Navaratna: Tantra of India

(This hub is published on

31 March 2009).

Navaratna is a specific arrangement of nine gemstones used in Indian astrology. This is also a Tantra of India. Gemstones Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Hessonite and Cat’s eye are arranged in a specific order to form the Tantra of Navaratna. Indian astrology uses this to get rid of bad affects of nine planets in human life and to enhance good effects of those nine planets.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India is a country with rich traditions. Indian scholars researched and developed knowledge and used those to enhance quality of life even in ancient times. Indian scientists had been working on atoms and astronomy when America was not even discovered by the modern world and most of the Europe was in forest.

Indian astronomers calculated movement and path of planets long before Europeans. They knew Zodiacs and relationship between Zodiacs and planets and earth. Mathematics in India was in very developed stage since ancient times. Bhadravahu (Fourth century B.C.), Barahamihir, Aryabhatt, Brahmagupta are some to name.

Bhadravahu was contemporary to Chanakya and Emperor Chandragupta became his disciple.

They have depicted movements of planets exactly using subtle calculations. Indian astrology is based on scientific and mathematical calculations. They used geometry, logarithm, trigonometry, co-ordinate geometry and even differential and integral calculus to find out movements and paths of planets and their astronomical relationships with Zodiacs. They knew the exact parabolic paths of the planets.

They were able to find out exact method of defining time in terms of year, month, week and days. They could easily calculate exact time of sun rise and sun set. They could also define movements of the moon and were able to forecast high and tide. Solar and lunar eclipses were calculated at that time. Indian astrologers use this for Muhurta.

Indian astrology has two main streams 1. Ganita and 2. Falita. Ganita means mathematical calculations whereas Falita means affect of planets and zodiacs in one’s life. Ganita also deals with subtle divisions and sub divisions of time and Falita uses these calculations to specify good or bad times for particular actions.

Indians also knew about gemstones and their magical power. Astrologers of India have chosen nine gemstones for nine planets as per their color.

The sun is in the center of our solar system and its red color resembles with that of ruby gemstone. The sun also affects human life the most. Ruby keeps its place in the center of the Navaratna.

The moon, though not a planet according to modern science, is the nearest celestial body from the earth. Hence, it affects human life the most but the sun. Where the sun is hot and resembled with red colored ruby, the moon is cool and the pearl gemstone with white color represents the moon in Navaratna. The sun is followed by the moon in Indian Navagraha system.

Red colored marsh is represented by red colored coral and it occupies third place in Indian planet system.

The mercury (fourth in the system) has typically given the color green and is represented by emerald gemstone and yellow sapphire represents the Jupiter (fifth in the system). Dazzling white Venus comes in the sixth position and diamond, the most dazzling gemstone is the representative of the Venus.

The Saturn occupies seventh place and blue sapphire represents its blue color, typically given by the Indian astrologers.

Solar and lunar eclipses have significant affects on the earth, hence these astronomical phenomenon are included in the system as shadow planets. Solar eclipse is named Rahu and lunar is Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are considered as eighth and ninth planet and had been assigned grey color. Hessonite and Cat’s eye are the respective gemstones for them.

Astrologers of India believe that particular gemstone of these nine gemstones can reduce bad affects of a particular planet on human life. Thus they prescribe specific gemstone to a particular person according to the position of a particular planet in one’s horoscope.

Besides specific gemstones prescribed to a particular person, Navaratna is used as common healing Tantra of nine planets altogether. Hence Navaratna occupies an important place in Indian astrology.

Jewelers of India manufacture and sell plenty of Navaratna rings, pendants, necklaces, tops, earrings, bracelets, bangles and other ornaments. Navaratna beads and long beads are also used in Indian beaded Jewelry.

Indian astrologers also depicted relationship between zodiacs and planets. Astrologers of India also allocate particular area for a specific planet in human palms. Palmistry of India also uses Navaratna as healing method.

Know more in : Astrology and Palmistry : Gemstones, Planets and Zodiac