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BLUE SAPPHIRE

The striking deep blue of a quality sapphire is reminiscent of a cloudless night sky.  Ancient civilizations believed that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection.  This legend, as well as the belief that the Ten Commandments were inscribed upon tablets made of sapphire, gives September’s birthstone a royal place among gemstones. 

Named after the Greek word "sapphirus", meaning blue, Sapphires have long been a favourite among priests and kings, who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity. These gemstones are prominent among the British Crown Jewels, and Prince Charles chose this as the engagement stone for his fiancée, Princess Diana.  

Sapphire...the word sounds as magical as the images it conjures up...sapphire blue skies, sapphire blue waters, and sapphire blue flowers. In the eighteenth century, any blue gemstone was categorized as a hyacinth, for the bluish flower. Today, we know that the correct nomenclature for a sapphire is "corundum". Although the word sapphire usually means a blue gem, we also find sapphires in a wide range of colours including violet, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple.

These gemstones were mined as early as the 7th Century BC from India and what is now Sri Lanka.  They are found today in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Madagascar, and the United States.  Large specimens of Corundum crystals are rare, although the 563-carat Star of India can be seen in the American Museum of Natural History.

Although more than 2 dozen locales produce sapphires, the three most famous regions are Kashmir, Burma, and Sri Lanka. The most renown is Kashmir, a beautiful place high up in the Himalayas. Kashmir produces "cornflower" blue sapphires. Cornflower is an intense, medium-dark blue with a velvety appearance. Burmese sapphires are also lovely, but the blue is darker than those from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka produces a sapphire that is lighter and brighter. Such sapphires are called Ceylon sapphires [Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon]. But whatever the colour blue, and whichever is your personal favourite, sapphires have been worn and loved for centuries.  This is the largest and most famous of star Sapphires, which are cut to reflect light from inclusions within the stone, revealing a bright six-legged star pattern. 

The price of the blue sapphire depends mainly on the color of the gem. Although the gem cut and gem clarity also affect price, the influence that the color has on the price is far more significant. Another aspect that is extremely important is clarity. This is so because a blue sapphire with no natural inclusions is a rarity. And therefore a blue sapphire gem with a high clarity generally fetches an extremely high price. 

Kashmir blue sapphire gemstones are best blue sapphires and are the finest among those that can be found and they can fetch a very exotic price in the market. A royal blue untreated Kashmir sapphire can exceed $ 1500 per carat in price. The natural unheated and untreated blue Ceylon sapphire (Now Sri Lanka) is sold in the regular range of $100 to $400 per carat.

Depending on the quality of the stone, sapphires can also be found beyond this range.

Blue sapphire is ruled by mighty planet 'Saturn'. Due to the unstable nature of gem bring only extremities. It gives very beneficial results once suited but may destroy the whole life if unsuitable. It is not uncommon to observe malefic effects bring by blue sapphire even though it appears suitable in the nativity. For this reason, blue sapphire is suitable for only few natives; but if suited it is one of the greatest blessings. Blue Sapphire is known by different names like: Neelam, Indranil, Shauri Ratna, Neelmani, Mahaneel, Nilofar and Vachinam. In Marathi it is known by the name of Neel.

Special Features

Blue sapphire changes its colour to indicate threats, natural calamities, unexpected happenings or accidents, problems.

Therapeutical UsesBlue sapphire aids nervous disorders, joint pains, controls gastric trouble, gout, arthritis, heart trouble, asthma and legs pain. Increases stamina and improves fertility in barren women.

Compatibility

Blue sapphire can be worn by the ascendant or moon sign of Aquarius & Capricorn. It can also be worn by the person born in the asterism of moon (i.e., Pushya, Anuradha & Uttarabhadra). Blue sapphire is a birthstone for the month of September and the persons with the birth dates 8, 17 & 26 can also wear this gem.

Aries: For Aries Ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 10th and 11th house. People may wear this stone for professional works and increase in income. They should wear this stone in Saturn Mahadasha.

Taurus: For this ascendant, Saturn is a friend of Lord of the ascendant, Venus. Here Saturn is the Lord of 9th and 10th house. For this ascendant, Saturn yields the most auspicious results. People of this ascendant should wear Blue Sapphire along with Diamond. 

Gemini: In horoscope of Gemini ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 8th and 9th house. Saturn is good for Gemini ascendant and wearing gem-stone Blue Sapphire will yield auspicious results for them. In addition, the people of this ascendant should wear Emerald, the stone of Lord of the Ascendant, Mercury along with Blue Sapphire.

Cancer: For Cancer ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 7th and 8th house. The person of Cancer ascendant should not wear Blue Sapphire.

Leo: Saturn is the Lord of 6th and 7th house in horoscope of Leo ascendant. People of Leo ascendant should not wear Blue Sapphire. If ever they have to wear this, they should wear it only in Saturn Mahadasha.

Virgo:  Saturn is the Lord of 5th and 6th house for Virgo ascendant. Wearing Blue Sapphire will bring auspicious results for the people of Virgo ascendant.

Libra:  In horoscope of Libra ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 4th and 5th house. Wearing Blue Sapphire by people of Libra ascendant will bring profits for them.

Scorpio: In horoscope of Scorpio ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 3rd and the 4th house. Blue Sapphire is not auspicious for this ascendant. People of this ascendant should not wear Blue Sapphire. 

Sagittarius: For Sagittarius Ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 2nd and 3rd house. Both these houses of horoscope are considered inauspicious. The people of Sagittarius ascendant should wear this stone only for family and savings and that too during Saturn Mahadasha.

Capricorn: Saturn is the Lord of the ascendant and the 3rd house. Being the Lord of the ascendant makes it an auspicious planet. Wearing the stone of the Lord of the ascendant, Saturn, brings good results for the person of Capricorn ascendant.

Aquarius: In horoscope of Aquarius ascendant, Saturn is the Lord of 11th and 12th house. People of Aquarius ascendant should wear Saturn stone Blue Sapphire. 

Pisces: Saturn is the Lord of 11th and 12th house in the horoscope of Pisces ascendant. The people of this ascendant should not wear Blue Sapphire.

Caution;

Blue sapphire should never be worn with ruby, pearl & red coral.

Pooja procedure for wearing Blue Sapphire

Pooja should be performed in the hora of Saturn on any Saturday between 6.00 a.m to 7.00 a.m or 1.00 p.m to 3.00 p.m or can also be worn in late nights.

Materials for pooja:

Black cloth, black gingely, sweets, flowers & incense.

Procedure

Spread the black cloth and put gingely on it. First wash the stone embedded ring milk followed by water. Then apply paste of sandal, vermillion (kumkum) on it and place it on the cloth. Light the lamps and burn incenses perform the pooja to the ring with flowers reciting shani mantra.

SHANI MANTRA

“Kaaka dhwajaaya vidmahe, kadga hasthaaya dheemahi

Thanno mandha prachodayaath”   || 108 times ||

Offer some fruits and sweets, and then wear the ring. Additionally the wearer can donate the gingely oil to get maximum benefit.