays in these stones has an effect on color, for each of these rays absorbs light differently and as the stone is turned it shows a slightly different shade of color. This effect known as Dichroism, is seen fairly well in sapphires of all colors except in colorless and yellow stones. The most attractive color is that of the ordinary ray in sapphire, which is a deep royal blue.

Fluorescence

In the case of blue sapphires, UV fluorescence is practically non-existent. Except maybe Sri Lankan sapphires, which have chromium traces. These show a red or orange glow under long wave and weak blue glow under short wave. 

Microscopic Examination

Without doubt the final and most determinative test to decide the authenticity of any gemstone is its examination under a microscope.

Gemologists rely on their expertise and experience to spot the inclusions before taking the final call on the authenticity and grade of a gemstone. The best stones are those with no major color zoning problems, which are well-cut, eye clean and most importantly of an intense blue color. Inclusions (irregularities in the crystal structure and internal flaws) in sapphire are straight angular growth lines following the crystal faces.

Included rutile needles or hematite plates are called 'silk', which bring about a soft sheen in the stone. When such a stone is cut en cabochon these rutile needles or 'silk' brings about the rare cat's eye effect or the very desirable asterism (a six rayed star that shimmers above the stones surface when it is moved). 

Rhombohedral twinning and boehmite needles are inclusions exclusive to natural corundum and have never been observed in flux grown synthetic corundums. Inclusions typical to synthetic sapphire are curved growth lines (thin striae or bands), gas bubbles and dense clouds of extremely fine rutile silk in star stones. These clouds do not show the straight angular zoning patterns that natural stones show but have curving bands instead.

Treatment and look-alikes

Through heat treatment at temperatures of about 1700-1800 degrees C, some cloudy sapphires, non-distinct in color, can change to a bright blue permanent color. Sapphires can be confused with benitoite, indicolite, iolite, spinel, tanzanite, topaz, zircon and even blue glass. Some imitations are made using doublets, blue cobalt glass with a crown of garnet or a crown of green sapphire and a pavilion of synthetic blue sapphire. 

Today, synthetic sapphires having properties identical to the natural stone are being produced commercially.

 Kaal sarp yoga is one of the deadliest yoga in vedic astrology.A person who is born under the affliction of kaal sarp yoga leads to a life full of pain and misfortune.Kaal sarp yoga is formed when all the planets are hemmed in between Rahu and Ketu in one’s horoscope.The horoscope above illustrates the case of complete kaal sarp yoga where rahu is located in the ascendant and ketu is positioned in the seventh house while all the rest planets are hemmed in between rahu and ketu axis and hence complete kaal sarp yoga is formed .
Now if there had been a case where even  one planet had been positioned  outside the Rahu & Ketu Axis then there would be no possibility of  Kaalsarp Yoga.
          In today’s era I see plenty of rumors regarding Kaal Sarp yoga.Kaalsarp yoga is not always responsible for bad lucks,pains and misfortune instead they sometime confer gains and prosperity too.If a person is having kaalsarp yoga in his/her horoscope then it is not always the case that he/she will have to suffer from lonliness,bad lucks,pain and misfortune in their lives.The intensity of the harmful effects of kaalsarp yoga or any other evil yoga in a horoscope depends upon the strength and intensity of positive effect of the ascendant and its lord in one’s horoscope.
For example: A person is born under leo ascendant along with kaalsarp yoga in his horoscope.Sun is located in the ninth house in aries zodiac sign both in lagna and navamansha kundli.This person is one among the top rated industrialist in the country.Here what I meant to explain is ,that kaalsarp in not always responsible for badlucks,pain and misfortune in one’s life.Although a person is having kaalsarp yoga but at the same time he/she is also having a strong ascendant then he/she will hardly feel any impact of kaalsarp yoga or any other malefic yogas in their life.
                      In short Kaalsarp yoga will be able to show its malefic effects only in the situation where the ascendant and its lord are in a weak position in the horocscope.If the ascendant and its lord is positioned in a strong and exalted position then the malefic effects of the kaalsarp yoga gets nullified.

This article is in public interest about the Inauspicious Rahu and Ketu Kaal.
INAUSPICIOUS TIME OF THE WEEK

·       Traveling to unknown destinations during Ketukaal is highly dangerous.

·       Starting any auspicious work during Rahukaal usually leads to unsuccessfulness.

In vedic astrology,astral gems are recommended inorder  to boost up the beneficial effects of auspicious planets.So gems are always recommended for Anukul planets inorder to overcome the negative effect’s of malefic planets in one’s karmic life map.And this procedure of recommending a vedic gem is termed "Gem Therapy".But it is not always true that gemtherapy shows positive results in one’s karmic life.I have noticed several failure of gem therapy in my astrological career and also found out the reasons why GemTherapy fails?

I shall explain in brief about the several reasons of the failure of gem therapy in vedic astrology.

