What Is Mangalsutra?

In the time when we all consider jewellery as an essential to make a fashion statement, there is one necklace that women in India wear as a symbol that defines their holy bond with their husband. Yes, I am talking about the mangalsutra.
The mangalsutra designs may have derived over the hundreds of year, but its divine significance continues to remain unchanged. However, the story behind it seems to be fading as modernisation seeps in.

WHAT IS MANGALSUTRA?

The term ‘Mangalsutra’ is made up of two words ‘mangal’ and ‘sutra’. By the ‘mangal’ means auspicious and ‘sutra’ means thread. Gold Mangalsutra means an auspicious thread uniting the souls.
It is believed that mangalsutra, which is one of the most important aspects of the Hindu tradition, originated in South Indian states and was adopted later by other part of India.
At the time of wedding, the groom ties the mangalsutra to the bride’s neck as significance that their relationship would be as promising as the mangalsutra (the auspicious thread). Therefore mangalsutra is also a symbol of married women.
It symbolises that they will be with each other for life until death separates them. A mangalsutra is a symbol of marriage and the wife is meant to wear it all her life indicating the love and commitment the wife and husband have towards each other.
South Indians believe that the mangalsutra needs to be tied in 3 knots with each knot carrying a significance –

• Loyalty and support for the husband
• dedication to her family
• devotion to the lord

It is believed that the black beads of a mangalsutra are blessed with spiritual powers to protect their marriage Life.
It is also believed that the wife wears a gold mangalsutra to shield her husband from misfortune or bad luck. The golden pendant (Gold mangalsutra) represents the Supreme power.

Benefits of Wearing a Mangalsutra for Health

While most people associate gold mangalsutra with a religious practice, there is also a scientific explanation behind it. Hindu customs emphasize wearing a mangalsutra made of pure gold.

According to Ayurveda – the ancient Indian science –

• Gold (Pure Gold) has a number of reconciling properties, and the most important of them is improved heart health. Ayur veda reveals that wearing a mangalsutra close to the heart (touching the skin) attracts cosmic waves from the surroundings and aids heart functioning.

1. It is also considered that these waves help in maintaining a healthy, happy relationship between the wife and husband.
2. Helps in the improvement of the immune system.
3. Regularises flow of Blood and increases her energy.
4. Stimulates the Surya-nadi or a chakra in the woman’s body and awakens the inherent energy in it.

A mangalsutra is not just a piece of gold, jewellery or a fashion accessory; it is a symbol of respect, eternal love, trust and love that a wife and husband share.
Modern mangalsutras have become quite sophisticated with the use of combination of diamonds & gems. Wives are even getting lockets done with the couple’s names inscribed Bollywood films have promoted the Mangalsutra, as often it is related to save the main character, when the wife prays with her mangal sutra.