Vedic Text

The blood of the high and mighty demon Vala was takenby Surya, the sun-god, who then fled into the blue vastness of space. Ravana,the great king of Sri Lanka, who was puffed up with his power and his victoryover the demigods, attempted to block the sun-god's flight in the sky likea solar eclipse. Appearing terrified of Ravana's fearsome presence, theSun-god dropped the demon's blood, which fell down into the deep poolsof Bharata which were surrounded by forests of betel nut trees and scintillatingwith sunlit waves. (Bharata or ancient India, as referred to in the text,included Burma, Siam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet and of course,Sri Lanka.)

From that time on, these pools became as holy as the sacredGanges River and were known as Ravana-Ganga. The banks of these watersbecame covered with precious gemstones, all sparkling with dazzling splendor.Beautiful and effulgent rubies, as well as other colors of corundum, possessingmanifold virtues, are the gemstones which originated on the perfumed shoresof Ravana-ganga.

The rubies from these fragrant lands are found in a varietyof hues. Some are red like human blood, while others resemble the red ofpomegranate seeds. Some rubies are vermillion red and others are yellowish-redlike saffron or shellac dye. These should be evenly colored with lightshining from their very core. Being illuminated by rays of the sun, thiscrystal species shines forth with wonderful color and brilliancy, reflectingin all directions and spreading rays all around.

Kuruvinda rubies are not so purely colored as those rubiesof the "top crystal" quality and are somewhat lacking in clarity and luster.(According to Apti's Sanskrit/English dictionary, both kuruvinda and padmaragaare names for ruby. But in the context of this book kuruvinda refers torubies of inferior color and clarity while padmaraga denotes rubies thatpossess the finest (purest, unmixed) color and top crystal clarity. Inthis text, rubies of the finest quality are called padmaraga, "lotus-hued"while poorer quality rubies are referred to simply as kuruvinda "corundum."It may also be noted here that the English name for corundum was derivedfrom the ancient Sanskrit world kuruvindam).

The most important features of a "top crystal" qualityruby are: (1) purity of color; (2) heavy specific gravity: (3) coldnessof touch; (4) flawless and transparent clarity; (5) brilliancy; and (6)excellent proportions. The value of a ruby is based primarily upon thepurity of color and brilliancy. Any decreases in either of these qualitiescauses a proportionate decrease in value.

The potency of a high-quality ruby is such that even an ignorant person living a sinful life and surrounded by deadly enemies is saved by wearing such a gem. Anyone wearing such a naturally effulgent ruby would be freed from diseases caused by any imbalance of the bodily functions. Faults that characterize lower quality rubies are: A coppery tinge, silky inclusions, cloudy or oily appearance, dullness, off-color and excessive darkness around the edges (girdle) when the stone is held between the fingers (covering table and culet).

A potential ruby of exceptional quality should first ofall be tested for specific gravity against a known ruby of the same size.A specimen which proves to be considerably lighter than the genuine rubyindicates that it belongs to another mineral species.

In a situation where the results of testing proved inconclusive,one should use the scratch test, scratching the specimen with a known ruby.No other mineral except diamond or corundum can scratch a peace of genuineruby or sapphire.

A genuine ruby possessing all auspicious qualities shouldnot be worn together with a gem of imperfect or flawed features or onebelonging to a species that is astrologically incompatible with it.

One is advised not to wear a gem of poor quality or thatis incompatible even if it is set together with the divine Kaustabha jewel.For as a host of saints lose their status by association with a singleimpure outcast, in the same way even one low quality or incompatible stonecan spoil and entire setting of precious gems.

A ruby, although genuine, should not be worn if it has strong color banding, excessive inclusions within like numerous internal cracks, a sandy appearance, a rough surface, or is dull and lusterless. Anyone using such a flawed ruby, even out of ignorance, will suffer from disease, or loss of fortune. ---Sri Garuda Puranam: Chap. 70