In the Table below, (which was basically set up for practitioners of Systems' Approach), the GREEN print gives the OK for various rising signs (Ascendants), while RED suggests avoidance with reference to unfavorable colors and gemstones. Please keep in mind that this Table is as per the teachings of Professor V. K. Choudhry's Systems' Approach, and therefore, not necessarily does this Table reflect the traditional teachings of Classical Vedic Astrology. This Table has been re-uploaded here on my site by popular request. When time permits, I also hope to include Traditional ideas for colors and gemstones for your cross-comparison of astrological system recommendations.

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The Sun rules pink, golden and orange colors.

Mercury rules the grass and dark green color. 

The Moon rules silver besides the white.

Mars rules burning red.

Jupiter rules yellow.

Venus rules variegated colors - bright and shining, and also rules royal blue -the color of luxurious festivities. Venus rules white (speckless), royal blue, and variegated colors. The colors should be deep and bright.

Saturn rules black, connected with gloominess, and its mixture with red gives brown, and its mixture with blue gives navy blue, or (blackish blue).

Note: In Systems' Approach, the color purple belongs to Rahu.

*Additionally, where the Sun is favorable, golden color can be used, while where the Moon is favorable, silver color can be used.  Where these planet are unfavorable, these colors should also be avoided.

Also, most of the athletes and fitness enthusiasts are activated by Rahu which represents the grey color. The grey color also has many shades. Somewhat good impact may come from deep and bright grey.

Main Gemstone indicated by bold print - Substitutes follow.

Sun - Ruby,  corundam, carnelian, red-garnet, pink jade, pink tourmaline

Moon - Pearl, moon stone, white zircon

Mars - Red Coral, red tourmaline, red zircon, red amber, deep red garnet and blood stone

Mercury - Emerald, alexandrite, beryl,  green jade, onyx, green zircon

Jupiter - Yellow Sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, yellow  jade, perth, yellow quartz and yellow amber

Venus - Diamond, aquamarine, blue jade, lapis lazuli, opal, turquoise.

Saturn - Blue Sapphire, amethyst, sardonic, deep blue zircon

Appropriate Finger Placements for Gems

Sun and Mars - Ring Finger 

Jupiter - Index finger 

Saturn - Middle Finger

Mercury and Moon - Little Finger

Venus - Depending upon functional nature of Saturn or Sun - any of the fingers pertaining to these planets can be used. 

Stones are to be worn in an auspiciously elected time only, and not on the days of the planets.

As metals are also represented by planets, excessive use of metals on the body should be avoided. Stones need little amount of metal for being set in, and can be set in any of the metals.
 

Questions on Gemstone FAQ and Information:
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 1:42 AM

Subject: feedback on your site - FAQ

Sandy,

Your site has lots of useful texts in regard of planetary weakness and related questions. Its a great service/blessings from your end to all the learners of Astrology. However purchasing gems (or the kavach for SA practitioners), which is recommended as remedy for most planetary weakness as per Systems' Approach, is not a very affordable, in Indian context (cost is comparable to a months salary of an average middleclass Indian). It's my humble request to come up with more cheaper versions of remedies which are as effective as gemstones or the kavach for sake of well beings.

Thanks & Regards,

Dear Readers,

The email (above) was sent to me (privately), and I am answering this on my site, in the interest that others are also curious...

The list member (who shall remain anonymous) states that remedies are not very affordable (kavach and gemstone) with respect to the commensurate salaries earned in India, and requested coming up with a cheaper version for strengthening the weak planets.

My eldest daughter was a former jeweler, and I will share what I have learned from her and her employer over the years as far as properties, costs, etc. for purchasing natural stones that are genuinely Laboratory Certified (listing their qualities and authenticity), which will quickly tell you why a kavach is much more affordable for strengthening planets...(at least if you are a resident of the USA..:))

The minimum gem size recommendation for strengthening a planet according the Systems' Approach is 4.66 carats, with the exception of a diamond, which will give results with 1 carat. These stones must be natural stones with no defects or flaws. To be certain of what you are getting here in the USA, a consumer would request the Lab Certification (of the Gemstone Certification) as to describe the quality and authenticity of the stone, along with the certification (stating in writing) the particulars such as origin, dimension, length, width, carat weight, chart of stone, treated or not treated (to enhance color - which should NOT be done), ID #, etc...Anyone who does business with a jeweler who is not GIA Certified (the # 1 Lab Certification in the USA) and/or does not absolutely request that proof of Certification from GIA, runs the risk of only fooling himself/herself. If you are not offered that Certification by the jeweler prior to purchasing the stone, ask for it. If the jeweler is GIA Certified (giving him/her viable and visible documentation to personally evaluate the grade of any given stone, and signs will be hanging in the place of business if he/she is GIA Certified), he/she is qualified to evaluate stones... BUT if you request the "specific" GIA Lab Certification from the GIA lab itself (for FULL PROOF of quality and authenticity), the cost is normally passed on to you by your jeweler - which may run another $100 or so - as s/he must send out for that documentation. You need to absolutely know all of these things prior to the purchase if you plan on using these gems for astrological strengthening purposes. Any slight variations in quality means thousands of dollars...So a lesser quality stone may be deceptive and may look just as pretty, but will not do the job.

Now as for actual costs...Let me shake the socks right off you for a moment about the USA and prices...:) These are retail prices, with all of the above mandatory requirements fully met...

READY???

1 carat Diamond, D-flawless, with all above requirements satisfied, sells for approximately $15,000. (Quite a chunk of change to strengthen Venus.)

