PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND

There are diamonds called Hansmukhi Diamond resembling goose-mouth shapes. Actually the diamond blocks are found in almost similar types, say those in hexangular or eight-angled shapes are always found to be attached to others which are of the same shapes.

As the diamonds are the hardest, no object can scratch through its mass. Its refractive indices are the highest, which is why the rays that penetrate its mass very easily can return in total after some time, and the effect in its dazzling power is the greatest among all other gems. The radiation power in the diamond pieces are so great that if you look down from its peak into the depth of the jewel the entire vibgyor or the sun would be Nearly visible in full colours. According to the Garuda Purana, if the sides of a piece of diamond is broken yet there remain some points and lines and the tinges of rainbow still visible, that piece is auspicious enough to bless the native with prosperity and heirs.

It is India which first proved that even the hardest and the most adamant pieces of diamonds can be polished. This art was discovered as early as in thirteenth century by the Indian jewellers and gemologists. According to documents left by the famous French jeweller, Baron Twenyar, in India the pure and defectless diamonds were not cut, it is the impure and defective diamonds which were cut and polished to their beautiful majesticity. Indians should " pride in the fact, even pretty before the Western civilisation got going, that is the sixteenth century, the diamonds were in the trade practices India and all the cut and cleaned diamonds were being exported. During the medieval period in India the diamonds were crowning the international trade.

DIAMOND-KING OF THE GEMS

It is well understood that any unique thing that stands out of other average equals are gems or in Sanskrit Ratna. Even our ancient kings and emperors used the best and the most talented people of their assembly as Ratnas or gems. In the metamorphic world the three special qualities transcend one object to the level of a gem. These qualities are beauty, durability and rare availability. If an object undergoes wear and tear very easily that cannot be fit for procurement or such object cannot be called a gem.

We cannot compare any high quality diamonds with the ice-block or a transparent crystal piece for the obvious reasons. Hence considering the beauty of the mass, rare availability and tremendous durability, the diamond pieces can easily be called the most dependable crown among the jewels. The irony is, after mined out of its metamorphic base, say weighing about five tones of ore is mined in order to produce a few carats of diamond.

POPULAR NOTIONS ABOUT THE DIAMONDS

It is believed that since a diamond piece cannot be broken, if it is put under the hot goat-milk for some time and then try to break it, it yields to the pressure. In ancient times diamond used to be worn on person as an amulet, for self-protection and it is also believed that diamond pieces mitigate the fever.

Some diamond pieces bode unhappiness to its na­tives, as we may find in the lot of Mary Antoinate, the former empress of feudal France as she was bayoneted after she had worn it. The famous diamond piece Kohinoor also became actually ill-famous, as it always brought destruction to the natives. All the Mughal emperors whoever owned it met with unceremoni­ous death, mostly by slaughter. The last owner of the diamond was the Punjab's Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who too had the diamond the reason for his death. Nobody put it on person after his killing and the same year the Kohinoor changed its owner once again and this time even crossed the seas to reach the Empress Victoria, to whom the diamond was sent by the British troops in India as a gift. However with its arrival the burning sun of the Great Britain’s empire slided to set for good. At present the diamond piece, Kohinoor, is preserved in the British Museum of the British royal family.

CHARACTERISTICS AND TESTING AS IN ANCIENT TEXTS

Among the stones and gems, diamond is the hardest, brightest, transparent and the most precious.
Varahamihira has termed the diamonds as Vajramani, and defined its characteristics as the jewel which is as hard as Vajra, that radiates rays when put into a shallow water and the rays float, which is as pure and genuine as electricity, which ensures happiness to all, like the rainbow and fire does naturally.
(cf: Brihat Samhita; Chapter 79; shlokas 1-5)