Dear All;
Sometime ago, I had been to a jeweller, near my place, on some business.
I was wonder-struck by the variety of designs in the humble "THAALI" that our women wear.
I did some "surfing" to find the following:
There are many designs suiting the cultures of the different regions of India.
The "Thali" (mangalsutra) consists of two pieces, ONE FROM EACH FAMILY, traditionally dangling on a yellow thread. I found from the web that the variations in the Mangalsutra and the way it is made / arranged varies from region to region.
Sometime ago, I had been to a jeweller, near my place, on some business.
I was wonder-struck by the variety of designs in the humble "THAALI" that our women wear.
I did some "surfing" to find the following:
There are many designs suiting the cultures of the different regions of India.
The "Thali" (mangalsutra) consists of two pieces, ONE FROM EACH FAMILY, traditionally dangling on a yellow thread. I found from the web that the variations in the Mangalsutra and the way it is made / arranged varies from region to region.
- It contains images of the Shiva Lingam - Iyers
- The Namam and Sudarshana Chakra - Iyengars
- A pair of shell (shakha) and red coral (paula) bangles - Bengali
- Ivory -Punjab and Rajastan
- Gold chain with black beads and a gold pendant - West and other parts of India.
- Kashitali - gold chain with coral beads and two black beads on either side of a diamond shaped gold pendant - Karnataka, specifically "Konkini"
- Soft 24 Karat Gold is fashioned into necklaces modelled on the local flora and fauna—earrings like the hona, which replicate the orchid, and the lokaparo, which consists of two birds placed back to back. - Assam
- Gold is used to craft imitations of the human head and long funnel-shaped beads which are used in combination with shells, animal claws and teeth and precious and semi-precious stones. - Nagaland
- Rice grains, the Cobra’s hood, Melon and Cucumber seeds are some of the common motifs of nature inspired jewellery. - Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Silversmiths craft large ornaments, which have a very delicate and intricate appearance. Headdresses called chak, long earrings and large nose rings with papal leaf or bird motifs are the specialties of the region. - Himachal Pradesh
- Turquoise, Cornelian ( sort of reddish quartz), Coral and Agate - Ladakh and East Indian States
Our humble "THAALI" had a very humble Beginning.
In ancient days the leaves of the palm tree called "Thaala Vriksha" were strung together and used in the place of a cord or thread.
In this context, it is interesting to learn that the tying of the mangalsutra, which means auspicious thread or cord, is not a religious practice but a social one, and that too of recent origin.
It is surprising but true that this practice was not in vogue in ancient days in Hindu weddings. The "Grhyasutras" ( laws of domestic rituals) do not mention the mangalsutra but only a "kankana bandhana". The kankana bandhana or protective cord was worn by the couple to protect them from all kinds of pollution before the samvesana (consummation).
It is surprising but true that this practice was not in vogue in ancient days in Hindu weddings. The "Grhyasutras" ( laws of domestic rituals) do not mention the mangalsutra but only a "kankana bandhana". The kankana bandhana or protective cord was worn by the couple to protect them from all kinds of pollution before the samvesana (consummation).
It appears the mangalsutra evolved more as a popular practice than as a scriptural observance.
For Hindu women, the mangalsutra or "Thali" is the one single symbol of their wedded state.
For Hindu women, the mangalsutra or "Thali" is the one single symbol of their wedded state.
Three knots are tied - the first one by the bridegroom, the other two knots by his sister to make the bride a parts of the boy's family.
The Vedic hymn recited by the bridegroom when he ties the knot, is:
"This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this around your neck,
"This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this around your neck,
O maiden having many auspicious attributes!
May you live happily for a hundred years (with me).
( Praying the Almighty that I be blessed with a long life )
Oh soubhaygavati.
Oh soubhaygavati.
(Note: The next time you hear "Mangalyam Tantunanena... in any movie, soap-serial,......you can recall the above meaning)
The Hindu marriage customs are designed to drive home the fact that the husband and wife are two equal and indispensable wheels of the vehicle of Life. The act of exchanging garlands is therefore an intimate gesture signifying that an integral part of one has been shared with the other, and there is no question of one being superior to the other.
It was also made mandatory that nobody else could share the same sacred intimacy - hence once a woman garlanded a man she was taken to be his wife. So much so that the very act of exchanging garlands, with or without the 'mangalsutra' [the external symbol of married status], was taken to symbolize wedlock.
I am enclosing a collage of a variety of "THAALI" pendants.
Hope you liked it,
Regards,
Hari