4.66 carat Ruby for Sun, again with all above requirements satisfied, will cost around $15,000 to $20,000 (this stone can vary in price - depending on gem quality)

10 millimeter Pearl for Moon: (Pearls and Red Corals aren't sold in carats) $3000 to $5000

10 millimeter Red Coral: Approximately $300 or so

4.66 carat Emerald: $15,000 to $20,000

4.66 carat Yellow Sapphire: approximately $7500 to $10,000

4.66 carat Blue Sapphire: $7500 maximum

Any full time practicing jyotishi got that kind of money just laying around from doing charts? :) Not in my world...:-)

With respect to substitute stones, if primary stones are out of your price range AND you have objections for whatever reasons to installing the kavach, the substitute specifics are listed below. The same rules apply to substitute stones, however the size (for substitutes) must be significantly larger. Tricky business...

The following are gemstone requirements for strengthening the planets - with the first one listed as the primary stone, and from the rest on as substitutes:

* Sun - Ruby, corundam, carnelian, red-garnet, pink jade, pink tourmaline

* Moon - Pearl, moon stone, white zircon

* Mars - Red Coral, red tourmaline, red zircon, red amber, deep red garnet and blood stone

* Mercury - Emerald, alexandrite, beryl, green jade, onyx, green zircon

* Jupiter - Yellow Sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, yellow jade, perth, yellow quartz and yellow amber

* Venus - Diamond, aquamarine, blue jade, lapis lazuli, opal, turquoise.

* Saturn - Blue Sapphire, amethyst, sardonic, deep blue zircon

For more info, most gem and remedial info can be found on my site under SA FAQ, SA Quotes and Notes, and other locations. Thanks.

~Namaste~

Sandy L. Crowther

Hi Sandy,


Your information regarding stones or substitute stones as opposed to a kavach was very interesting but I think the main objection can still apply. It may be still too expensive for some people to purchase either stones, substitute stones or a kavach. I do not know the exact wages in India but I do know that for many people they are indeed very low and talking about 20 dollars a month out of which they often have to provide for a family as a first priority. Given a choice I would give preference to the family as I am sure would you.
 

Sandy L. Crowther responds...

Yes…I fully agree that my post does not satisfactorily address the Indian salaries versus the expenses and hardship involved with purchasing a kavach. I got so winded with the costs of gemstones in the USA that I never did address the difficulties that are relevant for those with tight budgets – for all parts of the world – including USA. After re-reading that post – I had intentions to add to it…So let me now take it a bit further with suggestions that I have personally recommended to my clients, who have sometimes scrimped and saved just for an astrology consultation.

For the querant who originally asked the question…I do apologize for getting carried away, running out of time, and not really answering or even addressing your question…I would ask that you - who are practitioners of Systems' Approach - also seek Professor V.K. Choudhry's guidance or approval on these strengthening matters that I personally use and am about to suggest, as they are my own personal opinions and not all origins of System’s Approach. In my personal opinion, color therapy is an alternative. Strengthen the benefics through surrounding yourself and your home environment with colors that are representative of your chart benefics…These ARE SA approved.

However, the following may or may not be approved by Professor VKC for those following Systems' Approach…but now that the question has been asked, I thought I would share with you what I have found useful for my clients who are often times on strict budgets, but sincerely seeking advice for strengthening weak areas of the chart…I have always felt that the desire for the opportunity to strengthen weak areas while seeking advice of a spiritual nature, should not be reserved only for the well to do, or based on one's income. I believe there are viable alternatives.

Alternatives: Creativity and intent is very helpful…

I have recommended (to my clients) lighting colored candles (that are representative of the planet’s color that needs strengthening), and placing them in the direction that rules the benefic planet/house that you are trying to strengthen. A house is only as strong as its lord, so for example, if Sagittarius is lagna and Jupiter significations and/or the health is weak and/or afflicted, placing a candle in the direction of the sign of Sagittarius (East) may bring strength to 1st house matters and Jupiter significations. Or say the 7th lord is weak and afflicted, there are relationship issues, while Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are all chart benefics. In this case I might suggest placing silk (or natural) flowers, with the representative colors (variegated and red to represent both Venus and Mars), place them together in a yellow vase (representing benefic Jupiter and expansion and growth) in the direction ruling the 7th, and be guided toward strengthening an expanding energy with respect to 7th house matters/relationships. I have always felt that these strengthen suggestions are only as limited as your imagination, and therefore do feel that other strengthening measures can be applied that are certainly less costly, if you KNOW what you are doing and for what reasons. This is very important. I often apply these additional strengthening measures to reinforce energy.

So a few suggestions…Be very careful with what you are doing, KNOW what you are doing and WHY, and apply intent and purpose for doing so. Lastly, check with the Professor – as he may or may not approve of these suggestions as commendable for SA…(Addendum: Professor VKC has approved my above suggestions).

Fire Signs rule East, Earth Signs rule South, Air signs rule West, and Water Signs rule North.

Fire: Action oriented, energetic, willing to take charge, (temperamental, impulsive, impatient). Earth: Stable, responsible, down to earth, practical, (controlling, stubborn, possessive). Air: Intelligent, witty, adaptable, friendly, (impractical, too mercurial, overly optimistic or unrealistically idealistic.) Water: Intuitive, conscientious, sensitive, sympathetic, (overly sensitive, imbalanced emotionally, too sensitive, too submissive.)

Hope this is more helpful than my last (winded) post…

Sandy L. Crowther