The Mangalsutra Necklace

Sacred Symbol of Love and Marriage

Man puts a necklace over his wife at an Indian Wedding

Mahatta Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. / Getty Images

In Hinduism, when a girl gets married she adorns herself with certain pieces of jewelry and observes special customs to make her marital status obvious. Just as a many western women wear the wedding ring after marriage, the married Hindu girl, according to the tradition, wears the mangalsutra, bangles, nose and toe rings and a red bindi—a spot kumkum powder or vermilion on her forehead symbolizing not only her rite of passage from a girl to a married woman, but also her heightened position in society as an adult who is respected and is capable of running a household. With the household regarded as a microcosm of the society at large, this is indeed a significant responsibility. 

What Is a Mangalsutra?

The word mangalsutra is derived from the two words, Mangal, meaning "holy or auspicious," and sutra meaning "thread." It is a sacred necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck on the day of the wedding in a ceremony called Mangalya dharanam (meaning "wearing the auspicious"), thereby giving her the status of his wife and life mate. Thereafter, the wife wears the mangalsutra all her life or until the husband passes, as a sign of their marriage, mutual love and goodwill, understanding and faithful commitment.

When Is the Mangalsutra Worn?

On the wedding day, a yellow thread is prepared with turmeric paste and is tied around the bride's neck with three knots during the marriage ceremony while the priest chants Vedic mantras and partakes in prayers. In some customs, the groom ties the first knot and his sisters tie the other two knots.

Later, the mangalsutra may be restrung on some auspicious day in the form of a necklace made of gold and black beads strung together on one or two yellow threads or gold chains with an elaborate pendant of gold or diamond. In an arranged marriage, the design of the mangalsutra is usually chosen by the groom's family in keeping with their customs.

What Does the Mangalsutra Really Symbolize?

The mangalsutra, worn by most married Hindu women across India, is known differently in different parts of the country: thaali, thaaly, pustelu, maangalyam or mangalsutram in the southern states of India and mangalsutra in the northern states. Each black bead in the mangalsutra is believed to have divine powers that protect the married couple from the evil eye and is believed to safeguard the life of the husband. Hindu women are extremely superstitious about the mangalsutra. If it breaks or is lost, it is considered ominous. Therefore, the mangalsutra is much more than a piece of fancy jewelry, but a sacred necklace of love, trust and marital happiness of a Hindu couple—a vital symbol of wedlock almost as important as the Hindu marriage law.

Is the Mangalsutra Fashionable for Modern Times?

With changing times and varying needs of women, especially those in the cities who are no longer stay-home wives, the practice of wearing a mangalsutra has changed visibly. Now, it is more of a fashion statement than a symbol of marriage. Rarely does a working woman don a mangalsutra over her trendy business suits. Also, there is a dramatic change in the style and make of the mangalsutra these days. Previously, women wore heavy and elaborate gold mangalsutras, but now, the trend is to wear short, sleek and single string mangalsutras with small designer diamond pendants. However, the black beads remain to ward off the evil and uphold the sanctity of the institution of marriage.

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Das, Subhamoy. "The Mangalsutra Necklace." Learn Religions, Sep. 9, 2021, learnreligions.com/the-mangalsutra-necklace-1770471. Das, Subhamoy. (2021, September 9). The Mangalsutra Necklace. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/the-mangalsutra-necklace-1770471 Das, Subhamoy. "The Mangalsutra Necklace." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/the-mangalsutra-necklace-1770471 (accessed March 19, 2024).