Turquoise

Common Name: Neelam. Persian: Neelam. Arabic: Yaqoot-e-Kabood. Hindi: Neelmani. Nature: A famous mineral stone of superior quality, from which ring-stones and gems are made. Temperament: Warm in the first degree and dry in the third degree. Color and Smell: Transparent, luminous blue. Taste: Bland, with no distinct flavor. Substitute: Red or yellow ruby/sapphire (Yaqoot). Planetary Affiliation: Attributed to Saturn. Specific Benefit: Exhilarant and tonic for the heart and brain. Complete dose: Up to three and a half rattis. Deficient dose: From one to two rattis. Actions and Properties: It is an exhilarant and provides strength to the heart and brain. Dissolving and drinking one dirham of it is beneficial for epilepsy, obsessive delusions, palpitations, plague, hemorrhaging, repelling poisons, and combating corrupt, epidemic air; it purifies the blood, preserves innate heat and vital faculties, and holding it in the mouth eliminates bad breath, quenches thirst, and acts as a heart tonic and exhilarant. Used as a collyrium (surma), it strengthens eyesight and protects the eyes. Neelam—called Neela in Sanskrit, Sapphire in English, and Yaqoot-e-Azraq in Persian and Arabic—is an exceptionally fine bluish gem. Its brilliance, luster, and sky-blue color are very pleasing to the heart. This gem has been renowned since ancient times, and mention of it appears in the ancient books of both Hindu and Islamic scholars. No other gem was believed to possess magical properties equal to this one. The Greeks used to dedicate it to Apollo. Owing to its pleasing color and radiant luster, the gem is widely popular for personal adornment. Because the ancients found cutting such a hard gem very difficult, it was rarely used in jewelry. Five types of blue sapphire are described, along with various benefits attributed to wearing them: (1) Godato: That which is small in size but heavy in weight; wearing it fulfills heartfelt wishes. (2) Sangrat: That which always remains brilliant; wearing it increases wealth and love. (3) Varnadi: That from which blue rays emanate when held before the sun; wearing it brings wealth and commodities. (4) Parshavrat: That from which golden, silvery, and crystalline reflections emanate; wearing it brings fame and renown. (5) Ranj-Keto: That which, when placed in a vessel, makes the vessel appear blue due to its radiance; wearing it brings prosperity to one's offspring. There is also a sapphire named Maha-Neel, which, if placed in an amount of milk a hundred times its size, causes the milk to appear blue due to its luster. There is another variety called Indra-Neel. Apart from these, Sanskrit texts describe several defective and inauspicious sapphires, wearing which is believed to cause numerous injuries and misfortunes; these are six: (1) Abraq: That which has a cloud-like sheen on its upper surface; it ruins life and wealth. (2) Tarash: That which bears the mark of a crack or fracture; it brings danger of harm from bears and other animals. (3) Chitrak: That which possesses a color different from the aforementioned colors; wearing it is believed to cause the ruin of one's community or clan. (4) Mrit-Garhiya: That which has an earthy, dull color; it produces numerous diseases. (5) Ashm-Garhiya: That which looks like an ordinary piece of rock; wearing it brings the fear of death. (6) Rookhi: That which has spots like white porcelain; wearing it brings the fear of exile. Modern jewelers identify it as deep bluish. The people of Persia describe sapphire as a variety of Yaqoot (corundum) and for this reason call it Yaqoot-e-Azraq, but in reality, it is a gem distinct from ruby.