Indian weddings feature many meaningful rituals that are practiced from an ancient era. One among the most sacrosanct customs is tying of the ‘Mangalsutra’, around the neck of the bride by the groom.
Mangalsutra is generally a blessed necklace with black or gold beads in chains and a pendant in the center. The word ‘mangalsutra’ itself means a ‘sacred thread’; as ‘mangal’ means auspicious and ‘sutra’ means thread. Even though it appears like jewelry, its importance in the minds of Indian women is much more!
Mangalsutra is one of the important ornaments in Indian weddings as well as in the lives of wedded women. According to Indian culture, there are five signs that exhibit the marital status of a woman including mangalsutra, toe ring, kumkum, bangles and nose ring. Among them mangalsutra is considered as the prime ‘Soubagyalankar’; the adornment that conveys to the world that the wearer is a proud married woman.
The simple jewelry becomes a great sign of the indivisible bond and relationship between a husband and a wife. At the time of the wedding, the groom ties the mangalsutra to bride uttering “You are the very reason of my life and may you live long wearing the sacred cord”. Mangalsutra is supposed to be worn by a married woman until the death of her husband. It is believed that the practice of wearing the ornament enhances the well-being of her husband and family.
As per the religious beliefs’, Mangalsutra protects couples from any evil that may come across their marriage life. The pattern of the ornament is designed with the same intention. The gold wire of mangalsutra destroys the distressing vibrations present around the pairs, and the black bead absorbs all negative energies before they reach them. Great faith is put on to the power of the black beads of the mangalsutra by Indian women when it comes to happiness and health of the marriage.
The strong concept behind mangalsutra is that it is a reminder for married women about her duties, responsibilities, commitments, and code of righteousness that she should follow throughout her life as a wife. It can remain as a support against any distraction for adultery and other immoral behavior.
According to the traditions, the mangalsutra is to be tied in three knots. Each knot depicts different aspects of marriage: the first knot indicates loyalty of a wife to her husband, the second knot symbolizes her commitment and the third knot denotes her devotion to the god. Above all, mangalsutra is considered as a symbol of marital dignity and chastity of a bride.
Apart from the religious and cultural significances, it has some health benefits too. It is proved that the ornament can help to control the body pressure of woman to a maximum extetnt. Popular belief is that the wearing of gold makes skin glow, and thus the regular wearing of the ornament can enhance the beauty of women.
Mangalsutras are now made in a variety of designs. The design varies according to the diverse traditions of the Indian states. Nowadays many fashion conscious women are opting for trendy versions of the mangalsutra. It can be a single locket structure to more contemporary custom designs.
Be it traditional or contemporary Mangalsutra that you adorn, let the power of the sacred thread keep your marriage sacred and blessed forever !
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