Kasulaperu .....Lakshmi Coins Heirloom

  

The traditional jewellery of Southern India has always been quite heavy consisting of voluminous gold pieces. 

Traditional South-Indian jewellery has covered its journey for nearly 5000 years, as an evolving art form. Its beauty lies in the uniqueness of its design and the efforts of the workmanship involved in creating the intricate designs.

In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, jewellery has not only traditional and aesthetic value, but is also considered as a source of security in times of financial crisis. The amount of jewellery owned by a woman also signifies her status and adds to the riches in her name. 

The birth of a girl in ancient Northern parts of India spread a pall of gloom over the household; but in South India since centuries the birth of a daughter was a reason to celebrate!

The Dravidian culture of South-India bestows property rights on the female child. Being a Matriarchal society Inheritance is passed down the female linage. Besides immovable property special attention is given to the Bridal Jewellery of a South Indian girl at the time of marriage.

This cache of jewellery is referred to as "Stree Dhan" gifted to her by both; her parents and In-laws, as the name indicates:  

Stree-woman 

 Dhan-wealth 

This collection of wealth in jewellery form is given as a security measure for the married woman.

"Stree Dhan" is the exclusive property of the woman to do with it as she pleases throughout her life, without interference either from her husband, parents or In-laws.  

Many traditional pieces of gold and gem encrusted jewellery passed down the millenniums have become an essential component of the repertoire of "Stree Dhan" But none as magnificent as the Kasulaperu.

This gorgeous necklace is crafted out of gold coins strung together to meet at a central point holding a solid gold image of Goddess Lakshmi within a gold temple. Sometimes the heavy Lakshmi pendant is omitted and the Kasulaperu is just an opulent necklace of Gold Coins strung together without gaps to form a solid sparkling Gold necklace covering the bridal bosom of the girl.

Tradition in South India has it that since the birth of the female child the mother and grandmother collect gold coins embossed with the image of Lakshmi; in other words 5 or 10gm uniform gold sovereigns, every year till the girl reaches a marriageable age. 

The coins are bought on her birthdays, important religious festivals etc to be saved away till the collections reaches a decent amount to be strung by the jeweller to create a magnificent Kasulaperu..

Depending on the financial strength of the family the Kasulaperu could be a necklace of 50, 80 sometimes even 100 coins.

Today many a Kasulaperu have small precious rubies and emeralds interspersed in the design of the necklace; but the focus is on an Imperial Gold Coin Necklace blessed by none other than Goddess Lakshmi herself.

A Kasulaperu is gifted by the bride's parents, while the Thaali or Mangalsutra is gifted by the Husband. 

Both these auspicious necklaces are obligatory in the wedding ceremony of South-India.

Manga Malai ..... The Mango Necklace.

The Mango first appeared as early as 25 million years ago in North-East India, Myanmar and Bangladesh from where it travelled to the southern peninsular of India.   

This unique fruit with its unforgettable sweet aromatic flavour was immediately considered to be 'manna' bestowed by the Gods on human beings.

The Ancient South- Indian kingdoms of the Chola, Pandya and Chera dynasties that today comprise modern Western Tamil Nadu and Kerala, along the western Malabar Coast  of Southern India declared the Mango to be not just the Royal fruit of the Kingdom, but as was the practice of those times and still is in South-India, religion took centre stage and the Mango found its ultimate glory at the feet of the Gods.

Every element of the mango tree as well as its fruit was considered to be sacred, hence its fruit and  leaves were used not only in worship inside Temples, but also in  Wedding Mandaps . 

The mango leaves were strung together to form a garland called a  toran; which was hung at the entrances of temples and Mandaps to ward off evil. One of the main significance of hanging a toran of mango leaves on a Wedding Mandapa is that it is supposed to be a symbol of fertility and hence a sign of auspicious blessing bestowed on the Union.

Ancient legends have it that in Hinduism, Lord Shiva (fertility) and Kama(love) are represented by the symbolic mango leaves.  

The toran also  represents goddess Mahalaxmi and prevents any negative energy or drushti dosham (evil eye) from entering the threshold of the Wedding Mandapa. 

As is the tradition of India; all things propitious are absorbed in the jewellery of the land. So was the Mango and its leaves. 

 The talented jewellery karigars of that time incorporated the toraninto an innovative masterpiece - a Dazzling piece of jewellery! 

In Southern Indian languages the mango was called 'Manga' and a garland 'Malai'

Thus was born this unique necklace called Manga Malai a garland of Mangoes. Besides adorning the sacred Murtis inside temples like Menaxshi and Tirupati, the Manga Malai an Elaborate, stunningly gorgeous necklace is also worn by South-Indian brides. 

Crafted in precious rubies emeralds and diamonds, the gems are set using the kundala-velai technique which relates to the north Indian kundan tradition of using a lac-filled sheet of gold to secure the gem. The Manga Malai is made up of forty-six mango shaped pendants set with a dazzling diamond in the middle. Each pendant is interspersed with trefoil-shaped elements surrounded by cabochon rubies. The mango-shaped pendants are held in place by the use of two flat knitted gold wire chains that pass through loops on the back of the mango pendants. These gold chains are called thattaiyana ponnulla saradu which in ancient times were woven out of gold threads. 

The Manga Malai is no ordinary piece of jewellery. It is a magnificent necklace that carries centuries of culture, heritage, and tradition in its inimitable design.

Southern India follows the Matriarchal tradition of Family progression. Matriarchy is descent and inheritance being traced through the female line.  It is all about Female Power and authority. Hence Bridal jewellery and property is passed from Grandmother to Mother to Daughter. Because this jewellery repertoire has been painstakingly designed and crafted under the scrutiny of the Matriarch for centuries; the traditional Manga Malai is one of the most artistic and beautiful pieces of jewellery in the cache of Indian Jewellery. 

With its vibrant and sparkling precious gems encrusted in pure gold; the Manga Malai is the Pièce De Résistance worn by the bejewelled bride on her wedding day!

Today in techno-savvy India this ancient necklace has been revived to be worn not only by Southern Brides at weddings, but also by Film Actresses and Chic Socialites who wish to make an everlasting fashion statement at an Exclusive Social Affair!