Mang-tikka: focus & mental energy

Mang-Tikka is a very important accessory in the jewellery category. Wearing a tikka on the forehead helps improve focus and increases mental energy. The tikka controls the heat of our body. People who're fearful or suffer from anxiety should wear a tikka made of Gold. If there's some unknown fear or some kind of insecurity, then too this mang-tikka is helpful.

For initiation (when starting with kundalini meditation), then the disciple needs to wear a thread around his head that has a "rudraaksh" bead on the forehead. This is to keep the focus of the disciple.

Riwaz Mang-tikka

Kundan and pearl maang tikka.

Spessartite - Yellowish Orange Garnet 

Spessartite is an orange to red-brown gemstone that belongs to the large and varied garnet species. The name, "spessartine" comes from the Bavarian word, "Spessart", meaning "forest", which is a mountain range in Germany where spessartine garnet deposits were found in the 1880s. Spessartite was not often seen in jewellery until deposits were mined in Namibia and Mozambique in the 1990s.

Spessartite has manganese in its formula. This manganese creates a yellowish-orange color. Because many of spessartite’s ancestors married almandines, many are a reddish orange due to some iron. The lighter orange spessartites, similar in color to orange soft drinks, are almost pure spessartites.

Spessartite Garnet Gemmological Properties: 

Chemical Formula:	Mn3Al2(SiO4)3 Manganese aluminium silicate
Crystal Structure:	Cubic; rhombic dodecahedron, icositetrahedron
Colour:	Orange, orangey-yellow, red-brown
Hardness:	6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale
Refractive Index:	1.790 to 1.820
Density:	4.12 to 4.18
Cleavage:	Indistinct
Transparency:	Transparent, translucent
Double Refraction or Birefringence:	Usually none
Lustre:	Vitreous
Fluorescence:	Mainly none

Benefits of Spessarite Garnet: 
Spessartite garnet is said to provide its wearer with analytical and creative abilities, strength of heart and the eagerness to assist others. Physically, spessartite garnet is thought to benefit the reproductive system, the kidneys, bladder and the appetite. The healing powers of spessartite garnet are said to be good for clear communication, self-confidence and for willingness to make changes and experience new things.

Jewelry designs made with Spessartite: 

Melanite : Titanian Andradide Garnet

Melanite is a glossy black garnet gemstone that is sometimes referred to as "titanian andradite" due to its titanium content. The black color of melanite is the result of titanium replacing some of the iron in its composition.
It is one of the three varieties of the rare andradite garnet group and has a very high refractive index, meaning it has a beautiful lusture. At one time it was rarely faceted as a gemstone. However, with the interest in black diamond, and the general scarcity of black gemstones, melanite has become popular for jewelry.

Melanite's hardness and absence of cleavage makes it a versatile gemstone that can be cut into a variety of shapes and faceted to best show its lustre. Brilliant-cut shows off the excellent lustre of melanite.
 In traditional Hindu belief systems, melanite is associated with the first chakra, or the "root chakra", which is positioned at the base of the spine. The root chakra when clear is associated with vitality, healthy sexual activity and feelings of security and stability.
Melanite is thought to be a good stone to prevent nightmares and bring positive energy to places.
Additionally, melanite is said to encourage positive feelings, boost self-confidence, provide stability and balance, and heighten creativity.
Melalite Garnet can help you to let go of negative emotions that may be harming your relationships with others.
Emotions such as jealousy, coveting what others have, suspicion, mistrust... or being too quick to get angry, may be released.
Physically, melanite is thought to help blood production and flow, bronchial disorders, absorption of calcium, magnesium and iron, and eyesight.
Melanite is a powerful grounding stone, connecting one's Life Force with the fiery core of the Earth, and accessing an almost infinite supply of energy for creative work. [Ahsian, 171]

Colour changing Garnet!

Yes,that's right! There is a variety of Garnet which changes colour depending on the type of light source with which it is viewed.The gems were pinkish purple in daylight and showed a color change from intense pink in warm incandescent light to purple—almost like a fine amethyst—in cool LED light as shown in the image :

Source:www.gia.edu

• Color change garnets are among the rarest, most interesting of all gemstones. This phenomenal gem is in fact a mixture of garnet species.
• Color change garnet changes hue based upon the source of light. The most common shift is from red to green. 

More on color changing garnet coming soon! Stay tuned!

Demantoid Garnet

Demantoid Garnet is a brilliant green variety of garnet colored by chromium and ferric iron. It is considered to be the rarest and most valuable member of the garnet group of minerals .

Demantoid Garnet ; Source:modernjewelers.com

• Demantoid has an exceptionally high refractive index making it not only the most brilliant garnet but also more brilliant than both ruby and sapphire.

• Demantoid garnet also has exceptional fire and boasts the highest dispersion rating of any jewelry gemstone available today, even exceeding that of fine diamond. Like most green garnets, demantoid is typically found only in small sizes.

• Russian demantoid is highly prized for its distinctive golden 'horsetail' inclusions , shown below .

• Physically, Demantoid garnet is thought to help alleviate symptoms of arthritis, varicose veins, backache, liver disorders and prevent hemorrhages.

Shining bright,

Fiery Yellowish Green light,

Lighter than Emerald,

Nevertheless harder in might!