Regal in Red

Before we begin this week,let’s flip some pages of mythology. Bali,the great demon king resolved to dethrone Indra as the King of Heaven. According to Vishnu Purana and the Shreemad Bhagwad Mahapurana,Bali planned to do so by performing a hundred Ashwa Medha Yagnas. Lord Vishnu the Preserver,on appeal of Indra,decided to halt the last Yagna. In the guise of a Vamana (Brahmin) he begged Bali for land equalling his three foot steps. In two steps Lord Vishnu measured earth and heaven. Bali,true to his word offered his head for the third step. In doing so,the Lord sent Bali to hell but resulting from the touch of the Lord’s foot his body converted into gems and stones. According to Indian mythology,Ruby originates from Bali’s blood drops and hence are red and pink in colour. Referred to as Ratna Raj,Ravi Raj,Manikya or Ruby,it is today celebrated as the gem of sizzling summer days and arresting sunsets. It is the birth stone of July born and has been used world-over by Asian civilization from India to Babylon. This lone red member of the corundum family is a resilient stone with hardness second only to diamonds. Evoking an affluent aura,it’s believed to be first known in Europe to Etruscans and Greeks between 600 and 480 BC. The book of Exodus tells it to be the prominent stone of the high priest,Aaron. Gem Therapy,the Navagraha system of Planetary Gemology and many other beliefs revere it for empowering the wearer with vitality,wealth,vigor and foreteller of doom. The first wife of King Henry VIII is said to have foretold her impeding demise from the darkening of her Ruby. They have also been used to ornament armor,scabbards and harness of noblemen in India and China. Rubies were laid beneath the foundations of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure. The legend retains its charm even today. Pioneering the trend of coloured gemstone engagement rings both Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson accepted proposals with the corundum gems. Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis known for their exquisite taste in jewellery have romanced stunning rubies. More recently,Sotheby’s has achieved the world record price amounting to $144,014/carat for a 32.08 carat ruby!

(The writer is a city-based researcher specialising in jewellery art and can be contacted at sameeraahaan02@gmail.com)