Agate

These gemstones, due to their enchanting sparkle, brilliance, and captivating radiance, are superior to all worldly objects. They are not only universally beloved and famous due to these external qualities, but many strange miracles, auspicious blessings, and benefits are also attributed to them, causing people to desire them eagerly. From ancient times, people have believed that wearing gemstones brings many blessings, provides protection from various calamities and diseases, and yields strength, wealth, status, happiness, and other benefits. Certain gemstones are considered auspicious, while others are considered inauspicious. Although civilized youth and modern-minded people of today consider these ideas to be absurd and nonsense, wise and learned people have existed in every era who have paid attention to this subject and left behind their thoughts written down in pen. Consequently, even today in this age of science and learning—while modern enlightenment continually dispels old superstitious ideas—many nations still believe in their blessings. In India, these beliefs have persisted for a long time, and more than anyone else in the world, the people of India are great believers in the strange miracles of gemstones. In the Puranas and other ancient Sanskrit books, mentions of their magical properties can be found, and the Hindus are considered the blessed originators of this belief. In some books, wearing gemstones is declared to be a great meritorious and auspicious act among religious duties, and great rewards are recorded for giving them away in charity and gift. In astrology, specific gemstones are designated to ward off the evil effects of certain inauspicious planets. If there is fear of inauspicious days during a planet's transit, wearing specific gemstones between those transit days is considered beneficial to gain the planet's favor and ward off ill fortune. Similarly, wearing specially embedded gemstones in various pieces of jewelry is ordained to bring honor, fame, wealth, comfort, power, and good fortune. The following lists indicate which specific gemstones belong to which planets, which ones should be worn against adverse conditions, and which ones during planetary transit days: **Planetary Gemstones List:** * **Sun:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Ruby | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Ruby | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Ruby * **Moon:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Pearl | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Moonstone | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Diamond * **Mars:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Coral | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Coral | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Coral * **Mercury:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Emerald | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Zircon | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Zircon * **Jupiter:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Yellow Sapphire | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Crystal/Quartz | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Pearl * **Venus:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Diamond | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Cat's Eye | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Cat's Eye * **Saturn:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Blue Sapphire | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Blue Sapphire | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Blue Sapphire * **Rahu & Ketu:** Gemstone to wear against adverse conditions: Zircon & Emerald | Special gemstone for peace/harmony: Emerald | Gemstone to wear during planetary transit days: Emerald It is also written that embedding gemstones in places of worship and presenting them before deities carries many rewards. According to the Shastras, creating gemstone idols of deities and worshipping them for various purposes yields great rewards. Thus, it is written in a Purana that during the twelve months of each year, according to the breakdown below, an idol of Shiva Maharaj should be made from gemstones and worshipped. Similarly, in Western countries, one specific gemstone was special for each of the twelve months of the year and was worn in that very month. Both of these points are evident from the list below: **Monthly Gemstones and Deity Sculptures List:** * **January or Magh:** Gemstone to wear: Hessonite | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Viper Stone * **February or Phalguna:** Gemstone to wear: Amethyst | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Moonstone * **March or Chaitra:** Gemstone to wear: Jasper | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Gold * **April or Baisakh:** Gemstone to wear: Blue Sapphire | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Diamond * **May or Jeth:** Gemstone to wear: Agate | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Emerald * **June or Asarah:** Gemstone to wear: Emerald | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Pearl * **July or Sawan:** Gemstone to wear: Onyx | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Blue Sapphire * **August or Bhadon:** Gemstone to wear: Rudraksha | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Ruby * **September or Katak:** Gemstone to wear: Peridot | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Coral * **November or Aghan:** Gemstone to wear: Yellow Sapphire | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Cat's Eye * **December or Poush:** Gemstone to wear: Ruby | Gemstone for making the Shiva sculpture: Yellow Sapphire The rules for worshipping other deities using gemstones are similarly written. Seeing the strange properties of gemstones in the Puranas and Shastras is not surprising, because in Mantra Shastra, strange magical properties of all worldly objects are written—some considered auspicious and others inauspicious. Gemstones are among them, and in fact, due to their brilliance, luster, radiance, and rarity, they received greater attention, and various blessings were attributed to them. However, it is astonishing that Europeans, who are known in the world as enlightened, believe in these magical properties. It appears that ancient Europeans derived the science of magic from Eastern countries, and since the science of magic also mentions the strange properties of gemstones, they came to know about it as well. A review of the writings of ancient Europeans shows that this knowledge has existed there since ancient times. Thus, five hundred years before the Christian era, a priest named Neokritos wrote about the strange blessings and benefits of gemstones. He wrote that *"whosoever takes crystal into their hand and goes to a place of worship, their prayer will certainly be answered."