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DiamondCaste,Color & Buddhism
Caste,Color & Buddhism
Caste and Colors: The different castes were only allowed to own diamonds of a specific color, as shown in the illustrations below. Only kings could have all colors of diamonds.
Brahmin (priests and rulers)
"the whitest of the conch,
of the lotus, or of rock crystal"
(white to colorless)
Kshatriya (landowners and warriors)
"the brown color of
the eye of the hare"
(probably verging on red)
Vaisya (merchant class)
"the pretty nuance of a petal of a kadl" (yellow)
Sudra (lower classes)
"the sheen of a
burnished sword"
(gray to black)
Buddism: As Hindu symbols were included into Buddhism, diamond became a Buddhist symbol of religious virtue. The poem Questions of King Milinda, makes the imagery clear:
Just, O King, as the diamond is pure all through; just so, O King, should the strenuous Bhikshu [seeker of truth], earnest in effort, be completely pure in his means of livelihood. This, O King, is the initial quality of the diamond he ought to have.
And again, O King, as the diamond cannot be alloyed with other substance; just so, O King, should the strenuous Bhikshu, serious in effort, never mix with wicked men as friends. This, O King, is the second quality of the diamond he must have.
And again, O King, just as the diamond is set mutually with the most costly gems; just so, O King, should the strenuous Bhikshu, serious in effort, associate with those of the highest excellence, with men who have entered the first or second or third stage of the Noble Path, with the jewel treasures of the Arahats, of the recluses of the threefold wisdom, or of the sixfold insight. This, O King, is the third quality of the diamond he must have. For it was said, O King, by the Blessed One [the Buddha], the god over all gods, in the Sutta Nipata:
Let the pure associate with the pure,Ever in recollection firm;
Dwelling harmoniously wise,
Thus shall ye put an end to griefs.
