Every culture has its own unique way of celebrating marriage unions and performing wedding rituals. The deeply spiritual land of India has many cultures such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and more. According to Hindu culture, a woman’s marital status can be represented in five ways with Indian gold jewelry – toe rings, kumkum, gold bangles, a nose ring, and the beloved Mangalsutra. The meaning behind the Mangalsutra necklace is one of the most sacred pieces of Indian gold jewelry for women, as well as a traditional custom for Hindu weddings.

Wearing a Mangalsutra holds a great amount of significance in Hindu weddings and the lives of married Hindu women. The significance of wearing Mangalsutras is similar to that of wedding bands and engagement rings in Western culture. This special Indian gold necklace is usually selected by the family of the groom and fastened around the neck of the bride during the wedding. The practice is thought to have originated in South India somewhere around the 6th Century A.D. where it was commonly known as Thali, Thaaly, or Maangalyam. When the practice first began, a yellow thread painted with turmeric paste was tied with three knots around the bride’s neck as a symbol of marriage. This is where the Mangalsutra got its name — “mangal” means holy and “sutra” means thread.

The Mangalsutra necklace is comprised of a combination of Indian gold pendants with black beads. The meaning of the black beads in the Mangalsutra necklace is to prevent the couple from evil energies and to bring joy to the marriage. Mangalsutras are meant to be worn by the bride until her husband's death. Today, the latest styles of Mangalsutras include the addition of diamonds with intricate motifs and shorter lengths. Floral designs in Mangalsutras, such as the one seen in this Yellow Gold Diamond Mangalsutra, are becoming increasingly popular among young brides and career women.

While most people associate wearing the Mangalsutra with its religious significance, there is also relevant scientific justification behind the Mangalsutra’s significance in Indian culture. In Hindu culture, there is an emphasis on wearing a Mangalsutra made of pure 22K gold. According to the ancient Indian science known as Ayurveda, pure 22K gold has several healing properties, and the most important of them is improved heart health. Ayurveda teaches that wearing a Mangalsutra close to the heart attracts cosmic waves from nature’s surroundings and helps with healthy heart functioning. It also teaches that these waves aid in maintaining a happy, healthy relationship between husband and wife. Additional health benefits of wearing a Mangalsutra are said to include: 

• Helping in the development of the immune system
• Regulating blood flow and keeping a woman fresh and energetic
• Regulating blood pressure
• Stimulating the Surya-nadi or the Sun-channel in the woman's body and awakening the inherent energy inside

Because of the vast amount of Indian religions and cultures, Mangalsutras have more than 15 names, such as:

• Tanmaniya 
• Taagpaag
• Dejhoor
• Thaali
• Nallapusalu
• Hirumangalyam
• Minnu
• Manthrakodi
• Mangalasutramu
• Pustelu
• Maangalyam
• Ramar Thali
• Bottu
• Vatis
• Dharemani
• Muhurtmani
• Maangalya-Sutra

If you are interested in learning more about the significance of the Mangalsutra, or you would like to incorporate this unique tradition into your wedding ceremony, look no further than Virani Jewelers. We offer an extensive selection of Mangalsutras, as well as other 22K gold jewelry. Explore our collection on our website, or visit us on Oak Tree Road in Iselin!

Written by Taylor C. Heron