* He similarly wrote about the properties of agate, yellow sapphire, jasper, amber, cackitick, coral, and opal. The power to bestow health, beauty, wealth, good fortune, honor, and good luck was believed to reside in them; therefore, Europeans wore them with great enthusiasm. Although the light of knowledge has dispelled darkness, ignorance, and superstition, even in this era, hundreds believe in the science of magic. For instance, Empress Eugenia of France refuses to wear opal because she considers it inauspicious and a cause of misfortune. Modern European magicians have tried to discover the hidden magical powers of gemstones that were well known to the ancients. They believe that apart from medical properties, there are strange powers in gemstones, and each gemstone is connected to an individual angel. It is said that a magician named Mesmer acquired this science from Adeley, and his answers regarding the hidden, strange properties of gemstones are famous. Much can be known about the properties of gemstones from the magical science of G. B. Porta. Just as Hindu Shastras prescribe having jewelry made in various ways and embedding gemstones in them for the attainment of various purposes, Europe is also not free from this superstition. There, too, various books describe methods of making and wearing different types of jewelry on specific days, and the benefits of wearing them are explained. For example, it is written that if someone desires to overcome a fearsome and powerful enemy, they should have a ring made and worn according to the following method: *On a Sunday, during the hour of Jupiter (meaning between 11 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 7 PM during daylight hours), in days of clear light (bright fortnight), have a ring made of pure gold and have these seven gemstones embedded in it: Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Zircon, and Yellow Sapphire, and wear it. You will have no fear of anyone.* The scholars and sages who believe in the strange miracles of magic and gemstones present various arguments to prove their point, a few of which are offered below for the dignified readers: To the general public, the definition of magic and miracles is the manifestation of something that goes against the laws of nature—in short, calling anything that one cannot comprehend "magic." Now, we must see how far this idea of the general public is correct. If someone sees an act that they do not understand and have never heard of before, and declares that it is against the laws of nature—even though they assume beforehand things that no truthful claimant can assert and over which only the Supreme Creator has dominion—first of all, such a statement reveals that the person claims to know all the laws of nature. Because if they did not know them, how could they figure out that a certain event occurred against the laws of nature? Now, consider whether it is possible for man to know all the laws of nature. When the Being of God is infinite, His laws cannot even be measured by imagination, and the knot of the secret of nature cannot be unraveled by the strength of intellect and illusion, how can man, who is a finite being, know all the laws of nature in this vast universe? For example, a special characteristic of the diamond is that whoever wears it attains bodily health, all fears are dispelled, and victory over enemies is achieved. Everyone accepts that God's power is infinite, and the bird of human intellect and understanding cannot fly high enough to reach it. The knot of the secret of nature has not been unraveled yet. A learned scholar spends his whole life conducting experiments and studying the page of existence, figures out a few things, and considers them the laws of nature. The rest of the things are deemed against the laws of nature. Therefore, on one hand, we accept that the laws of nature are finite. Opposites gather within it when our illusion calls something infinite, and then we say that something occurred outside of it—from which it is known that it is not infinite. The laws created by this Supreme Creator are not like human laws that are enacted today and repealed tomorrow. Man, due to his limited knowledge and intellect, cannot properly see the results of all his actions. When any strategy of his falls short for achieving or repelling something, he is forced to adopt another strategy, and due to his personal flaws, he never succeeds in framing a law that is sufficient for the entire world and that never needs to be repealed.

This is a famous gemstone and belongs to the category of agate gemstones. It appears in old Greek and Persian books that before the beginning of the Christian era, this gemstone was counted among the highest-grade gemstones. Since the shape of this gemstone closely resembles a human fingernail, it is called onyx in the Greek language, which means nail. Various physicians have written various accounts regarding this gemstone. Thus, Boethius writes that "the onyx of Arabia has a black color and white veils/layers." Aaron Pick writes that "in the holy scriptures, the name of this gemstone is written as Shoham, but the aforementioned author writes its name as Karlenbuckle in his publications." In Greek books, its origin is described thus: "The angel of mulberry (i.e., Kamdev) brought forth onyx." In ancient times, this gemstone was considered a treatment for epilepsy causing strife and discord, and people believed that a jinn was imprisoned within it, waking up at night and disturbing the wearer. Onyx is of two types: common and Eastern. Eastern onyx is very valuable. Its color is reddish-brown or olive. Its layers are white or brown, which makes it look very pleasant. Because this gemstone is extracted from Sardis located in Lyden, and Sardis meaning Sardina, it is called Sardonyx, meaning the onyx of Sardina. Or it is said to be Sardonyx, a compound of sard (rudraksha) and onyx. It is said that Polycrates, the rival of Samos, threw a valuable ring into the sea from which the sardonyx originated. There is another type of onyx called Nicolo or Onicolo. It has bluish-gray layers on a dark blue background. The properties and nature of onyx are similar to agate. The only difference is that its color tends toward blackish or brownish, and it has strata of white, green, brown, and dark colors on it.