A Hindu bride adorns herself with many elements that convey the message that she is a married woman now. Jewelry is one of the many important aspects of a married Hindu and one of the most certain pieces that she uses to adorn herself is a mangalsutra. Many a happy bride seems to be proudly flaunting her mangalsutra for her wedding photography. Here are two points that will define the significance of a mangalsutra in a Hind marriage.
What is a mangalsutra?
The mangalsutra itself is a holy necklace that is tied by the groom around the bride’s neck on the day of the wedding ceremony. The auspicious time is referred to as the mangalya dharanam which means “wearing the auspicious”. This action denotes that now the groom has wedded his bride thereby giving her the status of his wife and a life mate.
This also means that the wife is now supposed to wear the mangalsutra throughout her life or until her husband passes away. It is a sign of their marriage and also the mutual love, goodwill, understanding and commitment they shared which is one of the most common significance of a mangalsutra.
What does the mangalsutra symbolize?
Across India, the mangalsutra is worn by most of the Hindu women and is known by a variety of names in the different parts of the country. Some of the names are maangalyam, thaaly, pustelu, thaali, magalsutram in the south and simply mangalsutra in the northern states. The mangalsutra consists of black beads and each black bead is believed to have divine powers that can protect the couple from the evil eye and is believed that the life of the husband will be safeguarded by it.
A Hindu woman can be extremely superstitious when it comes to her mangalsutra. One of the significances of a mangalsutra is that if it gets lost broken, it is considered ominous. Thus, this mangalsutra is not just a piece of fancy jewelry but is considered to be the ultimate sacred thread of trust, love and the happiness of a Hindu couple. It is a symbol of wedlock that is as important as the Hindi marriage law itself.
With changing times, women have varying needs and are no longer stay-at-home wives. Most of them have become career oriented, especially those living in the cities. The practice of wearing a mangalsutra has changed considerably.
It is more of a fashion statement now than the symbol of marriage which is the most basic significance of a mangalsutra. They have become daintier and smaller to suit the busy lifestyle and needs of the modern women. However, the black beads remain the same, to ward off the evil eye and to maintain the sacred sanctity of the marriage between the couple.