BLUE SAPPHIRE
Vedic Text
The eyes of the great demon Vala were colored and shapedlike the blossom petals of the blue lily flower. His eyes transformed intothe seeds of blue sapphire gems and fell down on the sacred land of Sinhala(Sri Lanka) and the surrounding tropical areas of Southeast Asia. Thesesapphire seeds fell in such abundance that these lush and beautiful landsglowed with dazzling splendor.
The finest color of blue sapphire is compared to the bluemountain flowers which grow wild in Sri Lanka. These flowers are so sweetthat they attract hoards of bumblebees and parrots eager to drink theirnectar. blue sapphires of fine, evenly distributed color, free from flawsand cut to proper proportions for brilliancy are the most valuable.
When blue sapphires have a green or violet tint, are slightlygrayish or darkish-blue, or are colored light-blue like the sky, they areof medium value.
Blue sapphires that are excessively dark, light, or unevenin color, possessing a pronounced grayish tone, internal inclusions, externalblemishes, visible black spots or internal feathers, are of low quality.Sapphires lacking brilliance due to poor proportions are also less valuable.
Both ruby and blue sapphire are of the same mineral species,corundum, with only the coloring agent differing. Therefore the same methodsof identification established for ruby also apply to blue sapphire.
Blue sapphires and all other gems should never be subjectedto burning for improving their color and clarity, as misfortune will certainlybefall anyone doing so.
Blue glass, lapis lazuli, blue spinel and other gems occasionallylook like blue sapphires, but are easily detected by testing for hardness,specific gravity, and brightness.
The most rare and valuable of all blue sapphires is themaha-nila, which, when immersed in 100 times its own weight of milk, cantinge the milk blue.
Astrologically, fine blue sapphires are as powerful as excellent rubies, but monetarily they are valued at one-quarter the price of a ruby of equal quality. --- Sri Garuda Puranam: Chap. 72