Mangalsutra

A Telugu style mangalsutra.

A Mangalsutra (mangala sutra, mangalasutra or thaali) is a symbol of Hindu marriage union in South Asia. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage. Traditionally the mangalsutra is considered the most revered token of love and respect offered to the bride during the marriage ceremony.

Introduction

The word mangalsutra literally means "an auspicious thread". It is usually a gold pendant strung from a yellow thread prepared with turmeric, a string of black beads or simply a gold chain. It is comparable to the wedding ring of the West. A married woman is expected to wear the mangalsutra until her husband's death. It is tied around the neck of the bride on the day of marriage symbolizing the union. Mangalya dharanam or Thaali kettu (literally "wearing the mangalya or thaali") is the most important part of a Hindu marriage ceremony. In certain local cultures, the groom ties the first of the three knots while his sisters tie the rest.

It is called मंगळसूत्र (mangalsutra) in Marathi, தாலி (thaali) in Tamil, ತಾಳಿ (thaali) or ಮಾಂಗಲ್ಯ (mangalyasutra) in Kannada and thaali (తాళి), maangalyam (మాంగళ్యము), mangalsutramu (మంగళసూత్రము) or pustelu (పుస్తెలు) in Telugu. Konkanis wear three necklaces around their neck referred to as Dhaaremani or Muhurtmani (big golden bead), Mangalasutra with one or two gold discs and Kasithaali with gold and coral beads. In Malayalam it is simply referred to as Thaali in general and Minnu by Syrian Christians.

A Thali (Minnu) is also worn by the brides of Kerala's Syrian Christian community. An engraving of the holy spirit is a distinguishing feature of the Syrian Christian Minnu. According to tradition, the families of the bride and the bridegroom contribute a piece of gold and melt it with the help of the family goldsmith. This is then used to make the rest of the necklace. The process of tying is assisted by a sister of the groom, as it is with other Hindu communities. During the wedding ceremony, the Minnu is held on and tied using a braided thread made with several threads taken from the Manthrakodi (wedding saree) and twisted together,.

Apart from the mangalsutra, the Toe rings, the Kumkum, bangles, Nallapoosalu and nose ring form the six sacred symbols that indicate the woman is married. While there are local variations with respect to the others, the mangalsutra is nevertheless worn by married women irrespective of such local differences. Mangalsutra is a practice followed majorly in western Indian and south Indian states. North Indian women do not wear mangalsutra. Traditionally, it is not part of their wedding ceremony.

The Nairs of North Malabar have the distinction of being one of the few Hindu communities that does not have the Tali as part of its wedding ritual. However in recent times, due to external influence, these communities have also taken up the practice.

Significance

The significance to the Mangalsutra was first given by Adi Shankara in his famous book Soundarya Lahari. According to Hindu cultural ethos, mangalsutra symbolizes the inseparable bond between a husband and a wife. During the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom ties the mangalsutra to the neck of the bride uttering- “May you live long by wearing this sacred Mangalsutra, the reason of my life”. Married women are entitled to wear Mangalsutra throughout their life as it is believed that the practice enhances the well-being of her husband and family and cannot be shown in public. It is also considered that the mangalsutra protects the marriage from any evil. Three knots symbolize three different aspects of a married woman - the first knot represents her obedience to her husband, the second to his parents and the third represents her respect for God.

Designs

Mangalsutra are made in numerous designs. The more popular ones are the Ramar/Pottu thaali (worn by the Telugus and Kannadigas), Ela thaali (worn by the Malayalees) and Kumbha thaali (worn by the Tamils of Kshatriya caste). The design is chosen by the groom's family according to prevalent customs. Gujaratis and Marwaris often use a diamond pendant. Maharashtrians wear a pendant of one or two vatis. The Bengali, Oriya and Assamese don't have the custom of Mangalsutra.

References

• "An Ornament of Beauty," by Ganesh Joshi published in Woman's Era, January 2007.