Hard Bargain

Sparkling Jewels...

A merchant on a casual jaunt through a market, came across a fine specimen of a camel for sale.

The merchant and the camel seller, both skilled negotiators, struck a hard bargain.

The camel seller pleased with his skill of worming out what he felt was a very good price, parted with his camel and the merchant chuffed that he had struck a fantastic bargain, proudly walked home with the latest addition to his large livestock.

On arriving home, the merchant called to his servant to come and help him take out the camel's saddle. The unwieldy heavily padded saddle being too difficult for the servant to manage on his own.

Hidden under the saddle, the servant found a small velvet pouch which on opening he discovered to be filled with precious jewels!!

The servant was overexcited!!!

"Master you bought a camel.....but see what came FREE along with it!!!"

The merchant was astonished as he looked at the jewels in his servants' palm. They were of extraordinary quality sparkling and twinkling in the sunlight.

"I bought the camel" he said, "not the jewels. I must return them to the camel seller immediately."

The servant was aghast.....his master was really foolish. "Master.....no one will know."

But the merchant headed right back to the market and handed over the velvet pouch back to the camel seller.

The camel seller was very happy, " I had forgotten that I hid these jewels in the saddle for safe keeping."

"Here, choose one of the jewels for yourself, as a reward."

The merchant said "I paid a fair price for the camel and the camel only, so NO thank you, I do not need any reward."
But as much as the merchant refused, the camel seller insisted.

Finally the merchant said, sheepishly smiling, " Actually when I decided to bring the pouch back to you, I already took two of the most precious jewels and kept them for myself."

At this confession the camel seller was a bit flabbergasted and quickly emptied the pouch to count the jewels. However he was very confused.

"All my jewels are here. What jewels did you keep?

"The two most precious" said the camel seller.

"My INTEGRITY and my SELF-RESPECT."

Thanks to dear respected Friend TULSI SUKHIJA

THE LOOT OF KOHINOOR AND OTHER DIAMONDS FROM HINDU TEMPLES

1)This is temple of Goddess Bhadrakali in Warangal built in 7th century

It is believed that Kohinoor, one of the world's largest cut diamonds, originally belonged to the crown of this Goddess.The temple was looted and destroyed by Allauddin Khilji in early 14th century

2) Allauddin Khilji's court poet Amir Khusrau in his  Khazain Ul-Futuh( "treasures of victory") describes with glee how Allauddin Khilji destroyed temples & looted valuables from temples in South India

Khusrau was totally awestruck by  such diamonds as never seen or heard before

3) Looted from Bhadrakali temple, the diamond Kohinoor was later seized by  Mughals and ultimately usurped by British

Today, the Kohinoor diamond lies in the crown of Queen Of England. The crown is estimated to be worth $10-12 billion

4) The Black Orlov diamond is the largest black diamond in the world. It  once weighed 195 Carats. It is also called "Eye of Brahma" diamond

The diamond was once the eye of a Murti of Lord Brahma in a Hindu temple in Pondicherry. It was stolen by a Jesuit "monk" and is now in US

5) The White Orlov diamond is a large diamond (190 Carats). It was the eye of Lord Vishnu(Ranganatha) in Srirangam, Tamilnadu

A french soldier in 18th century posed as a Hindu convert and lived in temple. One day he secretly plucked out eyes and looted diamonds. Now in Russia

6)The Hope Diamond  is one of the largest Blue diamonds in the world(originally 116 Carats).The diamond was reportedly stolen by a French gem merchant by plucking out eyes of Goddess Sita idol
There's a famous legend that the diamond is cursed. It is now in US

Worth:$350 Million https://t.co/vKqs69A5HU

7) Loot also happens in secular Indian state which controls only Hindu temples.
The Raj Pink diamond  auctioned at $30 million in Geneva is reportedly the same diamond donated by Mysore Maharaja to Lord Vishnu in Tirupati. It was with TTD board until 2001
https://t.co/QIyxjisjN3 https://t.co/UWQw7s89T8