Did the Syamantaka Mani Become the Hope Diamond?

The Hope Diamond
Photo Credit: Science Views

Though most historians believe the Syamantaka mani is a diamond, there is compelling evidence that the sun god’s gift may have been a ruby. There is even some speculation that it was a blue sapphire, though this theory may be based on a mere spelling error. Some have mistakenly called the jewel Shyamantaka, which means ‘sapphire’ in Sanskrit.

There is some weight to the theory that the jewel might be a ruby, since the sun god was most often represented by rubies and not diamonds. Though a strong case could be made that Surya’s gift was a ruby and not a diamond, the chromium required for the red color of rubies often prevents them from growing much larger than 3 carats, which would likely not have radiated enough light to obscure Satrajit’s face.

Of course, there are some staggering rubies said to hail from India, including the Rajaratna Ruby (2,475 carats), the 125West Ruby (18,696 carats), and the controversial Chaiyo Ruby (109,000 carats). These weights are nearly impossible to believe, though there is corroboration in the record.
Though it is definitely possible that one of these large Indian rubies could be the Syamantaka mani, none of the accounts I've read make any such claim about these magnificent jewels.

There is, however, some credibility to the theory that the Hope Diamond may be Satrajit’s treasure. Since the Hope Diamond is blue in appearance and radiates red light after exposure to ultraviolet light, to the inexperienced eye of Dwarka citizens the diamond might have been mistaken for a blue sapphire. Some speculate that the Hope diamond weighed 112 carats when it was first found, which means it was certainly large enough to have been the Syamantaka mani.

Do you think the Hope Diamond is the Syamantaka mani? Do you think it’s one of these large rubies?

If you're ready to decide, click here and leave me a comment with your choice.

If you’re undecided, follow me this way if you think it's the Koh-i-Noor Diamond.

Or follow me this way if you think it might be the Great Mogul.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. IndiaDivine. "Syamantaka or Shyamantaka??" Last modified September 10, 2005. Accessed August 15, 2012. http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/hinduism-forum/265626-syamantaka-shyamantaka.html.
2. ________, Michael. "The Hope Diamond Design Change." The Natural Sapphire Company. Last Modified September 15, 2009. Accessed August 15, 2012. http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Blog/the-hope-diamond-design-change.
3. India Child Name. "Meaning of Syamantak." Accessed August 15, 2012. http://www.indiachildnames.com/name.aspx?name=Syamantak.
4. International Colored Gemstone Association. "Ruby." Accessed August 15, 2012. http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:ruby&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14.

*Clip-art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy