The Nassak, a 43.38-carat diamond and one of the 20 greatest diamonds in the world, once adorned the bejewelled, golden crown of Lord Shiva in the Trimbakeshwar Temple near Nashik. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India, the holiest shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The early history of the Nassak diamond – the stone derives its name from ‘Nashik’ – is rooted in speculation. What we do know is that, just like its world-famous cousins – the Hope diamond, the Orlov, the Regent and the Kohinoor – this priceless wonder too was mined in Golconda, in either the Kollur or Amaragiri mines, in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.