Hindu marriages are typically known for their very elaborate and detailed rituals. The tag ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ fits just the right way and when it comes to the most significant part of a hindu marriage, MANGALSUTRA tops the list.
Mangal (auspicious) sutra (thread/bond/union) is made up of a variety of traditionally significant materials. A mangalsutra is tied as a sacred necklace around a bride’s neck by the groom in a specific ceremony called ‘Mangalya Dhaarana’. A woman continues to wear as a sign of a marital status.
A mangalsutra is the most basic and fundamental prerequisite in a typical hindu marriage and it is the mangal sutra that gives an identity to married a woman! The practice of wearing a mangalasutra is still common among south indian women.
Mangalsutra – The Significance
The reference to the mangal sutra was first seen in the famous book Soundarya Lahiri by Adi Shankaracharya!
According to a world renouned indian Mystic- Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a mangalasutra actually originated in vedic times where a guru or a spiritually evolved master prepared the mangalsutra in a certain way with silk/cotton thread and turmeric stem. The main idea behind the tying of this basic tread is to unite specific energy channels of both – the groom and the bride and this mangalasutra was to be replaced with a fresh one every year. It is considered as an inseparable bond between the husband and wife.
Nowadays, mangalsutras come in a variety of designs made from gold and studded with many prescious and semi prescious stones. They can be diamond studded, a combination of gold and diamonds, or in plain gold. The pendant is strung from a yellow thread or a black bead chain. It is similar to the auspicious wedding ring worn in the West.
Three Knots
Amongst the South Indian communities, the famous ‘three knots’ of a mangal sutra are identified symbolically with various aspects of a married woman – respect for her husband, respect for husbands parents and respect for God. The huband ties these three knots during the ceremony.
The Different Names of Mangalsutra
A mangalsutra is referred to in many ways in different languages in india. Every culture has a different name for the auspicious bond. The Maharashtrians call it Mangalsutra, ‘thaali’ is the word for the Malayalis and the Tamilians. The Kannadigas or the natives of Karnata call it mangalya sutra, in Andhra Pradesh it is thaalibottu and so on..
This one is seen amongst the Tamilians called ‘thennaimarathali’. The thread is later replaced with a gold chain.
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This is a typical mangalsutra worn by the Telugu and Kannada brides with round gold plate and semi-precious stone linke coral,pearl or a black stone.
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This is another south indian mangalsutra called ‘puthelu’. It has 2 semicircular gold hollow plates joined together, one received from the groom’s family and other from the bride’s family.
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This is a typical North Indian designer mangalsutra with diamonds strung by a gold and black beads.
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A simple mangalsutra is preffered by young brides. This mangalsutra can be worn with sarees and kurtis too.
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Gold mangalsutras with diamonds and rubies can be worn with dresses and traditional sarees.
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Mangalsutra with semi-precious stones.
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A maharashtrian mangalsutra – two gold plates with small diamonds.
We’ll leave with more Mangalsutra designs
