Written by London swaminathan
Research Article No. 1684; Dated 1st March 2015.
Navaratna means nine gems. This word is used in gemmology and in Sanskrit literature. In gemmology it means the nine gems Diamond (Vajra), Ruby (Manikya or Padmaraga), Emerald (Marakatha), Sapphire (Neelam), Topaz (Pushparaka), Pearl (Mukta), Coral (Pravala), Cat’s Eye (Vaidurya) and Gomedaka (garnet). But I am dealing with the Navaratna in Sanskrit literature. The mystery about nine gems or nine jewels in Sanskrit literature is not solved till this day. The reason being
Yellow sapphire=Pushparaka; Hessonite=Gomedaka
1.The sloka about nine literary gems is a very late composition.
2.The Sanskrit verse mentioned nine people in the Royal court of Emperor Vikramaditya. The most famous Vikramaditya of Indian history lived in the first century BCE. We have one era known as Vikrama Samvat (56 BCE) in our calendar system. Because of his fame, for at least 1000 years, several other kings also called themselves Vikramaditya! But the nine literary gems lived in different ages. So they would not fit into his court!
3.Of the nine scholars, we did not know about four scholars except their names.
4.Kalidasa was the most famous scholar in the list. He could have lived in the first century BCE, renowned Sanskrit scholars believe so. (Please read my earlier articles on Kalidasa’s age through Sangam Tamil literature).
The Sanskrit verse runs like this:
Danvantri Kshapanaka Amarasimha Shanku Vetalabhatta Ghatakarpar Kalidasa
Kyato Varahamihiro nrupate sabhayam ratnani vai Vararucir nava Vikramasya
This verse is found in “Jyotirvidbharana” of the sixteenth century. The nine jewels according to the verse are
Dhanvantri
Kshapanaka
Amarasimha
Sankhu
Vetalabhatta
Ghatakarpara
Kalidasa
Varahamihira
Vararuci
We knew for sure that Varahamihira of Brhat Samhita lived in the sixth century CE. Amarasimha, the author of 10,000 word dictionary Amarakosa lived around fourth century CE. Kshapanaka was a lexicographer but we don’t have his work. We don’t know anything about Kshapanaka , Ghatakarpara and Sankhu. Vetala Bhatta was the author of Vetala (Ghost) stories. Danvanatri was the author of several medical works.
Several great authors with the name Vararuci lived from fourth century BCE to 13th century CE. Most famous Vararuci was the author of Vartika who explained Panini’s Grammar. So we did not know which Vararuci is mentioned in the ‘navaratna’ verse.
Sankhu is represented by a few odd verses in later anthologies and Ghata karpara by collections of gnomic stanzas.
Everyone knew about the greatest of the Indian poets, Kalidasa, who was the author of at least seven works. Unless we can prove that all these people lived around first century BCE, we can’t place them in the court of Emperor Vikramaditya.
Problem with Indian literature is that there was constant updating. All the Puranas and important Sanskrit works were updated with latest information. Westerners interpreted it as interpolations or stamped it as a work of a later date. It happened with Adi Shankara as well. Several works of later Shankaracharyas were also attributed to Adi Shankara. Because of this Adi Shankara was dated to 732 CE which is wrong (Please read my article Shankar’s age through Tamil literature).
Whether the nine gems/jewels lived at the time of Vikramaditya or not, the great works of Danvantri, Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Vetalabhatta and Vararuci are real literary gems!
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Tamil and Vedas 
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