Recommendation Of Gems is Incorrect but Gems is Correct.: In my previous article “Why vedic gems are recommended?” I have mentioned the systems of recommending vedic gems.Vedic gems should always be recommended for Anukul planets and not for Pratikul planets.To make gem therapy work one has to analyze the chart as a whole including Rasi, Lagna, Navamasa, Planetary periods and Gochara. General recommendations such as you are a Virgo native and hence an emerald will suit you leads to very ordinary and in many cases it leads to negative results.I have seen several cases where recommendations of vedic gems are made just on the basis of the Nakshatra, the Janma Rasi,the Ascendant i.e the Lagna and many times gems recommendation of the dasha lord-the major planetary period without an actual assessment of the planetary position in total. This sometimes leads to escalation of major problems rather than solutions.

• Case Study:An individual born in Swati Nakshatra was recommended to wear a Hessonite just because he was born in Swati Nakshatra which is ruled by Rahu. Well this individual just went ahead and wore a massive 6 ratti Hessonite . Result- In one week, while riding, his motorbike he had an accident and got his legs broken. His consultant did not bother to check that his Rahu was posited in the 8th house (the house of losses and accidents) in the zodiac sign of Sagittarius which is its debilitated zodiac sign.

Recommendation is Correct but Gems is Incorrect:This is the scenario which leads to maximum failures in Gem Therapy.Following are some general causes where a gems become incorrect.

• Gem is heavily flawed & opaque- Natural gemstones will have some visible inclusions which prove that they were born in the lap of Mother Earth and not created in a laboratory. However a good quality gemstone is characterized by a uniform cut, good clarity with little  inclusions, having a good lustre & polish and adequate size.Vedic Gems should not be opaque otherwise it can’t pass the cosmic light of its concerning planet through it to the wearer’s body causing no benefits to the wearer.So one should always prefer clean and light passing transparent gems .If gems are heavily flawed and opaque then instead of giving fruitful results these gems start giving adverse results.
  

• Synthetic and Imitation Gems:It is a another case of incorrect gems. It is always seen that few goldsmiths and astro-consultants sell synthetic and imitations gems as natural gems with a greed of making fast money.In my opinion it is totally worthless using any synthetic or imitation gems for astrological purpose because these stones don’t have any vibrations in themselves hence the wearer will neither feel any positive effect nor he/she will face any side effects  after wearing synthetic stones.So please stop fooling yourselves by wearing synthetic or imitation gems.

Recommendation is incorrect, Gemstone is incorrect.This is a combination of the above two clauses. However sometimes this clause goes to really worst levels. An individual who came to consult me was wearing a Blue Sapphire in the middle finger of right hand in silver and a coral in the ring finger of right hand in Gold. I asked him to enlighten me on this unique combination. He said that his ascendant was aries and his astrologer had advised that the Blue Sapphire was supposed to bring in wealth and smoothen his karmashetra because saturn was the lord of the tenth and eleventh house in his natal chart while coral  was to gain a better health. I do not know whether these objectives were met but this individual was suffering from chronic depression, high blood pressure, financial crisis after using these two gemstones together. When i analyzed his horoscope then i found that both saturn and mars were ill placed in his natal chart.I just asked him to remove both the gemstones for a period of minimum 42 days and revert back. The result- barring all his health and financial parameters improved including a stabilized blood pressure level & smooth incoming of financial gains . 

Recommendation is correct, Gemstone is correct but use is improper.     I call this scenario as the case of so near and yet so far. To get a proper recommendation and a good gemstone is extremely good fortune. But the karmic life map works to bring flaws even in this system. I have such a long list of reasons which lead to failure  but I will stick to the basic ones: 

• Frequent removal of the gemstone ring- Many individuals remove their rings while visiting the rest room, eating non vegetarian food, enjoying intimate pleasures thinking that their gem will get some bad energy. We should be aware of the fact that gems are  formed in the womb of mother earth over a period of million of years absorbing the panch bhootas of earth, water, fire, air and space. They are so Sattvik that they can never get bad energies. A gem has worked hard to bring up the positive vibration within us. As soon as we remove it, those vibration goes back to the base line and then the gem works hard again to bring it back. So we should never remove our vedic gemstones from our body.One should remove the gemstone only when visiting a funeral or a cremation ground for someone’s last rights.

• Letting other people wear your gemstone. This should be avoided at all costs. Your gemstone has been energized in your name and birth star and is attuned to your body energies and destiny. Let other people see and appreciate your gemstone but do not let them wear your gemstone.

• Having too much expectation from the gemstone. I have seen this scenario in a majority of people who expect miracles from the day they start wearing their vedic gemstones.Vedic gems are not meant for instant magic or miracles .They are worn to clear the blockages of our chakras,also to clear the negative blocks formed by the malefic planets and to strenghten the auspicious effect of anukul planets .So we should treat our gemstone as our most intimate friend without expecting too much from it .Gems therapy works but we need to keep patience.

