How to Choose Your Planetary Gem

The Planetary Gemology World is divided into two (2) opposing philosophies, viz., Anukul-vad v/s Pratikul-vad:

ANUKULA-VAD: A gem will act “SAME” as its planet – So gems should be chosen for Anukul (favorable) grahas

PRATIKUL-VAD: A gem will act “OPPOSITE” of its planet – So gems should be chosen for Pratikul (unfavorable) grahas

IMPORTANT: AT ASTRAL GEMSTONE TALISMANS WE ONLY BELIEVE IN “ANUKUL-VAD” – A gem will act “SAME” as its planet – So gems should be chosen for Anukul (favorable) grahas.

Note: This hypothesis does not apply to the use of Sri Navaratna. The 9 Gems Talisman is a “yantra” (instrumental delineation or figure) to be used the same as the Sri Nava Graha Yantra, which correctly combines the 9 Planetary Deities. Generally anyone who so desires can use a mystical yantra.

Anukul Planet’s gem choosing method for resorting to or harnessing one’s auspicious or Anukul planet(s) (exalted, mulatrikona, own sign, benefic, great friend, good house, owner of good house, etc.) based on the concept that lucky planet = lucky gem! In Jyotish there are basically two broad categories of planetary position, viz., favorable (to the chart) – Anukul OR unfavorable (to the chart) – Pratikul. One should avoid their weakness and cultivate their strengths. “Ratna-anukul” means the auspicious gem of strongest most desirable planet. Example: One has Leo Lagna – their lagna lord is Sun, who is exalted (100% strength) and posited in the 9th house which is all very auspicious. That person would be advised to use a fine ruby, the Sun’s gem, to attract or harness his auspicious influence.

On the other hand if a person had Saturn ill-placed in the 8th house they would be advised to avoid Saturn’s gem blue sapphire and all other Saturnine things or activities. And better still they could donate a blue sapphire to pacify Shanideva. The followers of Anukul-vad believe that the pratikul-graha color is the unlucky color, and to magnify that bad color will simply increase the problems caused by that unlucky Planet. Both methods believe that gems increase cosmic colors of their planets, thus for an Anukuli it is considered to be suicide to increase a pratikul-graha’s color. In Anukul there is never a case where a Pratikul (harmful to the chart/native) planet’s gem should be worn as it will surely increase the ill fortune; but such gems for a Pratikul planet can be used by DONATING them – giving them AWAY – according to Shastric directions.

Anukul means a planet that is beneficially disposed either by being strong in own sign, good house, ruler of houses which will bring positive results, or otherwise not ill disposed nor inclined to produce evil influence. A planet which is good for the chart either naturally or by house ruler ship yet somewhat weakened by placement may be strengthened through the gem, or a planet which already is strong and giving benefic influence may be further strengthened for gains in particular areas of life by wearing the gem.

Pratikul Planet’s gem choosing method for strengthening a weak or evil planet, based on the misconception that a ‘pratikul’ (inauspicious) planet is strengthened by wearing it’s gem and there by it changes from being inauspicious (pratikul) to become auspicious (anukul). ILLOGIC: By providing the gem for a malefic planet, benefic results will follow. Example: A person has Jupiter debilitated and a malefic which is inauspicious or pratikul, but by wearing Jupiter’s gem, yellow sapphire or another yellow Jupiter jewel, it is believed that the ‘weak’ (troublesome) Jupiter gets strengthened and REVERSES to become auspicious. Pratikul means a planet that causes evil influence or suffering to the native as seen through the horoscope. This may be a debilitated planet who is in a dusthana and enemy of the lord of the lagna, or otherwise disposed that the influence simply causes suffering.

Before describing the most popular methods, let me first say that choosing gems which are favorable (Anukul for the native’s chart) as well as clean (amala) and auspicious, these two are a MUST in planetary gemology. Of the 6 PGA CODES the prohibition against astrological use of synthetics is the least of all PG evils as synthetics have no harmful effect because they have NO effect whatsoever. The most important considerations are Anukul-graha gem choosing and flawless gems – 100% loupe clean down to 80% loupe clean is an acceptable range in our experience. Always exercise CAUTION with any gem that has clarity below 80% loupe clean. Very flawed gems are dead due to serious life-ending defects, and according to Shastra, “If anyone wears a gem with many flaws (even) out of ignorance, then grief, anxiety, sickness, death, loss of wealth and other evils torment them.”— Sri Garuda Purana:1.70.19

When choosing gems we must mentally take note and add up the pluses in a chart. We want to determine which graha or astral demigod is the chart holder’s best friend. We should avoid our enemies or ill wishers, and shouldn’t associate with them more than necessary. If we have a powerful friend then they can help us, and if we have a weak friend then we could make them stronger. But we should not strengthen our enemies. It is a mistake to equate strength/weakness with friend/foe in astrology or any field – that is common sense. A planet being weak does not mean it is inimical, and a planet’s being strong doesn’t automatically make it favorable. We want to determine which planets are the most anukul (auspicious); strength is another matter.

