An Overview of Traditional Significance of Indian Jewelry

For thousands of years, people have been using Indian jewelry as the medium to communicate ethnic unity in India. The form of adornment symbolizes the richness India has since centuries. Jewelry has always been termed as a woman’s best friend and it also goes true in literal senses. While jewelry is worn for a number of reasons, the most common in ancient India has remained the display of marital status of women and their devotion towards their husbands. However, things got changed and so is the significance of jewelry. 


Today, wearing the jewelry is not just limited to showcasing any kind of status. It significantly describes the passion of adornment that lies deep in the personality of Indian women. Today ornaments are considered one of the fashion statements worn by women all over the globe. Jewelry has also been attached with religious as well as spiritual significance; the reference of which can also be seen in the great Indian epics. Forms of jewelry worn on different body parts symbolize something traditional or cultural. Let’s explore the significance of some of the mostly used and loved ornaments.

The Significance Of Sarpech

Uncut diamonds are used to make Sarpech with elongated emerald towards the end of the ornament. Sarpech is also referred as Shirpej, which means adornment of the head. The traces of this traditional head jewelry go back to the medieval period, and the ornament was worn on princely turbans. The ornament reached to perfection in the Mughal courts and with various princes of Rajasthan. Women also used to wear this piece of jewelry, but ultimately it developed as the predominant male turban ornament.

Indian Jewelry

Nath or the nose ring was originated from the sates of Maharashtra. Earlier, nose rings were made having quality gemstones in the center. Nath is also referred as Laung in some parts of India because of its clove shaped design. Nose ornament is one important part of entire jewelry of Indian brides without which the complete adoration is not completed. The Nath or the nose ring is generally associated with the long lives of husbands of Indian women and somewhere in the ancient Indian, the blessings for brides were made as “May your Nath be ever present”. 


The Importance Of Kada

Kadas are one of the important items in the category of spiritual jewelry. Widely known as bracelets, the outer sides of kadas are ornamented with gem stones of different colors. This jewelry is considered one of the most important adornments for brides in India. Kadas could be a solid, hollow or a piece of design filled with lac. In ancient times, the ends of the Kadas were joined by using fire. Modern kadas or bangles have beautiful artistic work on the front side and generally a layer of a metal at the outer side.  



An Overview Of Spiritual Jewelry

Besides these forms of ornaments, spiritual jewelry holds equal importance for the people who worship Indian deities and wish to adorn themselves with the jewelry pieces that have pictures of their god or goddess all over it. The most commonly worn ornament by these personalities are necklaces, bracelet & earings, and more. In fact, there is a huge online market that is into the trading of such accessories. By showcasing their attractive range of spiritual products over the internet, companies are providing an easier way for the people to shop the spiritual accessory of their choice.

A number of companies have further classified their online collection of spiritual ornaments into religious jewelry. These accessories have something significant crafted over the pieces related to the religious significance of that particular religion. It can be any form of the supreme deity worshiped in that religion or a thing related to that deity. These forms keep on changing with the beliefs associated with the lord in any particular religion.

The beliefs, significance, and faith of people attached with diverse forms of Indian jewelry is as comprehensive as the religion itself. India is a land of cultures that clearly depicts in the art forms crafted over the piece of jewelry made in any part of the nation. The vivid forms of the Indian ornaments are not only limited to domestic boundaries but also have achieved the)attention of the buyers in the international market.  

Author bio: The Author is an experienced writer at Ganges India. He is well aware of the spiritual tradition that is being followed in India. He has taken an initiative to educate the people about the significance of different forms of jewelry through his informative blogs.