5 interesting facts about the Kohinoor diamond
What's the story
The Kohinoor diamond, famous for being one of the largest cut diamonds globally and for the ongoing debate over its ownership, is making headlines once again. India is reportedly planning to bring back historical artifacts from the colonial era from the United Kingdom, including the Kohinoor diamond. Here, we present you with five intriguing facts that will amaze you about this remarkable gemstone.
Original name
Kohinoor diamond's original name was Samantika Mani
The Kohinoor has a long history that dates back around 4,000 to 5,000 years, as mentioned in old Sanskrit texts. During that time, it was known as the "Samantika Mani." This name showed that it was considered valuable and held a prominent position among diamonds. Some interesting myths even claim that the diamond was once owned by the Lord Krishna.
Discovery
It was first discovered in the 13th century
The diamond's origins can be traced back to the Golconda region in Andhra Pradesh. It was found in the diamond mines of Rayalaseema when the Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area in the 13th century. The Kakatiyas worshiped Goddess Bhadrakali as their revered deity, and interestingly, they adorned the left eye of the goddess with the Kohinoor diamond.
Size
Initially, the Kohinoor diamond weighed an impressive 793 carats
As the years passed, the Kohinoor diamond has become smaller in size. This happened because it was cut several times in the past before it became a national treasure. Surprisingly, it used to be the biggest diamond in the whole world. However, today it weighs only around 105 carats, which is quite a bit smaller compared to its original size, which was 793 carats.
Cursed
Men were not allowed to adorn it
An intriguing Hindu text dating back to 1306 mentioned an interesting belief associated with the Kohinoor diamond. According to this text, only women were allowed to wear the precious stone, while men were advised against it. It was believed that male owners of the diamond would face various misfortunes in life.
Nadir Shah
Nadir Shah gave the diamond its current name
The Khiljis acquired it during an expedition to Warangal in 1310. It then passed through the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate until Babur obtained it after defeating Ibrahim Lodi. In 1739, Persian ruler Nadir Shah invaded the Mughal Empire and took possession of the diamond. It is said that Shah gave the diamond its current name, 'koh-i-noor,' which in Persian means "mountain of light."