LAPIS LAZULI : THE BLUE GOLD

                                         

 

LAPIS LAZULI: THE BLUE GOLD

After selling the on spot prepared tonic for youthful vitality,  the Afghan aphrodisiac seller on the footpath outside Broca Press in Amirakadal ( Srinagar ) said this :-

" Mojoon e Shabab khatam  . Ab khan apne Pandit Biraadar ke liye laaya neela Heera.  Hindu Kush se laaya. Sar e Sang se laaya. Iss ko hamaare wattan mein bolta Laajvard.  Khan daari bolta.  khan Pashto bolta. Yakk zenana yakk mardana yakk bacha yakk buzurag  angoothi mei lagaana. Taweez banaana . Ye  karishma e ilm e najoomi  Mangal Shani  ko door rakhta. Sehat tandurust . Baadi  Bawaseer khalaas. Dimaagi amraaz ko durust karta. Iss ko Sikander lagaaya duniya fatah kiya. Iss ko Changiz Khan lagaaya das hazaar bache paida kiya. Ye Firangi leta. Ye nagina . Ye gauhar . Ye ratan. Iss ko taajir 1200 rupayya mein farokht karega. Idhar Khan fakat apne Pandit Baayi ke liye laaya. Haath khada karna . Fakat paanch bach gaya. Yakk, do ,teen.....paanch. Andhar Kachroo Sahib liya . Bolta Khan shukriya. Sadh Shukriya. Oss ka bigda kaam durust hone laga. Yakeen nahin to andhar poochho. Sirf 50 ruppaya. Concession apne Pandit Biraadar ko karega.  Ye lo yak ye do. Biraadar  mein aayega. Yakk  Chakkar lagaayega .  "

( The tonic for Youthful vitality is finished. For my Pandit brothers,  this Khan has brought some blue gemstones . Khan brought it from Hindukush mountains . Khan brought it from Sar e Sang mines. Khan speaks Daari and Pashto. In both the languages , it is known as Laajvard . Be it a man, a woman, a child or an elderly person, better put it in the finger ring . You can use it in the amulet too . This is a wonderl in Hindu astrology . This keeps negative  effect of  Mars and Saturn planets at bay .This keeps you healthy. This is cure for stomach gas and piles . This is a cure for mental illness .Alexender wire it and conquered the world. Changiz Khan wore it and produced 10000 children . This is ruby. This is gem. This is saphhire. A trader will sell it for not less than 1200 rupees . But here Khan brought it for his Pandit brothers . Raise your hand. Khan has only 5 stones left. One, two , three.....five. Go inside the printing press and ask Kachroo Sahib.He bought it. And he is now thanking Khan profusely . All his unfavourable issues have started turning favourable . If you don't believe Khan, go inside and ask him. Khan sells for 50 rupees  ony. Special concession for my Pandit brothers.bHere it is , one , take it two. Wait brother , you will get it.  I shall  come to you. I shall make a round. "

And when I talked to Kachroo  of  Broca Press , he smiled and said this:-

"  The day he came first to this footpath, he gave that Halwa type medicine box free to us . He gave me one blue stone . It is lying in my house.  I didn't use it .  Roop Lal Dhawan, the goldsmith in our Mattan has some knowledge  of gemstones. He laughed  when he saw it. I believe it is fake. Could be glass .  " 

The name Lapis means stone. Lazuli is derived from the Persian Lazhward, meaning blue. This is also the root of the word, azure.Once known as 'Blue Gold' that shone in diadems of Kings and queens across the continents , Lapis Lazuli mining has significantly decreased in Afghanistan because of government intervention. It's mining got linked with terrorism, illict trade , corruption  and illegal  smuggling to Pakistan through Anjuman Pass. It is also mined in  Chile , Russia and Myanmar .

LAPIS LAZULI IN ANCIENT TIMES

Archaeological evidence shows that Lapis Lazuli was traded into the Indian subcontinent from mines in Afghanistan as early as the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1900 BC).The Hindi name for Lapis Lazuli is Lajward or  Lajavaral.  In South India , it is known as Rajavartamani (Tamil and Telugu) while people in Maharashtra  know it as  Rajavard . Historically, it was revered across cultures, from Mesopotamia to Egypt, where its lapis lazuli benefits included spiritual connection and protection. There is hardly any King or queen in the world who has not used this blue stone. The stone was prized by pharaohs and Queen Cleopatra using it for both its mystical and aesthetic qualities.The tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen, who ruled Egypt in the fourteenth century BCE, contained a number of objects made of gold and Lapis Lazuli. In ancient Egypt,   High Priests wore amulet made of Lapis Lazuli  of  Maat , the Goddess of Truth, around their necks on gold chains. It is probably from this association with Ma'at that Lapis Lazuli first became known as the Stone of Truth.

