About the Valuable Shrine on the Island of Srivangam

This collection chiefly consists of ornaments for the adornment of the god, the Kristnar Avatar of Vishnu, on especial occasions. There are armlets, and necklaces, and breastplates, and crowns, all set with gems--diamond, and ruby, and emerald, topaz, and opal, and sapphire, and pearl. One necklace, of emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, with pearl pendants, is computed to be worth six lakhs of rupees (pound 60,000). The god has several umbrellas, with covers of pearl network, and one of these bears, according to estimation, one hundred and twenty-five thousand small, but extremely clear, coloured pearls. Amongst the treasures are huge vessels of purest gold, under the weight of which the attendants who show them to the few that are allowed to inspect the temple treasures, stagger as they bring them into the show-chamber. The mace of the god is a mass of gold, sheathed, for the greater part, by large flat diamonds. It is impossible to estimate the intrinsic value of the Srivangam gems. They are badly cut, and some of the largest emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, are scarcely cut at all. Yet, some, wretchedly cut as they are, emit a surprising lustre. There are several hundreds of huge pear-shaped pearls, but these again are bored through the centre; and this, although it may enhance the value of the gems in the Hindoo's eyes, naturally lessens their value in the estimation of an European jeweller. The Srivangam pagoda received a valuable gift of a portion of these jewels, a few years ago, from a peculiarly holy ascetic. This man, a Brahmin, vowed that for ten years he would not eat a morsel of food or drink a drop of water on any day that he did not receive for the god a donation of a hundred rupees (ten pounds). He was at first nearly starved to death, but such a devotee was not to be lost to the faith. The pious rallied round him, and at the end of the stipulated term, he presented the temple with a magnificent necklace of emeralds, rubies, and other ornaments, worth in all pound 25,000.