मौक्तिकम् = PEARLS

Mauktika (मौक्तिक, “Pearl”):—One of the nine gems (navaratna) according to the 13th century Rasaprakāśasudhākara.

The Pearl (mauktika) has the following Pharmaco-therapeutic properties:

i) pittadoṣa-pacifying, ii) acts as bṛṃhaṇa (strengthening) and iii) vṛṣya 

(aphrodisiac), destroys kāsa, śvāsa, agnimāndya, kṣaya, dāha, unmāda or 

kaphaja-unmāda and the diseases caused by vātadoṣa.  It may be used in all times (seasons).

Superior: The best and pure of Pearls are considered to be possessed of the following properties: Pleasure-giving, white and clear like rays, roundin shape, looking clear like water, greasy, heavy in weight and big in size.

Inferior: Pearls should totally be discarded if they contain the following properties: Rough on surface, less shining, blackish or reddish in colour, half white, having knots (nodules), appearing like a kṣāra, unstraight, available in pairs, and associated with doṣas mentioned above.

Pearls in the Vedas

Rig Veda has the following references on pearl:
RV 1-33-4; 10-68-11; 1-126-4;7-18-23

Atharva Veda Sangamani Sukta (4-10-1) has a reference to pearl. Whitney says that it describes that the rain drops become pearls. It is customary to recite this sukta when one wears a pearl talisman.
“When the ocean roared against Parjanya with lightning, there from was born the golden drop” (Sadvimsa Brahmana 5-6)

Ratna Pariksha and Testing Gems: Pearls

Gemmology is the combined art and science of studying, cutting, valuing, buying and selling of gems. India was far advanced in this branch of science in the olden days. Kautilya, who is also known as Chanakya lived 2400 years ago. He has devoted a whole chapter to ‘Ratnapariksha’ (gemmology). This deals also with testing the quality of gems. Vikramaditya, one of the exemplary kings of India who lived in the first century BC, had nine great scholars in his court who were called ‘Nine Gems’. This shows how much the people valued the gem stones.
Kavatapuram was the second capital of early Pandyas whose first capital South Madurai was devoured by sea. ‘Kavatapuram’ means the doorway (of South India). Valmiki Ramayana has a few references to South India. One of them goes like this:–

‘Thatho hemamayam divyam mukthaamani vibhooshitham l
 Yuktham Kavatanam Paandyagatam drakshyata vanarah ll

“Behold on the shore of the ocean the Pandya’s golden gates decked with gold and pearl”.
If the rain falls on Swati star day the oysters open their mouth to drink the rain drops and the rain drops become pearls.

In Malavikagnimitra.1-6: Kalidasa says,

“Paathra viseshe nyastam vrajathi gunaantharam silpamaadhaathu hu l

 Jalamiva samudhra sukthou Mukthaaphalathaam payodhasya  ll”

‘the skill of a teacher imparted to a worthy pupil attains greater excellence, as the water of a cloud is turned in to a pearl in a sea shell.

Bhartruhari makes it more specific by saying the rain on Swati Nakshatra days become pearls. Biologsits also confirm on full moon days a lot of sea animals like corals release their eggs or spores. So far as India is concerned it might have happened in that particular (the day Swati star is with Moon) season.

(The pearl like candle in the image is one of the gifts by the BlogChatter for the New Year)