Astral Herb Bhasmas
A true Kavacha or “talisman” is not only the gem, which represents the earth element. A real Astral Talisman is composed of all 5 elements, i.e., gem for earth, herb for water, metal for fire, symbol for air, and cosmic number for space. This process of “Pancha-amrita” astral talisman making is the most bona fide. Even the Western alchemists are known to use herbs as the “water” ingredient in an Astral Talismans. These herbs have been ritually turned into “bhasma” or sanctified ashes. Therefore, one may understand that the gem alone is not the complete kavacha or talisman, the gems are only for one of five elements, viz., earth
The philosopher Agrippa has nicely described in Three Books of Occult Philosophy the basic preparation of astrological rings as follows:
“When any star ascends fortunately we must take a stone and HERB that is under that star, and make a ring of the metal that is suitable to this star, and in it fasten the stone, putting the herb or root under it, not omitting the inscriptions of images, names and characters, as also the proper suffumigations.
In 1974 we were fortunate to receive guidence from
Dr. Vajracharya, Chairman of the Nepal Ayurveda Association. He informed us which were the main “bhasma” herbs for each planet. At our request the good Dr. prepared nine different herbal bhasmas which we now seal in tubes on our jewelry talismans. It took one week for the Dr. to prepare the 9 herbs and transform them into ashes or Bhasma. At that time he also gave us rare samples of the actual herbs. Somehow we retained these rare herb samples over the years, and recently we had these nine herbs photographed by an expert.
All nine herbs are available in Nepal (Himalaya) and some are quite rare even in India where they sometimes substitute because of lack of the actual herb).
Information and herb samples are courtesy of the Nepal Ayurveda Association
Herb for the Sun
Influence of Milk Weed or Arka-bhasma
If Sun is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward nobility, dignity, power, leadership and confidence. You will be more well-read, pious, strong, and compassionate. And you will be less troubled by low self esteem, lack of confidence, and rebellious nature.
Herb for the Moon
Influence of Butia Frandosa or Palasa-bhasma
If Moon is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward good sensitivity, good habits, stability and health. You will be more wealthy, industrious and respected. And you will be protected from evils such as over reacting, feeling depressed, overly sensitive and stressed.
Herb for Mars
Influence of Couch Plant or Khadira-bhasma
If Mars is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward positive energy, strength, courage, passion, and aggression. You will be more active, have greater energy, be learned, well-known and regal. And you will be protected from evils such as anger, irritablity, over reacting, impatience, aggression, unstable blood pressure, anemia, and violence.
Herb for Mercury
Influence of Achyranthes or Apamarga-bhasma
If Mercury is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will make you rational, witty, skillful and dexterous. You will be more worldly-wise, educated, happy, fortunate and highly respected. And you will be more protected from such evils as aloofness, lack of concentration, difficulty with communications, slowness, speech and hearing impediments, deceptive behavior, and lack of vitality.
Herb for Jupiter
Influence of Ficus Religiosa or Pippala-bhasma
If Jupiter is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward humanitarianism, caring, spiritualism, optimism, faith and good judgment. You will be more powerful, respected, and a good teacher of men. And you will be more protected from such evils as greed, selfishness, pragmatism, negativity, unhappiness, egotism, sloth, and legal problems.
Herb for Venus
Influence of Ficus Glomerata or Audumbara-bhasma
If Venus is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward attractiveness, refinement, grace and elegance. You will be more smooth, humanitarian, long-lived and possess many good qualities. And you will be protected from evils such as vanity, lewdness, sensual corruption, lack of refinement, loss of libido, impotence, sterility, venereal (lit. of Venus) complaints, and rapid aging.
Herb for Saturn
Influence of Prosopis or Shami-bhasma
If Saturn is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward discipline, responsibility, realism, durability and humility. You will be long-lived, charitable, lavish, proficient and an affectionate mate. And you will be protected from such evils as depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, disappointment, neuralgia, as well as epilepsy, stupidity, and fainting.
Herb for Rahu
Influence of Cynodon Dactylon or Durva-bhasma
If Rahu is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward originality, inspiration, insight and uniqueness. You will be more exotic, wealthy and fortunate. And you will be more protected from mental disease, addiction, illusion, volatile nature, trouble, a tendency to suffer from fear of supernatural phenomena, and suicidal impulses.
Herb for Ketu
Influence of Sacrificial Grass or Kusa-bhasma
If Ketu is well placed in your horoscope: The influence will be toward spiritualism, intuition, universality, subtleness and sensitivity. You will be more wealthy and protected from evils like eccentricity, explosiveness, fanaticism, emotional problems, fatal diseases of a mysterious nature such as cancer, and compulsive gambling.