In Kashmir, it was popular with Karkota and Lohara Kings and queens who used it in diadems , amulet , jewellery, necklaces, and finger rings . In some Sanskrit texts, it is mentioned as Gandhara Vaidurya .

WHAT IS LAPIS LAZULI 

The major mines of Lapis Lazuli is the Sar-e-Sang area  in Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan district close to border with Tajikistan. These  mines are   the oldest in the world and mining in this area is going on since last  7000 years now. 

Some additional deposits have also been  found in Russia, Chile, and the U.S. The Afghanistan sourced stone is considered unique and expensive. 

The stone was highly valued by ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Sumerians, who used it for jewelry, amulet, and other decorative objects.

This blue gemstone  is composed mainly of lazurite, along with pyrite and calcite, which contribute to its brilliant blue color and golden specks. These components give Lapis Lazuli its unique, captivating appearance. The stone has a hardness of 5–6 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft and easy to carve. However,   it requires careful handling to avoid cracks and scratches. Despite its softness, the stone  remains durable enough for use in jewellery and decorative objects.Lapis Lazuli shines bright like a gem upon  its polish.When polished, it reveals a smooth surface that enhances its rich colour and appearance.Lapis lazuli is essentially opaque to p naked eye .This mineral is important not just as a gem, but also as a pigment, for ultramarine is produced from crushed Lapis Lazuli . It was used for paintings since ancient times. This is why old paintings using ultramarine for their blue pigments never fade .

In precious Lapis Lazuli stone , there are  no white calcite veins  and the pyrite  is small in size. This is because the inclusion of pyrite often produces discoloration at the edges which is not so attractive. Stones which contain too much calcite or pyrite are not as valuable.  In the international market, Lower grades of Lapis Lazuli   sell for less than $1 per carat, while the superfine material may reach $100–150 per carat  or more at retail stores.One carat  is 200 mg or 0.2 gms in weight.

Presently , world market is flooded by imitations of this stone. Various forms of glass and plastic are commonly sold to ignorant buyers  as Lapis Lazuli.

LAPIS LAZULI 'S RELIGIOUS / SPIRITUAL  SIGNIFICANCE 

Lapis Lazuli is mentioned in Hindu scriptures, where it is known by its Sanskrit name, Vaidurya. It is also occasionally associated with another blue gem, Indranila. The stone is referenced in texts like the Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, and is valued for its spiritual significance. In Vedic astrology, lapis lazuli is referred to as Lajward and is associated with the planet Saturn (Shani). It is believed to have protective qualities, reduce negative influences, and bestow wisdom. 

 In Islamic tradition, Lapis Lazuli was regarded as a protective amulet against the evil eye, symbolising serenity and well-being. Its deep blue hue adorned mosaics and minarets, particularly in mosques, where it evoked a connection to the divine.The stone was used in art, such as in Mughal miniatures, and in jewellery, including prayer beads (misbaha) and pendants. I was told by an elderly  Algerian   in Paris that people in Algeria like    wearing a   ring with  Lapis Lazuli stone. However, they don't believe that wearing  a ring of  this gemstone  brings luck or has other magical effects. 

Lapis lazuli is mentioned in the Bible as a precious stone used in the construction of sacred objects . It also mentioned  as a symbol of divine authority and heavenly beauty. Many scholars believe that the "sapphire" in some Old Testament passages is actually Lapis Lazuli. I quote from Bible :-

"O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from Lapis Lazuli" ......(Isaiah 54:11-17 NLT - Bible.com)

A well-known astrologer told me this:-

"Wearing Lpis Lazuli  brings  "Raj Yog," or richness of a King . It  enhances prosperity and spiritual growth. .The v blue color of this gemstone symbolises the vastness of the sky and sea, which in Hinduism  and many other cultures is  interpreted as a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and inner truth.The colour is associated with peace and tranquility, reflecting the serene nature of deities like Sri  Krishna. Even Sri Rama and Shiva as Neelkantha are shown with blue skin.

 It is a birthstone for people who believe in Zodiac signs or Rashis. Worn by people with specific Zodiac signs, it brings  good luck, prosperity, and fortune.  It may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, and its powerful energy can sometimes  give rise to anxiety or emotional turmoil for highly sensitive people. You can wear  this gemstone on either the left or right hand. These have different effects. For  internal benefits like emotional healing and self-awareness , wear it on your left hand . On your right hand , it projects energy outward for things like confidence and communication. For rings, the middle finger of the left or right hand is equally good. Lapis lazuli is recommended to help balance the ill effects of Saturn and is considered a substitute for Blue Sapphire, another Saturn stone.It is also connected to Jupiter, representing wisdom, knowledge, and abundance. The stone is believed to enhance an individual's consciousness and luck. "

( Avtar Mota ) 

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.