N.Nandhivarman
Colour Diamond Encyclopedia mentions about a diamond called Black Orlov. This diamond is on display in the Natural History Museum of London from 21 st September to next year February 2006. After the exhibition it is going to be worn by a film celebrity in 2006 Oscars. This news opened the Pandora’s box in Pondicherry because of its connections with Pondicherry.
The Colour Encyclopedia states “the stone also known as “The Eye of Brahma” weighed 195 carats in the rough and was then set in an idol near Pondicherry before being owned for a time in the middle of the eighteenth century by the Russian Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov “. After her it obtained the name Black Orlov.
This stone had been exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in 1951, the Wonderful World of Fine Jewelry and Gifts at the 1964 Texas State Fair, Dallas, and the Diamond Pavilion in Johannesburg in 1967. But at that time it did not draw the attention of the people of Pondicherry. But now in academic circles it is being widely discussed and debated. There has been demand for getting back the national treasure back to India. Justifying this demand made by historians, scholars and politicians, Dr.M.Sambandam of School of International Studies Pondicherry University said, ” There is a recent precedent of Australia returning 10,000 fossils dating back to millions of years that had been illegally exported from China. And it is no surprises Pondicherrians are making the demand for the return of the Black Orlov Diamond to India.”
The valuable fossils of dinosaur eggs and ancient turtles returned by Australia to China according to Australian Minister for Environment and Heritage Mr. Ian Campbell are up to 230 million years old. China made a request to recover these fossils in 2003. The Australian government acted swiftly and handed them back. Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison had told that “their recovery and return to Chinese people will help ensure they are protected for future generations”. Citing this as times are changing scholars like Dr.R.Thirumurugan argue that Indian treasures taken during the colonial period must be brought back to India since our national pride and honour is at stake.
The notes on diamonds published by Natural History Museum London states that” the story of diamonds as precious gems begins in India, about 4,000 years ago. India was the first source of legends about diamond’s unconquerable powers, and the world’s only important source until the eighteenth century. We know from ancient writings that diamonds were already being traded in the Far East at least 2,000 years ago. Rulers kept the finest diamonds for themselves. Very few diamonds found their way to the West until the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, but legends about these magical stones did , fuelling the desire to own them. When trade with the East opened up, and India’s diamonds flowed west, Europeans were astonished by the extraordinary treasures of the East.” so it goes on.
“Though there is justification in asking for Indian treasures be brought back to India, in this case various sources like unexplained mysteries.com, Diamond Legend Info and BBC with so many media openly refer that the Black Orlov diamond was stolen from a shrine near Pondicherry making the case strong for recovery” says Jagan law student and youth leader.
The search to locate the shrine began with epigraphists and historians going around temples nearer to Pondicherry. The search led to Irumbai Mahakaaleeswar temple near Alankuppam in Vanur Taluk of Villupuram District because of a legend associated with that temple.
Swami Omkarananda of Omkara Ashram said about the curse related legend. ” During 1207 A.D from Kottaikarai a king ruled that area under the overall authority of Kulothunga Chozhan VI. It was said one sithar for years had been engaged in meditation under a tree. The heat generated by such meditation made entire area barren with no vegetation. People complained to the king who decided that the tapas of Kazhuveli sithar be disrupted, so ordered the devadasi Valli to perform her dance. She danced and the saint came to senses. She pleaded the plight of the villagers.
In such a situation one-day king came to temple. There was rejoicing and while Valli was dancing her anklet fell in the soil. Sithar got up and helped her to tie it. People broke into laughter at this scene which infuriated the sithar who cursed that no growth will be there in near vicinity and the sivalingam broke into pieces. Even now one can see the copper bonding over the sivalingam.”
Whatever may be the legend the temple authorities and villagers are excited about this sudden news from London that a diamond related to their temple had been stolen before two centuries. They hope that the diamond be brought back to India and also urge that sithar’s samathi be located and poojas performed to get rid of the curse.
Dr.Vijayavenugopal Epigraphist of Ecole Franciase D’ Exteme Orient (French Institute) is engaged in studying Irumbai temple to find out more facts. Some scholars however brush aside the legend and say that a meteorite must have struck the temple. Not all diamonds are formed deep within the Earth. Some are born in the intense heat and pressure as a meteorite crashes into the planet’s surface, or collides with other bodies in space. Others, too tiny for the eye to see, pepper the solar system as stardust, spewed out during the death of ancient stars. Anyhow since national pride is involved the demand for getting back the treasure to India is receiving wide support.
Photograph : Dr. Vijayavenugopal of Ecole Franciase DExteme Orient studying stone inscriptions in Irumbai temple.
TAMIL RESEARCH TOWARDS TRUTH 