Temple Jewellery-Part I

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The Indian Heritage reflects in all aspects of Indian lifestyle from homes to clothes and jewellery. Temple jewellery originating from Tamil Nadu is an embodiment of Indian ethnicity. Originally used to decorate deities in temples, they were also used by Devadasis or temple dancers. Hence they came to be known as 'Temple Jewellery'

In the ancient days the South Indian temples enjoyed extreme richness due to the patronization of kings who favoured the temples lavishly. Hence to this day one can find the deities decked in scintillating jewellery which are strictly preserved, being testimonies of intricate ethnic craftsmanship.

Temple jewellery, which forms an integral part of a traditional Tamil wedding, is adored and adorned by Tamil brides. Even with a revolution in the jewellery world with new designs of machine cut modern jewellery, temple jewellery still seems to enchant people with its elegance and ethnicity, often categorized as 'Antique jewellery'

Gold considered as auspicious and to promote good health, the old Tamils had gold shaped into different ornaments to adorn different parts of the body from head to toe. With engraved gold as the base, the jewel pieces are normally studded with antique rubies (Sivappu Kallu), emeralds (Pachchai Kallu), uncut diamonds (Vairam) and sometimes even with sapphire and other coloured precious stones.

Pearls form an important aspect of this jewellery art forming lace like conclusions in necklaces and 'Odiyanams' (Waist Ornament)

Imitated versions of these jewels are worn by Bharatnatyam dancers for dance concerts.

Ornaments for the head

Nethi Chutti

This basically adorns the forehead (Nethi), a round ornament (Chutti) studded with precious stones with pearls hanging. It is supported by a decorative strap worn along the centre parting of the head. The 'Chutti' on the forehead is also connected with two other straps which is placed along the either sides of the top of the forehead, extending to the back of the ears. This ornament is worn to flaunt a small forehead that the Tamils adored those days as 'Pirai Netri' (Crescent like forehead), apart from being a decorative head ornament.

Suryan and Chandran are two other small head ornaments shaped like the Sun (Suryan) and the moon (Chandran) that are placed on either sides of the parting, a little towards the back.

'Raakadai' is a round piece of gold again studded with rubies or emeralds which adorns the back of the head.'Naagar' supplements this sometimes.

Ear Ornaments

The ancient artisans' creativity has shaped itself into a number of ear ornaments with distinct designs categorized as Jimmki, Mattal, Lolaakku, thoadu etc.
Jimmiki-These are bell shaped ornamnets hanging in the ears with or without rubies, emeralds and pearls hanging around the edge.

Maattal-This is a strap studded with stones attached to the Jimmki and pulled straight up to the top of the ears and pinned with hairpins on the head or worn around the ears.

Lolaaku-These are lengthy ones in different designs.

Thodu-These are small studs sticking to the ears.