Coral
Hardness 3.25–3.75, Specific gravity 2.65
Coral is not a mineral but the skeleton-like deposit of coral polyps.
Coral polyps build their limestone skeletons by taking calcium out
of the seawater. They then deposit calcium carbonate (limestone) around
the lower half of the colony. As new polyps grow, the limestone formation
becomes larger and larger. Coral comes in different colors—red,
white, pink, orange, and yellow. Red is the color most often used
for astrological purposes. Red coral contains iron oxide. Of the red
corals, blood-red and pink-red are the best. Coral is often stained,
and the color fades after a while.
Valuable red coral is found mostly in the Mediterranean, in the waters
near Algeria and Tunisia. Coral is also found off the coasts of France,
Sicily, Spain, Australia, Mauritius, in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf,
in the seas near Japan, and off Africa’s northwest coast.
Coral is found in clear, shallow water at about 5m (15 ft) to 50m
(160 ft). The deeper the water, the lighter the coral will be, and
vice versa. Imitation coral is made of conch-shell and compacted powdered
marble. Plastic, wood, and wax are also used in the making of imitation
coral.
Astrological Effects
of Coral
Red coral is ruled by Mars. Coral can be worn by those for whom Mars is lord of an auspicious house in the birth chart. If Mars is the lord of an inauspicious house, it may be harmful to wear red coral. A red coral stone or necklace can be worn to strengthen Mars. The darker the coral, the more powerful the effect.
The auspicious qualities of coral: a good red color, a beautiful
appearance, freedom from cracks and holes, a perfectly round or oval
shape, a smooth surface, a nice sheen, and a regular shape.
Coral’s possible flaws: cracks, bores in the body, more than
one color in the same piece, black or white spots, depressions, a
twisted or bent body. A flawless, well-polished, brightly dark red-colored
piece of coral will have the best result. Such a piece will increase
wealth and remove danger and obstacles.
Those who wear red coral will be brave and defeat their enemies.
Red coral helps defeat mental depression, and it protects women from
widowhood. Red coral protects the wearer from evil spirits and curses,
and stops nightmares. It aids meditation and brings happiness. Red
coral can help one avoid violence and war.
Coral turns inactive persons into active ones, helps build finances,
increases determination, courage, physical strength, vitality, and
leadership qualities, and helps one to finish the tasks he has begun.
It can help one get a daughter married or to find a new job. It can
help marital life. It can also help increase sexual desire, especially
in men. It protects against witchcraft, accidents, and lightning.
Red coral can be useful for policemen and soldiers.
Red coral is said to change color if the wearer is about to suffer
bad health.
Red coral transmits the cosmic color yellow, which is related to
blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the head. Red coral can thus
help improve diseases caused by an afflicted Mars or any relating
to the above parts of the body. Red coral also affects the genitals,
and works with the immune system, can cure smallpox, fever, headache,
jaundice, blood diseases, anemia, weakness, typhoid, allergies, cough,
bronchitis, pneumonia, wounds, measles, piles, cough, chickenpox,
and problems with bile. Red coral used after three months of pregnancy
may also be able to prevent miscarriages.
The weight of the coral used should be at least six (some say three)
carats or more, or eight, nine, eleven, or twelve carats for a ring.
Coral should be set in gold mixed with copper, or, alternatively,
silver. The ring should be worn first on a Tuesday, one hour after
sunrise, when the moon is waxing (bright half of the lunar month).
It can also be worn first on a Monday or Thursday. It should ideally
be set when it is in a sign ruled by Mars, a sign friendly to Mars,
during a constellation ruled by Mars or ruled by a friend of Mars,
or when Mars is exalted. A coral ring should be worn on the ring finger,
index finger, or thumb of the right hand. The ring should be made
when Mars is in Capricorn (its exalted sign), Scorpio, or Aries (best),
on in the constellations of Mirgashira, Anuradha, Dhanistha, or Chitra.
The mantras for red coral:
Om bhom bhomaya namaha om; Om
ang angarakaya namaha; Mangalaya namaha; Om kujaya namah; Om
mam. Stotra of invocation: “Om dharani garbha sambhutam,
viddat kanti sama prabham, kumara sakti hastam tam, mangalam pranamami
aham.”
Pink coral, carnelian, bloodstone, and red jasper can be substituted
for red coral.Because Mars in not compatible with Mercury or Saturn,
red coral or its substitutes should not be worn with the gems ruled
by Mercury and Saturn, emerald and blue sapphire or their substitues.
According to some authoritites, red coral should also not be worn
with diamonds, cat’s eyes, or gomedha and their substitutes.
The exception is in the Navaratna setting.
Depending on a person’s occupation, different colors of coral
should be worn. A priest, teacher, scientist, or intellectual should
wear pink-red. A ruler, soldier, or administrator should wear blood
red. A businessman, farmer, or banker should wear orange-red. A laborer,
artisan, or servant should wear brown-red. The cosmic number for Mars
is nine, the affected element fire, and the affected sense sight.
Mars rules the first chakra, Muladhara (base of spine).
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