Syamantaka

Syamantaka mani, or the Syamantaka Jewel is perhaps the most famous jewel in Indian Mythology, supposed to be blessed with magical powers.

Origin

The story of Syamantaka appears in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata. The jewel originally belonged to the Sun god, who wore it around his neck. It was said that whichever land possessed this jewel would never encounter any calamities in the form of natural disasters in the form of droughts, floods, earthquakes or famines, and would always be full of prosperity and plenitude. Wherever the jewel remained, it would produce for the keeper almost nine mounds of pure gold daily. It was also the source of the dazzling looks of the Sun god.

A Gift From the Sun God

On one occasion Satrajit, a Yadava nobleman, and a devotee of Surya, the Sun God, while walking along the sea shore, was praying ardently, on which the god himself appeared and stood before him. Seeing the god in an indistinct and dazzling fiery shape, Satrajit asked him to appear in a less blinding form, so that he could see him clearly. On this the sun took the Syamantaka jewel off his neck, and Satrájit saw him of a dwarfish stature, with a body like burnished copper, and with slightly reddish eyes. Having offered his adorations, the sun desired him to demand a boon, and he requested that the jewel might become his. When Satrajit returned to Dwaraka with the jewel, people mistook him for the Sun God himself, such was his dazzling glory. Krishna asked him to present the jewel to Ugrasena, the supreme leader of the Yadavas, but Satrajit did not comply.

Theft and Recovery

Satrajit later presented it to Prasen, his brother, who was also the ruler of a Yadava province. Prasen used to wear it often, and once while walking in the woods with it, he was attacked by a lion, which killed him and fled with the jewel. But it couldn't get away with it, for shortly after, it was attacked by Jambavan, described as a 'bear', who killed it after a fierce fight and took off with the booty.Note that this Jambavan is none other than the one who was a part of Rama's army of monkeys to Lanka; and who is considered one of the seven immortals or Chiranjeevi.

Now there was a rumour that Lord Krishna also had an eye on the Syamantaka jewel, and when the incident of Prasen's mysterious disappearance became public, people started to accuse Krishna of murder and theft. In order to prove his innocence, Krishna sought to find out the true culprit and recover the jewel. As he followed on the trail of the deceased Prasen, he came to the spot were the corpses of Prasen and his horse still lay, along with pieces of teeth and nails of a lion. From there he followed the footsteps of the lion, which led him to the spot of the second struggle, were the corpse of the lion was lying. From there, he followed the tracks of a bear, which finally led him to the entrance of Jambavan's cave, where the latter's children were playing with the priceless jewel. Thereafter, he engaged himself with a furious fight with Jambavan that lasted for 21 days, defeated him, recovered the jewel, and returned to Dwaraka. He later married Jambavati, Jambavan's daughter.

Krishna's marriage to Satyabhama

Meanwhile Krishna's companions, having waited twelve days for Krishna to come out of the cave, returned to Dwaraka despondent. All of Krishna's friends and family members became extremely sorrowful and began regularly worshiping Goddess Durga to assure the Lord's safe return. Even as they performed this worship, Krishna entered the city in the company of His new wife. He summoned Satrajit to the royal assembly and, after recounting to him the entire story of the Syamantaka jewel's recovery, gave the jewel back to him. Satrajit accepted the jewel, but with great shame and remorse. He went back to his home, and there he decided to offer Lord Krishna not only the jewel but also his daughter so as to atone for the offense he had committed against the Lord's lotus feet. Sri Krishna accepted the hand of Satrajit's daughter, Satyabhama, who was endowed with all divine qualities. But the jewel He refused, returning it to King Satrajit.

Deaths of Satrajit and Satadhanwa

After a few days, Krishna and Balarama were off to Hastinapura after there were rumours that the Pandavas have been burnt to their deaths in a fire. Kritavarma, Akrura and Satadhanwa, who had their eyes on the dazzling jewel, conspired to make use of Krishna's absence from Dwaraka as an opportunity. Satadhanva one night entered the house of Satrajit and butchered him to death while he was asleep, and made off with the jewel.

A sorrowful Satyabhama rushed to Hastinapura to inform Krishna about the ghastly death of her father. Krishna and Balarama immediately started for Dwaraka to avenge Satrajit's death, hearing of which Satadhanwa fled on his horse, keeping the jewel with Akrura. He was chased down by Krishna and Balaram and finally killed by Krishna near Mithila. Later Krishna returned to Dwaraka, and upon realizing that Akrura had already fled to Kashi with the Syamantaka jewel, summoned him up, and asked him to admit his guilt. When Akrura complied, Krishna let him keep it, on the condition that he was to remain in the city of Dwaraka.

See also

*Bhagavatam
*Vishnu Purana
*Krishna
*Balarama
*Koh-i-Noor

External links

* [http://vedabase.net/sb/10/56/en2 Srimad Bhagavatam]
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp106.htm Vishnu Purana]
* [http://www.krsnabook.com/ch56.html The Story of Syamantaka Jewel- Part 1]
* [http://www.krsnabook.com/ch57.html The Story of Syamantaka Jewel- Part 2]
* [http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/kohinoor-diamond-india.asp The Kohinoor Diamond]