Legends and superstitions about pearls

all gemstones came from blood spilled by serpent king Assur, when fighting with a beast. When blood was spilled to river beds, it turned to rubies, while the blood-stained sands of Ganges turned into garnets. The bile of the defeated king, shed in a desert, close to sea, turned into emerald. The sea mourned for the dead king for several days and the sea tears turned into pearls. According to other Indian legend, the pearl was a drop of rain, which got inside the shell. “Sea tears”, “stark rain drop”, “petrified moonlight”, “traces of sea nymphs” – there are numerous explanations, invented by men to explain the origins of this amazing gem. Nowadays, these versions can evoke nothing but a smile.

In ancient times people believed that pearls can cure leukoma or ulcer of cornea. It strengthens teeth and adds them shininess. If you keep it in mouth, it will influence healthily on blood composition and reduces heart pain. In case of blood spitting, it favors blood coagulability. It helps pregnant women to bear a child successfully. Rich noblemen drunk wine from pearl cups or with a pearl inside. They believed this could protect them from poisoning.

According to popular beliefs, pearls bring happiness, prosperity and joy, and considered to be a lucky charm.

According to ancient astrologists, pearls brought luck to Pisceans. They were especially recommended to wear by young girls and unmarried women, irrespective of age.

Pearls favor longevity, add clarity to eye-sight, protect from malefice and make it possible to foresee the future. Pearl ring protects from thieves and raw deals.

Pearls live owner’s life: it shines, when the owner is healthy and grows dim, when he or she dies. That is why pearls sometimes called the “tears of grief”.

Pearls have been used for their medicinal value, since their earliest discovery by man. Interestingly enough, the modern pharmaceutical industry continues to use pearls in medicine. In particular, pearls that are of inferior quality and cannot be used in jewelry are ground into a fine powder and used to prepare high-quality pharmaceutical calcium.

From ancient China and India to medieval Europe and Arabia - and in almost every culture in between - pearls have been used for medicinal purposes, ranging from aphrodisiacs to cures for insanity. Pearls could simply be worn as jewelry for their curative powers, or they could be ground up and made into potions, balms, and salves used to treat a wide variety of ailments and conditions. One legend said that a pearl placed in the navel could cure stomach disorders!

Other disorders, which can be cured by pearls, are amnesia, insomnia, asthma, jaundice, liver disorders, heart maladies, sterility and insect and snake bites.

Pearls are the source of Yin energy. It calms and brings the balance of mind and pacification, helps with neurological disturbance, kidney, liver and digestive tract disorders. “Pearl water” is also used for medicinal purposes. This would be the water with several pearls left in it for one night. It is a common belief that such water cures bleeding gums and piles. Pearl water has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and blood-restoring effect. Lithotherapists claim this water helps to restore menstrual cycle.

Wear pearls often, so that it would come into contact with Your skin. Before wearing a necklace, take a bath and do not use perfumes after You taken the pearls on. Before going to bed, take pearls off and wrap them into damp linen cloth.

Due to their origins, pearls considered to be nearly living gem, similar to human, it nucleates inside a mollusk, develops and comes into the world. There are no identical pearls – each of them is unique and suits its owner. So try to refrain from lending Your pearls to other people, even to close ones.

Interesting facts

One of the most famous pearls in the world (this was recorded in Guinness World Records), called “Le Grand”, was once a property of Napoleon. The pearl is distinguished by its size – it weights more than 20 g and its current price is more than 2 500 000$.

One of the largest pearls of the world weights almost 100 g. This was also recorded in Guinness World Records. The price for this pearl is more than 4 500 000$.

The most incredible shape has the pearl of Allah. It is covered with fissures, which makes it similar to human brain. Its weight is more than 6 kilos. Its price was more than 40 000 000$, but its owner decided to take it to museum. He thinks that such treasure has to become the common property of people, while hiding it in private collection would be a blasphemy.

“The Pilgrim” pearl is famous for its practically perfect egg-shape.

Sometimes several grains or other irritators get inside a pearl-producing mollusk at once. At this case, several pearls appear and, later on, they can grow together. There was a famous cross, naturally formed by nine pearls, attached to each other.

There was a popular belief in ancient times that pearls grow dim, when their owners compromised with their conscience and acted indecently. The Russian history has the following episode: Ivan the Terrible had a baculus covered with fine northern pearls. Then one day these pearls suddenly “faded”. The superstitious czar considered this baculus to be a symbol of his power, so he ordered to restore its initial shininess. In pursuance with the order, the pearls were detached from the baculus, strung on waxed thread and immediately sent to the village Keret in Karelia. A wise man lived there, who could return the “faded” pearls its sparkling shininess.

To accomplish this hard task one of the young girls had to wear the necklace on her neck and swim in the river with the pearls on for 101 nights. According to other interpretation of this legend, to return the baculus its shininess, it was plunged for 101 times into the waters of northern rivers. No one knows exactly, how this process was performed, but the returned pearls were “revived”.

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