One of the most famous diamonds in the world has never been sold for money. Found before our era, it is part of the royal crown of Great Britain, and the government of India does not leave attempts to return the treasure. There is no exact data on when and under what circumstances a jewel was found, for the possession of which they paid with blood. We know only legends, but how much fiction and truth they contain, one can only guess.
Indians have an instructive story about a famous stone. Philosophical history has a deep meaning that concerns every person.
Diamond Kohinoor: An Indian Parable of Happiness
An Indian legend tells of a peasant who found a beautiful stone in his garden and gave it to his children. Delighted by the unusual toy, the children first became interested in the find, and then threw it on the windowsill.
One day, a monk knocked on the door of a poor man looking for a place to sleep. The owner did not refuse, and the guest told that there are places on earth where diamonds are hidden in huge quantities. And if you are not lazy, then you can fabulouslyget rich, and the peasant wastes his life working on a plot where there is nothing. When the monk left, the poor man, shocked by his words, thought for a long time, and the desire to catch luck by the tail grew stronger every day. He sold his plot, and ordered his wife and children, whom he left in the care of neighbors, to wait for him. The peasant assured that he would return rich and fulfill all the wishes of his relatives.
For many years he wandered in search of happiness, worked hard, but during this time he did not find the place where countless treasures lie. However, the worker already had a clear idea of what a diamond is and how it looks. After many years, the disappointed and impoverished prospector returned home, where in a hut a forgotten stone lay on the window, once found on the land that the poor had sold. He could not believe his eyes - a rare and expensive gem shimmered with different facets. And then the peasant, who had lost his he alth, remembered when and where he found the treasure. Exhausted by hard work, the man searched all over Europe for the we alth lurking under his feet. The land he sold yielded one of the most beautiful stones in the world, the legendary Kohinoor diamond.
The parable tells that people are looking for happiness all over the world, and it is waiting for them at home.
Legends and traditions
It is believed that the "bloody" stone was found in India in 56 BC. According to legend, it was found in the mines of Golkogda, the ancient fortress of the country. It was a huge stone weighing over 600 carats. True, modern scientists agree that this figure is somewhat exaggerated.
Many Hindus believe that the gem fell from the sky, and the god Krishna put his curse on it: the diamond must protect the virtuous and pure thoughts of the owners, and those who get it dishonestly will suffer all their lives. Be that as it may, powerful lords fought for the right to possess the treasure, and out of 20 owners of the stone, eighteen died.
History of the mascot
The Great Raja of the Malva Family has taken possession of a gem that has the longest history of any diamond. For hundreds of years, the Kohinoor diamond has been passed down from generation to generation. The rulers valued the treasure that was inherited and believed that it was a magical stone that protected their family and bestowed power over the whole world. For a long time they wore it in their turbans, fearing the theft of the talisman, and, as it turned out, not in vain. As soon as the cunning shah, a descendant of the Khili clan, who lulled the vigilance of the rajah, took possession of the king of gems, the royal dynasty was plundered. The priceless amulet, which moved with its new owner to Delhi, stopped keeping it.
New owners of the diamond
After India was captured by the Great Mughals, who enslaved many states, padishah Shah Jahan, who immortalized his name with the construction of the beautiful Taj Mahal, took possession of a fabulous treasure. The ruler, sensitive to beauty, dreamed of an expensive throne, and his wish came true. Talented jewelers and artists have been working on a real work of art for a long time and have created a stunning masterpiece. Peacock throne, the back of which resembledthe iridescent tail of the royal bird was adorned with jewels, gold and silver, and above the head of the padishah shone the purest Kohinoor diamond, which had lost weight after cutting.
For three centuries, the stone brought good luck in battles, bestowed we alth on the mighty Mughal Empire, and at the same time sowed discord. The powerful Shah Jahan ruled until his son grew up, who wished to take power from his father. The offspring killed his brothers, and imprisoned the padishah, fearing the wrath of a treasure with magical powers. So the ruler died in the casemates of grief, whose fame thundered all over the world, and his expensive throne, which became a symbol of the monarchy, was dismantled and sold.
Another painful death
In 1739, the Kohinoor diamond, whose history is inextricably linked with human tragedies, changed hands again. They were seized by cunning by the Persian ruler, who lured the magic stone from Shah Mohammed. The lord, who received the treasure dishonestly, was stupefied by the blinding beauty of the shining stone. It is believed that it was then that the previously unnamed talisman got its name (in Farsi, koh-i-noor means "mountain of light"). However, the amulet did not keep the one who received it with the help of deceit: a few years later the king of Persia lost his mind and accepted a painful death from his entourage.
Gift for the Queen
And so the Kohinoor diamond traveled all over the world, bringing only grief and failure. Why did he cease to be a talisman for the owners? His magic althe power was exhausted as soon as he absorbed the blood of people. And although no one else believed in the protective powers of the amulet, its unique beauty fascinated and drove one crazy, forcing them to give their lives for the treasure. The stone traveled to Persia, Afghanistan, returned to India again, and when the country became a British colony, it was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria.
Hearing about the bloody history of the diamond, the British advised the Empress to abandon the treasure, which is associated with so many deaths. However, the ruler did not listen to the advice and did not part with the stone for several years. Once it seemed to her that a nondescript diamond lacked brilliance, and the queen demanded a new cut.
A cut that sparked public outrage
In the middle of the 19th century, it was given to a Dutch jeweler who worked with the royal mineralogist. A month and a half later, the Kohinoor diamond, whose photo does not convey the radiance and play of faces, lost its original appearance and more than half of its former weight. Experts agree that the processing of the diamond was unnecessary. The vandalism of the British government caused a wave of indignation that swept through the country. Many considered it sacrilege to cut a real work of art with a rich history. The stone has lost not only its original attractiveness, but also its jewelry value: its weight has decreased to one hundred carats.
It is curious, but there is a belief that cutting, which cannot be interrupted for a long time, should be done by one master. It is important that the jeweler does not fall ill duringwork and was cheerful. The Dutch master was looked after like a small child: he was fed he althy food by the hour, his sleep was carefully guarded and entertained so that the specialist would not get bored.
Official transfer of the stone
The Queen made sure in advance that no one could take away the precious stone from the UK. She legitimized the possession of this incredible treasure by inviting the son of a powerful maharaja, Duleep Singh, who converted to Christianity, to London. He confirmed the transfer of the stone and said that he was happy to be personally present at such an important historical event. Since then, England considers itself the rightful owner of the jewel officially donated to the British Empire.
The sparkling Kohinoor diamond in the crown of the Empress of Great Britain has been recognized as a regalia of national importance. Victoria wore it for more than 50 years, and no misfortune happened to her. Now the real treasure is kept in the Tower, in the Royal Family Jewels Museum.
Demanding the return of the treasure
The history of the stone does not end there. After India became an independent country, she demanded that the UK return the legendary Kohinoor diamond, but received a firm refusal. The prime minister of the state published an open letter in which he addressed the British government. He was supported by other countries who wished that the masterpiece of jewelry art belonged to India again.
In 2015, a new wave of indignation arose. The initiative group prepared a lawsuit against Queen Elizabeth II, seeking the return of the national treasure. It was noted that the artifact was removed from India by the British under dubious circumstances.
The UK government once again rejected the idea of giving the Kohinoor diamond. This will lead to other unfounded demands, as a result of which the country may lose the main museum exhibits.