For example, one chart has a planet exalted in a good house but a functional malefic and lord of two bad houses, so on the surface we have two pluses and three minuses or “+ + – – -” , i.e., a good sign placement, a good house placement, but it is unfavorable by nature for the native, and is lord of two bad houses. Another chart might have a debilitated planet that is a functional benefic and in a good house, and lord of two good houses, so that means a “- + + + +” In the first example we could rule the planet as borderline unfavorable (pratikul); but the 2nd case has the planet mostly favorable (anukul) – So a weak, beneficial planet can be made stronger. A strong anukul planet can also be made even stronger to attain certain goals, like making an exalted Sun even stronger because the native desires fame or increase in stature (provided the native has the karma to achieve that, because we cannot do better or worse than our karma).

Taking this further one could see planetary periods in motion, movements of Saturn, Yogini-dashas, as well as aspects, navamsa positions, etc. to first of all conclude if the planet in question is FAVORABLE – OR – UNFAVORABLE for the chart, all things considered. It doesn’t matter if a planet is strong or weak, it only matters that the planet is judged as favorable (anukul-graha) or unfavorable (pratikul-graha). An anukul-graha can always be strengthened, but a pratikul-graha should never be strengthened

RATNA-ARPANA: Gems for Pratikul-grahas may be DONATED or GIVEN AWAY in a form of Vedic charity to achieve Graha-shanti is another subject known as, “Ratna-arpana.” Using gem donations is he ONLY time an UNFAVORABLE planetary gem should be used by the native – by giving it AWAY. The native should be informed what planets are most FAVORABLE for them and then the native may choose from among their Anukul-graha-ratnas or favorable planetary gems.

Adding the plus and minus points to determine which planets are most favorable to the native enables us to proceed further…

1. First look to the lagna or rising sign and then check the lord of the rising sign to see if it is in an auspicious condition in the rasi chart. If this is the case then we wholeheartedly prescribe the gemstone ruled by the lagna’s lord. Example: If one has Leo rising we look to the position of the Sun (Lord of Leo) in the chart. If the Sun is posited in an auspicious sign, e.g., sign of exaltation, own sign, trine, or at least a friendly sign, it will act in a beneficial way. If any of these are the case then we may recommended ruby or another “Sun jewel” as one’s first gem choice. NOTE: If the birth time is unknown or unsure then skip this method…

A list of the primary rising sign gems is given as follows:

2. PLANETARY PERIODS: Every person is born into a planetary period. The period will be good or bad depending on the period’s ruling planet. Like if one is in a Sun period, and Sun is GOOD in their chart, then that will be a good period characterized by the Sun (leadership, courage, etc.); but if the position of the Sun is harmful then it would be a bad period of life.

For GEMS we check the position of the planet ruling one’s mahadasha or major planetary period. If this planet is well-placed in the rasi chart then we prescribe that planet’s gemstone(s) for use during the duration of the mahadasha period. Example: If one is in or entering a Jupiter mahadasha and if Jupiter is posited in an auspicious sign and/or house position, then we recommend yellow sapphire or another natural yellow gemstone.

At the time of ones birth a certain planetary period will be in motion. If a person is born in the middle of a Venus major period then they still have 10 more years of major Venus influence before they change into their Sun period at the age of 10 years. Each major planetary period follows a certain order and is of a fixed period of time – this information is given as follows: 

Depending on the period in operation when one is born, the soul will pick up the periods and pass through them in succession in the order given above.

3. Next we look to one’s birth sign or Moon rasi , i.e., the sign in which the Moon is posited at the time of one’s birth. In sidereal astrology the Moon’s sign position is considered very important. Example: If one’s Moon sign is Leo, a sign ruled by the Sun, then we must look to the sign and house position of the Sun in the horoscope. If the Sun is located in an auspicious position in both the rasi chart and the navamsa chart then we can recommend a ruby or other red Sun jewel as one’s “birth stone.”

The list of these Vedic “birthstones” as shown in Chapter II is repeated again here for easy reference:

4. We then check the janma-naksatra or the constellation in which the Moon is posited at birth. Each of these 27 birth stars is ruled by one of the nine planets recognized in sidereal astrology. Example: If one’s birth constellation is “punarvasu” (the 7th constellation), which is ruled by Jupiter, then we look to the position of Jupiter in the horoscope. If Jupiter is located in an auspicious sign and/or house position in both the rasi chart and the navamsa chart, then we can recommend yellow sapphire or another yellow “Jupiter” jewel.

Following is a list of the 27 constellations, their ruling planet and corresponding gemstone: