Temple jewellery is back and how!

This time around, we saw the revered temple jewellery dazzling on our original desi girl – Priyanka Chopra. Just recently a picture of her has gone viral on the internet in which she looked terrific in an out-and-out desi avatar. Not sure if the picture was taken in India or abroad or whether it’s a recent click or an old one. But we are sure that it is worth a glance and after that, you won’t look away. Even from miles away, we could feel her desi vibes through her traditional ensemble that comprised of a golden zari saree, a bindi and to go with it, a set of temple jewellery.

This is not for the first time we are coming across a celeb flaunting a temple jewellery set. Just married comedienne Bharti Singh too bejewelled herself with one on her bangle ceremony. Last Diwali, Shilpa Shetty was spotted dazzling in Ekta Kapoor’s Diwali bash in one. Earlier Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt too have donned these masterpieces in their movies Chennai Express and 2 States respectively. Vidya Balan’s love for temple jewellery is not unknown. Following yesteryear diva Rekha’s footsteps, she has sported temple jewellery on many occasions. 

That’s not all. Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Kajol… many other actresses too have made appearances in temple jewellery and note that, all these actresses are from different leagues as well as generations. By that measure, it would not be wrong to say that temple jewellery is timeless and time and again, this stunning jewellery art has been revived and bounced back in vogue. Even growing awareness through internet and the presence of several reputed Indian jewellery brands online, have further boosted the popularity of traditional Indian jewellery and temple jewellery is no different. Embodying the rich culture of South India, this traditional jewellery art has found many takers across India as well as overseas. From celebrities and fans, royals and commoners, young girls to middle-aged women, it has charmed one and all. On festivals, weddings or even as bridal jewellery, temple jewellery is the most desired jewelleryon the block.     

In the past, temple jewellery was used to decorate the idols of the gods and goddesses at temples. Most of the jewellery were then donated by the devotees as an offering to the deities. After that, the jewellery was passed on to temple dancers and this way, slowly and steadily, temple jewellery made its way into a mainstream traditional jewellery ensemble. Even through the cultural dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, this jewellery tradition is very much alive.   

Inspired from the illustrations and carvings of South Indian Temples, temple jewellery is mostly made of pure gold and has colourful beads in red or green that distinctly pop against the yellow metal. Essentially, templejewellery includes flashy necklaces with religious motifs. Bangles studded with stones, earrings, nose-rings and anklets are other jewellery in this category. Intricately-crafted designs of gods and goddesses like Laxmi, Ganesha and Krishna are the popular emblems. Even Om is one of the most sought-after motifs in temple jewellery. More so, beads or intricate filigree are widespread techniques used to create them.

The Saivite temple of South India classifies temple jewellery into two categories - one that is offered to the main Sivalinga and other to the subsidiary gods and goddesses. The former is adorned with precious ornaments like necklaces, bracelets, armlets, bangles, rings and other ornaments that are embedded with a number of pearls.  

During the reign of Chola dynasty, the South Indian temples made noteworthy efforts in promoting the art of jewel making. They even maintained their own workshops, employed skilled karigars and jewellers to design, test and evaluate the jewels. The master craftsmen were also appointed and granted many royal titles for their expertise and brilliance in the art. During the rule of Vijayanagar kings, predominantly at the time of Krishnadeva Raya, lavishness of temple jewellery was upped several notches.

Despite foreign invasions, the South Indian temples preserve a large variety of temple jewellery. Till today, those precious jewellery pieces are still well-kept in the Madurai temple. The most significant jewels amongst all are the gold crowns studded with the nine gems (navaratna). A very important jewellery of most of the temples is the golden jewelled turban – Ratnachurmmandu. It is mostly worn on one of the festivals of Lord Sundaresvara, who is believed to have worked as a casual labourer and carried the mud on his head on behalf of an old lady.

With such a divine backstory to this magnificent jewellery art, you are not only give in to the common belief that the auspicious temple jewellery brings good luck to the wearer but also wish to be that lucky one.

Author: Deepa Mishra

Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of informative reference. The models, celebrities or products showcased in these pictures are not to promote any brand in any manner.