Navaratna

Navaratna is a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems" or "ratnas". Jewellery created in this style has important cultural significance in many southern, and south-eastern Asian cultures as a symbol of wealth, status, and also as having other claimed talismanic benefits to health and wellbeing. The setting of the stones is believed to hold mystical powers, tied to astrology, mythology and intrinsically linked to the Indian religions of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The historic origin of the significance behind the nine gems has proved impossible to trace but is tied to mythological concepts around cosmology and astrology and the "Navagrahas", or "nine celestial gods".

The Sanskrit compound term Navaratna means "nine gems" or "ratnas."Many southern eastern Asian societies see jewellery made in this manner as a symbol of riches, prestige, and other alleged talismanic advantages to health and welfare. The stones' placement is said to have magical powers, since it is related to astrology, mythology, and the Indian faiths of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The history of the importance of the nine stones is unknown, although it is linked to mythical notions like as cosmology and astrology, as well as the "Navagrahas," or "nineheavenly gods."

The stones are often set within gold or silver jewellery with a ruby as the centrepiece representing the Sun. Each additional stone around the ruby then represents another celestial body within the Solar System, or a node, in addition to representing metaphysical concepts of good fortune, and the characteristics and personalities of religious figures. For traditional purposes and the purported health benefits, the arrangement of the stones and their position to the body is of particular significance, as is the quality of the gemstones.

• Ruby (Manik) represents the Sun (Surya)
• Pearl (Moti) represents the Moon (Chandra)
• Diamond (Heera) represents the Venus (Shukra)
• Emerald (Panna) represents the Mercury (Budha)
• Red Coral (Moonga) represents the Mars (Mangala)
• Blue Sapphire (Neelam) represents the Saturn (Shani)
• Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj) represents the Jupiter (Bṛhaspati)
• Hessonite (Gomed) represents the Rahu (the ascending lunar node)
• Cat's Eye (Lehsunia) represents the Ketu (the descending lunar node)