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A mangala sutra (), or thaali (ISO: ''tāḷi''), is a necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck in the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
, in a ceremony called ''Mangalya Dharanam'' (). The necklace serves as a
visual marker of status as a married Hindu woman.
Mangala sutra's origin dates back to the 6th Century AD as a single yellow thread was tied around the bride for protection from other men and evil spirits. Mangala sutra is a social practice widespread in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
Sri Lanka, and
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
. The term mangala sutra in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
means holy thread.
Overview
Mangala sutram literally means "an auspicious thread" which is knotted around the bride's neck. It is usually a
necklace with black beads strung from a black or yellow
thread prepared with
turmeric
Turmeric () is a flowering plant, ''Curcuma longa'' (), of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, the rhizomes of which are used in cooking. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast ...
. Sometimes gold, white or red beads are also added to the mangala sutram, depending on regional variation. It is a symbol of marriage worn by women. The idea of sacred thread existed for centuries, even going back to Sangam period. But the nature of these auspicious threads have evolved over time, and varies widely according to various communities. Non-Hindu religious groups such as Syrian Christians also wear mangal sutra, but with a cross on it. There are many communities in India, among whom the mangal sutra seems to be absent, and other forms of marital tokens have taken their place. For example, in large parts of North India, the toe ring and glass bangles indicate the marital status of a woman.
Historian of Indian jewellery, Dr. Usha Balakrishnan explains that the practice of ritualistically adorning the bride with a mangal sutra to solemnise marriage, is a modern concept, made possible due to marketing strategies of businesses. She also says that,
“There was no concept in ancient India of a marriage being solemnised through a mangal sutra as we know of it today with diamonds, pendants and the like,”
The concept of mangal sutra has evolved over centuries, and has become an integral part of marriages among several Indian communities.
Significance
The significance of the mangala sutra was re-iterated by
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...
in his famous book
Soundarya Lahari
The Saundarya Lahari ( sa, सौन्दर्यलहरी) meaning "The waves of Beauty" is a famous literary work in Sanskrit attributed to Adi Shankara. Some believe the first part "Ananda Lahari" was etched on mount Meru by Ganesha hims ...
. According to Hindu tradition, the mangala sutra is worn for the long life of the husband. As told by religious customs and social expectations, married women should wear mangala sutra throughout their life as it is believed that the practice enhances the well-being of her husband. Bridal jewellery in ancient times also worked as a financial security against old age and widowhood, as women did not have any property rights.
In different languages
It is called ''thaali'' () or ''maangalyam'' () in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
, nuptial chain in
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, ''thella'' () in
Sinhala, ''mongolsutro'' (মঙ্গলসূত্র) in
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
, ''mangal sutra'' () in
Marathi, ''mangalyasutra'' (), ''thaali'' () in
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
, and ''thaali'' (), ''maangalyamu'' (), ''mangalasutramu'' () or ''pustelu'' () in
Telugu, ''thaali'' () in
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...
, Mangalasutra (ମଙ୍ଗଳସୂତ୍ର) in
Odia,
Konkani people (
Goans
Goans ( kok, गोंयकार, Romi Konkani: , pt, Goeses) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese, and ...
,
Mangaloreans
Mangaloreans ( Tulu: ''Kudladaklu''; Kannada: ''Mangaloorinavaruu''; Konkani: ''Kodialkar''; Beary: ''Maikaltanga''; Urdu: ''Kaudalvale'') are a collection of diverse ethnic groups that hail from the historical locales of South Canara ( Tulun ...
,
East Indians
The East Indians, also called East Indian Catholics or Bombay East Indians, are an ethno-religious Indian Christian community native to the Seven Islands of Bombay and the neighbouring Mumbai Metropolitan Area of the Konkan Division.
His ...
and others, including Hindus ) wear three necklaces around their necks, referred to as ''dhaaremani'' or ''muhurtmani'' (big golden bead), ''mangalasutra'' with one or two gold discs and ''kasithaali'' with gold and coral beads. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions, the two coin-sized gold discs are separated by 2-3 beads of different kinds. By tradition, one disc comes from the bride's family and another from the groom's side.
Designs
Mangala sutras are made in a variety of designs. The common ones are the ''Lakshmi thaali'', pustelu worn by the Telugus, ela thaali or minnu worn by the Malayalees, and the ''kumbha thaali'' worn by the tamilians of the
Kshatriya caste. The design is chosen by the groom's family according to prevalent customs. Gujaratis and Marwaris often use a diamond pendant in a gold chain which is merely ornamental in nature and is not a substitute to the mangala sutra in the traditional sense. Maharashtrians wear a pendant of two ''vati'' ornaments. The mangalya, thaali or mangala sutra of
Kannadigas
The Kannada people or Kannadigaru IAST">nowiki/>IAST:_Kannadadavaru_or_Kannadigas_(English_term).html" ;"title="IAST.html" ;"title="nowiki/>IAST">nowiki/>IAST: Kannadadavaru or Kannadigas (English term)">IAST.html" ;"title="nowiki/>IAST">nowik ...
is similar to that of the Maharashtrians, except that it usually has two vatis. Nowadays many fashion conscious families opt for lighter versions, with a single vati or more contemporary style.
Gallery
File:Mangalsutra.png, Traditional Mangalasutram in Andhra Pradesh
File:Nasrani Syrian Christian Minnu.jpg, Thaali with cross of 21 beads used by Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala ( Malabar region ...
of Kerala.
File:A thaali- pillaiyar thaali.jpg, Pillayar Thali
File:A thamiar-thaali.jpg, Thamarai Thali
File:A thennaimaraththaali.jpg, Thennaimarathali
File:A- thaali koundars.jpg, Thaali
File:A- thaali vanniyar.jpg, Kongu Vellala Gounder Thaali
File:Amman thali.jpg, Devi Mangala sutra
See also
*
Hindu wedding
*
Sindoor
Sindooram is a traditional vermilion red or orange-red coloured cosmetic powder from the Indian subcontinent, usually worn by married women along the part of their hairline. In Hindu communities the sindoor is a visual marker of marital stat ...
*
Karva Chauth
Karwa Chauth is a festival celebrated by Hindu women of Northern and Western India on the fourth day after Purnima (a full moon) in the month of Ashwin. Like many Hindu festivals, Karwa Chauth is based on the lunisolar calendar which accounts f ...
*
Pativrata
References
Sources
*"An Ornament of Beauty," by Ganesh Joshi published in ''Woman's Era'', January 2007.
{{Indian wedding
Indian wedding
Indian culture
Necklaces
Jewellery of India
Culture of Andhra Pradesh