Lakshmi Iyer
India Post News Service
FREMONT, CA: Everyone has probably heard of the world-famous “Kohinoor.” Now there has been a diamond that has been discovered which has surpassed the legendary gem in size.
What is more, it has a spiritual significance, too – it has a shape that is the likeness of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity that Hindus worship first before all others. It is called the Karam Ganesha Diamond – the name “Karam” derived from the first letters of the family members of the discoverer, Kanu Asodaria who hails from Surat in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Mr. Asodaria visited the Fremont Hindu Temple on July 10 and presented pictures of this famous gem to the trustees and assembled meeting attendees. He also displayed a replica of the diamond that Dr. Romesh Japra, India Post Publisher, placed on his ring finger for a little while.
The diamond is 48 mm high, 32 mm wide and 20 mm thick and weighs 36.50 grams (182.53 Carats).
Mr. Asodaria comes from humble beginnings. Due to the family’s poor economic status, he had to join the family business after graduating from ninth standard (grade). He got into the diamond business at an early age and started doing labor work. Later, he started his own business, getting the raw materials and making jewelry and other products out of it. His company, “Karam” is now a respected name in international circles. Explaining the choice of name, he said that the word, “karam” is common to many cultures and languages including the Mohammedans and Israelis. Apart from that, the first syllables of all his family members – parents, wife, children and himself are included in it. The company was established in 1991.
About 17-18 years ago, Mr. Asodaria brought home a regular consignment from Belgium. His father told him about a dream that he had of Lord Ganesha coming to their house in the form of a diamond.
On closely examining the contents of the consignment, they discovered the magnificent gem that resembled Lord Ganesha. They then sent it to the testing laboratory to verify its authenticity, which was proved.
Mr. Asodaria said that the diamond is now a star attraction that draws political leaders, spiritual gurus and lay people alike from all over the world and has been making waves in Indian and international media outlets. He mentioned that the Dalai Lama himself had visited Surat to view the gem. The respected Pramukh Swami Maharaj got to know of it and Jagadguru Nischidanandji from Jagannath Puri came to see it, too.
It is not just Hindus who are curious and reverent towards the Ganesha Diamond. Diamond experts from places such as Moscow, Slovakia and Hungary come to test its authenticity. One such visitor was Tanya Szito, a diamond expert from Hungary. She now has a picture of the Ganesha Diamond in her laboratory back home to which she offers prayers. The Hungarian and European media have featured it as well. People from approximately 20 to 25 countries have paid a visit to see this incredible product of Mother Earth. A lady from Japan came with her husband who works for the WHO and her daughter.
Mr. Kanu Asodaria is featured in the World Book of Records. The diamond is in the ownership of Karam Exports and the family intends to use the revenue garnered from the gem for humanitarian projects such as preserving Indian culture and traditions in the world, promoting world peace and unity, green revolution, research on old historical and science books and sharing of the details with reputed organizations such as NASA and ISRO and motivating Indian society to achieve more.
They also plan to make a rare spiritual center called the Ganesha Mahalaya.
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