Importance Of Mangalsutra In Women’s Life

As per Hindu Dharma, mangalsūtra is an ornament of a woman denoting her marital status. Each person makes a mangalsūtra for the bride as per his capacity. If it is not possible to make a mangalsūtra with a cord of gold or silver, they make it by stringing black beads in a thread.

A Hindu marriage symbolizes not just coming together of two individuals, but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love, oneness and spiritual growth. Traditionally, Hindu marriage is much more than just celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, companionship, dedication, and devotion from both the partners. Each and every rituals and customs associated with marriage portrays the real essence of wedding. Traditionally, there are five signs of marital status of women, according to Hindu culture- mangalsutra, toe rings, kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Talking about Mangalsutra, the word denotes a significant meaning. While mangal means aupiscious, sutra can be deciphered as a thread.

Significance Of Mangalsutra In Hindu Marriage
Mangalsutra, as such, is not just a jewelry item, but a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by married women, as a symbol of their successful marriage. An inevitable part of Hindu marriage ceremony, Mangalsutra refers to a revered symbol of wedlock. India being a land of diversity, different regions in the country have assigned different names for this scared symbol. While it is known as the thaaly or maangalyam in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil in Southern India, people in the northern part of India calls it Mangalsutra. It is believed that the concept of this sacred thread had its roots laid down in South India. Having immense significance and importance, it traveled to North India as well and today, forms an imperative part of the wedding ceremony.

Mangalsutra is the token of dignity and love given to a bride by her groom. On the wedding day, the groom ties the Mangalsutra around the neck of the bride, while the priest recites Vedic hymns and prays. It signifies the union of the bride and the groom, amidst the presence of deities, who are believed to be attending the marriage. In some regions, the groom ties first and his sisters tie the rest. Talking about its appearance, this sacred thread is made of two strings of small black beads with a locket or pendant. Sometimes, it is also made of small beads of gold and black beads, with gold and diamond pendant.

Considered auspicious for married women, mangalsutra is believed to have divine powers. Each of the black beads in the Mangalsutra, signify protection from evil power and are believed to protect the marriage of a couple, essentially the life of the husband. Hindu women feel superstitious, when this scared thread breaks or gets lost. In the present times, mangalsutra are boasts of various designs and patterns. While the Gujaratis and Marwaris often go for a diamond pendant, Maharashtrians have a pendant that consists of one or two vatis and Bengalis in the meanwhile, have coral incorporated in the designing of the Mangalsutra.

Why Scriptures do not allow widows to wear a Mangalsūtra?

There are two chief reasons for this.

·         Waves / Vibrations associated with the husband’s desire are present in the mangalsūtra, due to which the subtle body of the deceased husband can get trapped: Waves associated with the husband’s desire are present in the mangalsūtra. After the death of the husband, some women continue to wear their mangalsūtra as fashion. Thus, with the help of the vibrations associated with the husband’s desires, his subtle body can get trapped.

·         Onward journey of the subtle body of the husband is obstructed: Looking at the mangalsūtra reminds the woman of her husband and his subtle body has to return to the Earth region. Hence, the onward journey of the subtle body of the husband is obstructed.

'So what if my husband is no more?' with this thought intellectual women nowadays continue to wear the mangalsūtra even after they are widowed. This act harms the woman as well as her deceased husband at the spiritual level. Hence, one should determinedly abide by religious Conduct. Mangalsūtra is a marital bond. Its objective is to remind the woman of this bond and restrain her from behaving as per her own wishes.

Why do men don't have to wear a Mangalsūtra?

Every Conduct for men and women has been propounded with a specific objective. If wearing a mangalsūtra is Dharma for women, wearing a janēu(sacred thread) is Dharma for men. On this, some people may question why is there no custom for men to wear a mangalsūtra?

Since in Karmakānḍa, man is recognized as a father-figure, the possibility of adultery by him is less. The nature of men is basically strong, determined and conducive for leadership. Hence, in the performance of Karmakānḍa, man is recognised as a father-figure. Due to the authority as a father, the possibility of adultery is less. In society however, men are more adulterous than women. If this be so, why is it said that the possibility of adultery by man is less ?

Compared to a woman, a man is less emotional, more introverted and rational. So there is less possibility of his being adulterous / wilful. Yet various Conducts have been prescribed for him in Hindu Dharma. In Kaliyuga, men and women are equally adulterous. In this situation, what should men do to acquire the same benefits as that of wearing a mangalsūtra? The answer is that when the man carries out his father-figure duties and inculcates an attitude of listening to others, it will foster unity in the family. Holy thread (janēu) worn by him will remind him of his father-figure duties.

 Present Scenario

Today, the concept of wearing a mangalsutra has changed considerably. It is more of a fashion statement than a symbol of marriage, thanks to modernization. With the progressive times, the wearing of mangalsutra in working women has considerably reduced. There is also a marked change in the style and making of mangalsutra over the years. Previously, women used to wear simple design mangalsutra, with small pendants, but now, the trend is to wear short length ones, that too with a single string. Instead of gold pendants, they prefer diamond ones. However, the black beads have still managed to remain constant. Whatever may be the reason to adore it, mangalsutra surely symbolizes the real essence and concept of a Hindu marriage.