Bring back Nassak diamond from Lebanon museum: Trimbakeshwar trust

Nashik: The Trimbakeshwar Devasthan trust has sought to bring back the blue Nassak diamond, which once graced the crown of Lord Shivs idol at the famous temple here.

The diamond, which was allegedly looted by several rulers in the ancient times, is now said to be kept at a private museum in Lebanon, Trimbakeshwar Devasthan trustee Lalita Shinde told PTI today.

Shinde has written letters to President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other departments concerned, in a bid to bring back the diamond, which during the ancient times was set in the crown of Lord Shiva at the famous Trimbakeshwar temple near here.

The blue Nassak diamond, also called 'eye' of Lord Shiva, weighed 43.38 carats or 8,676 gram when it was mined from the Amaragiri mine based in Mahbubnagar in Telangana in the 15th century, she claimed.

Shinde, an environmentalist, said she will also approach the court to bring back the precious diamond, which is claimed to be one of the largest in the world.

The trustee started her drive by approaching Nashik Collector and has now written to the President, PM and others for the same.

According to Shinde, warrior Nana Peshwe, during the reign of the Peshwas, had in 1725 vowed before Lord Shiva, also famously known as Lord Trimbakeshwar, to gift the said diamond to the temple if he succeeded in breaking the siege of Trimbakeshwar fort.

He later won and gifted the jewel for the deity's crown, which was then studded with many jewels and the blue Nassak diamond.

She alleged that the jewel was looted during the time of British rule and was sold to a jeweller in 1818.

"If required, we will collect funds and buy it (the diamond), but it is the duty of the government to bring it back," she added.