Antique jewellery, temple jewellery, naagas jewellery all seem to be merely different names given to historic South Indian jewellery. And we shall proceed on the assumption that they all refer to the same type of jewellery, at least in this blog!
Temple jewellery symbolises South India. It is very intricately designed jewellery resembling heavily ornamented pillars and rich sculpted walls of many South Indian temples, especially Thanjavur.
Temple Jewellery is believed to have originated in the 9th century, during the Chola Dynasty. As the names suggests, temple jewellery was used to adorn the idols of Gods and Goddesses in temples. The base metal used to make this jewellery was gold.
Though initially these exquisite pieces of jewellery were used only to decorate temple idols, as time passed, classical dancers who performed in temples began to wear them. As classical dance forms like Bharathanatyam gained popularity, antique temple jewellery gradually became fashionable, and soon became a part of bridal jewellery and fashion circles.
Most South Indian women possess at least one item of antique jewellery. I’ve noticed that earrings, chokers, short and long necklaces, bangles and finger rings are worn more willingly and commonly by most women. When it comes to items like the vanki, the vaddanam, or the nethichutti, there seems to be a shy reluctance to wear these as readily! We’ll explore this in detail in another blog some other day. Today I’d like to dwell on some of the designs found commonly on antique temple jewellery, and their symbolism and significance.
Gods and Goddesses feature extensively on antique jewellery. The most popular is Goddess Lakshmi, often found seated on a lotus flower. Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, abundance and prosperity. And these three attributes also being associated with gold jewellery, Her popularity as a favourite antique jewellery design is not surprising. Another popular God found on antique jewellery is Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Goddess Saraswathi – the goddess of knowledge, fine art and wisdom, and family trio of Lord Rama with his consort Sita and brother Lakshmana are also sometimes seen.
The Peacock is another very commonly found design in temple jewellery. The peacock is believed to be a bird of protection and safety. It guards one from the evil eye, and destroys negativity like anger, greed and jealousy. Of course, its majesty and dramatic good looks must also contribute to its wide use in jewellery design.
The Paisley motif is also an oft used favourite in South Indian antique jewellery. It symbolizes life, permanence and eternity. Some also consider it a symbol of aspiration and freedom. Paisleys are usually found along with swirly vines, which add immense grace.
The Elephant, either on its own, or along with Goddess Lakshmi as a Gajalakshmi image, comes close to the peacock in its profuse use on antique jewellery. Elephants have a positive symbolic meaningall over the world and are considered a symbol of good luck, power, success wisdom and experience. Because elephants are highly social animals, they are also considered to be a symbol of loyalty, companionship and unity.
The Lotus, in addition to being seen as the seat favoured by Goddess Lakshmi, also appears by itself in many designs in antique jewellery. The lotus flower is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality, and eternity. As a lotus is able to emerge from muddy waters, it is considered to represent wisdom. It is representative of somebody who carries out tasks with little concern for, or expectation of, any reward. Here are some visual examples to see these motifs on beautiful gold jewellery. And if you’re wondering where you could get these, with all the designs that can mean so many things besides looking stunning, check out www.vaibhavjewellers.com
With 25 tears of expertise, experience and a legacy of trust, quality and innovation, Vaibhav Jewellers can be found as 12 retail stores in coastal Andhra and Telangana. You also have online options – from the comfort of your home, 24X7, at the click of the mouse. They also offer exciting benefits that not all jewellers can match…
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So, remember that when you buy or gift antique temple jewellery, it’s not just jewellery. You’re buying goodness, good luck and positive things associated with the design or motifs on the beautiful piece!
1 comment
I am a big fan of Indian jewelry. South Indian jewelry looks awesome.
This gives a perfect heavy look on parties????
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