• Gem set in the ring but no physical contact with the body:This is the most happening case where people are recommended right gems and they also wear the right vedic gems but the gems is set in the ring in such a manner that it barely makes any physical contact with the wearer’s body as a result the gemstone fail to supply the cosmic energy of its concerning planet to the wearer's body causing no benefits to its wearer.

• Weight of the gems not as per the body weight of its wearer: I have noticed several astro-consultant prescribing gems between 5 ratti to 5.25 ratti to every body irrespective to their body weight.As a result the wearer don’t feel any good or bad changes before and after wearing the gems.To feel the astral talisman of vedic gems,their weight should be in right proportion to the body weight of the wearer.There is simple formulae for determining the weight of the gems to be consumed.The body weight of the wearer should be divided by 12  and now what ever result we get that should be the minimum weight of the gemstone.For example: a person weighing 84 kg should wear a gems weighing 7 ratti or anything more than 7ratti.If  he/she wear anything less than 7 ratti then he/she will not notice any effect before and after wearing the stone.

Conclusion :If we consider on the above mentioned clauses,then I guarantee that Gem Therapy will work 100%. 

Whenever we go to an astrologer,our astrologer read our horoscopes and then he/she separates two group of planets.One group representing all the auspicious planets while the other group representing the malefic planets.The auspicious planets are always beneficial while the malefic planets are harmful for the native of the horoscope.
                             So,now inorder to accelerate the effects of malefic or auspicious planets in one's karmic life map i.e horoscope ,an astrologer recommends to wear a particular vedic gems ,of a particular weight on a particular day after following the ritual procedure of wearing the gems.
                            Now let me clearify the concept of recommending a vedic gems.Normally there are two major concept of Gems Recommendation.They are Anukul-vad and the other Pratikul-vad.

• Anukul-vad: a vedic gems act the same way as its concerning planet.So gems should be choosen for anukul(auspicious)planets in one's horoscope.For example: If sun is placed in exalted zodiac sign i.e aries in one's natal chart and the sun is also  the lord of the ascendant then it will act as the most anukul planet in the horoscope and hence a astrologer who beleive in Anukul-Vad will undoubtfully recommend the native to wear a fine quality ruby .

•   Pratikul-vad:A vedic gems will act "OPPOSITE" of it's concerning planet - So gems should be chosen for Pratikul (malefic) planets in one's horoscope.For example if saturn is debilitated(malefic) in one's horoscope then an astrologer who follows Pratikul-vad will advice to wear a blue sapphire to the native of the horoscope bcoz in pratikul-vad system it is believed that a malefic planet in one's horoscope lessen its malefic effects when the native wear its concerning vedic gems.This concepts means to say that a particular malefic planet gets pleased and hence it becomes favourable for the native when he/she wear the planet's concerning gems. So vedic gems are recommended to convert malefic planets  in to auspicious planets in one's horoscope.

                                      In my opinion the concept of pratikul-vad is not totally ill-logic bcoz vedic gems only increase the cosmic vibration of their concerning planets in form of light energy and thermal energy.It has nothing to do with the nature of the planet.Vedic gems  works just like  an electric voltage stablizer.An voltage stablizer is installed in our house when there is difficiency of the required voltage say (200volt)  in our power supply so now inorder to compensate the difficiency of the power voltage we install a voltage stablizer and the job of the voltage stablizer is to regulate the incoming voltage and deliver a pre-desired voltage say 210 volt . In the same manner a vedic gems is recommended just to boost up the cosmic vibration of its concerning planet.It has nothing to do with the nature of the planet .So a vedic gems should only be recommended to wear for increasing the cosmic vibration of auspicious i.e favourable  planets in one's horoscope.

I hope this article be a helpful tool in recommendation of a vedic gems.

Astrology is nothing but a comprehensive study of light .In our Hindu civiliazation ,people beleive on telling a past,present and future of a person given that his actual date of birth,time of birth and place of birth is known to a astrologer.

In the vedic astrology ,we practice in making a karmic life map of a person based on his accurate time of birth , date of birth and place of birth which is so called as "Janam-Patri" or "Janam -Kundli".This janam kundli is also known as horoscope. Horoscope is nothing but only the data base of the planetary positions of the nav-graha (the nine planets) in the universe .All of us know that each and every object in this universe is moving at a fixed rate of motion.Similarly, the nine planets including the sun are also always moving at their fixed speed on their axis.While a child is born ,we note down the time at which he/she was born and now starts the mathematics of calculating the speed of each planets and the distance traveled by them.After calculating the distance traveled by each planet of the nav-grahas system, we now write down it on a piece of paper and this piece of paper will now indicate the karmic life map of the person who was born under this time. So this paper is now called as the horoscope of the given child.