Ruby is one of the most valuable gemstones. It belongs to the family of the mineral corundum. Its colour varies from pink to blood-red. It gets this colour due to the presence of chromium in it. It symbolizes fire and makes the daytime. Ruby Gemstone is associated with Sun planet and so it is worn to enhance the power of sun. Ruby is the birthstone for Cancer, date ranging from 20 June - 22 July and the gem for the 15th and 40th marriage anniversaries.

There are nine planets in the solar system. The sun is the mother of all planets, which rotates around the sun. It symbolises fire and makes the daytime. It is one of the stars of the planetary system. The sun is regarded as the essence and the ruler of all planets. The gemstone Ruby corresponding to the sun, is reddish purple in colour. It has a nature that is dominated by bile and it is the Lord of Eastern direction.

Origin of Ruby
Ruby is deemed to be the most precious of gemstones by the Bible and the ancient Sanskrit writings. Indeed, upon discovery of each Ruby crystal, the Indian Emperor would give a special royal welcome to this King of Gemstones. Ruby mines can be seen in China, Burma, South India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Appearance of Ruby
Ruby is distinguished for its bright red colour, being the most famed and fabled red gemstone. Beside for its bright colour, it is a most desirable gem due to its hardness, durability, lustre, and rarity. Transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than Diamonds. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral Corundum.

Colours of Ruby
Rubies are sometimes vivid and intense red. These are in huge demand and considered the most desirable gemstones. Some rubies are red with yellowish to orange tones. Some rubies are red with blue to purple tones as well.

Varieties of Ruby
There are many types of Ruby stone. Depending on the place where they are found, the rubies are named. The most famous ones are Indian Ruby, Old Burmese Ruby, Thailand Ruby, Tanzanian Ruby and Madagascar Ruby. It is said to be "lord of gems" and it is also mentioned in the Bible.

Ruby as a Mineral (Stone)
In terms of chemistry, it is an amalgamation of Aluminium, Oxygen, Iron and Chromium. Ruby mines can be seen in China, Burma, South India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Ruby must be worn by people with Leo as their zodiac sign, or the sun`s position in his horoscope is weak. The wearing of Ruby eradicates paucity, furnishes opulence, name and fame in political arena and a son is born to the wearer. It is beneficial to those who are ambitious to attain higher offices.

Benefits of Ruby
Rubies are said to bring serenity and they provide protection against injury. The wearing of Ruby eradicates paucity, furnishes opulence, name and fame in political arena to the wearer. It is beneficial to those who are ambitious to attain higher offices. The Ruby gemstone draws inspiration from the Sun. The Sun holds a pivotal position in the Indian culture and traditions. A nurturer, a vital energy provider, the Sun is the soul of the universe. The Ruby gemstone imbibes most of these qualities from the Sun, making it strong and much-revered gemstone by all.

Ruby can be worn by engineers, mineralogists, goldsmiths (jewellers), actors, dramatists, artists, government officials, politicians, diplomats, merchants and hopefuls to fame, stock exchangers, traders of cloth, cotton paper and flowers. Artistic people, who want reputation and good health, must wear Ruby.

A man, in whose horoscope, the sun is in the weakening, is liable to suffer from troubles in back-bone, low and high blood pressure, heart, brain, eyes, indigestion, lungs, dyspepsia, piles, diabetes, jaundice and cholera. Thus, one can protect oneself from the above-mentioned diseases by donning Ruby. A Ruby user can shield himself/herself from diseases like dysentery, hiccups, diarrhoea, and consumption also.

How to Wear Ruby
Its weight should be a minimum of 3 Rattis (360 mg). More the weight of the Ruby, the greater is its outcome. The ruby must be studded in copper or gold. Before wearing, it should be kept in Ganga water or spring water mixed with unboiled milk on saturday night. Then after washing it with water on Sunday before 10 a.m., it should be worn on the ring finger, while chanting the Mantras-"Om Hreem Hansah Suryaye Namah Om". One should say a prayer- `O God! sun we have put on your gem for your grace, kindly save us fully`. Then the user should donate red cloth, wheat, jaggery, copper and money according to his or her capacity to a Brahmin. Fasting on Sunday also consoles the malevolent sun. Ruby keeps on influencing the wearer for four years, from the very day when it is worn.

People whose names start with-ma, mee, mi, mu, mo, ta, tee, tay, tu - should take Leo as their sign of the Zodiac. An individual born on dates 1, 10, 19, 28, of any month and people born during the period from 17th August to 16th September or in the month of January or July should wear ruby.

Types of Gemstones