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Amangala sutra (Sanskrit:मङ्गलसूत्रम्,romanized: maṅgalasūtram), ortali (ISO:tāḷi), is a necklace worn by married Hindu women. During aHindu wedding, the mangalasutra is tied around the neck of the bride by the groom. The ceremony is known as theMangalya Dharanam (Sanskrit for 'wearing the auspicious').
Mangalasutra literally means "an auspicious thread"[1] that is knotted around the bride's neck and is worn by her for the remainder of her marriage. It is usually anecklace with black beads strung from a black or yellowthread prepared withturmeric. Sometimes gold, white or red beads are also added to the mangala sutra, depending on regional variation. The necklace serves as avisual marker of marital status.[2]
The tying of the mangala sutra is a common practice inIndia,Sri Lanka, andNepal. The idea of sacred thread existed for centuries, even going back to the Sangam period. But the nature of these auspicious threads has evolved over time and varies widely according to various communities.
The mangala sutra's origin dates back to the 4th century BCE, referred to as the mangalya sutra in theLalita Sahasranama,[3][4] and thePurananuru, aSangam text, mentions a sacred marriage tali upon a woman's neck.[5] It also finds a mention in the 6th century CE as a single yellow thread that was tied around the bride for protection from other men and evil spirits.
The concept of mangala sutra has evolved over centuries, and has become an integral part of marriages among several Indian communities. Historian of Indian jewellery, Usha Balakrishnan, explains that the mangala sutra had previously referred to a literal thread as opposed to an item of jewellery.[6]
The significance of the mangala sutra is described byAdi Shankara in theSoundarya Lahari. 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, even though women did have property rights.[6][7]
Mangala sutras are made in a variety of designs. The common ones are theLakshmi tali worn by theTelugus ofTelangana andAndhra Pradesh, which contain images ofLakshmi, the goddess of auspiciousness, ela tali or minnu worn by theMalayalees ofKerala, and theKumbha tali worn by theTamils of theKshatriya caste inTamil Nadu. The design is chosen by the groom's family according to prevalent customs.Gujaratis andMarwaris fromRajasthan 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.Marathis ofMaharashtra wear a pendant of twovati ornaments shaped like tiny bowls. The mangala sutra of theKannadigas ofKarnataka is similar to that of theMarathis, except that it usually has one vati. Nowadays many fashion-conscious families opt for lighter versions, with a single vati or a more contemporary style.
Konkani people (Goans,Mangaloreans,Bombay East Indians and others, including Hindus) wear three necklaces around their necks, referred to asdharemani ormuhurtmani (big golden bead),mangalasutra with one or two gold discs andkasitali with gold and coral beads. InAndhra Pradesh andTelangana, 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.[8]
Non-Hindu religious groups such asSyrian Christians also wear mangala sutra, but with a cross on it.
