Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth

SR No.: 012044
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nathmal Tatia, Dev Kothari
Publisher: Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 1294
Language: Hindi, English
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 34 MB

Page 1264

JEWELLERY IN JAIN LITERATURE OF
RAJASTHAN
(Mrs.) KUSUM MEHTA
Writer & Journalist Mehta Mansion, Station Road,
JAIPUR-302006 (Raj.)
The origins of Indian Jewellery like those of others are shrouded in the mists of antiquity. he earliest references of Indian jewellery are contained in Hindu sacred scriptures, the Rgveda (circa 2000-1500 B. C.) and in the Indian epics, the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata (circa 1000500 B. C.)
One of the oldest examples of ancient Indian jewellery is a small relic casket containing gold ornaments found in a Buddhist shrine in the Kābul valley near Jalälābād.
From the archaeological excavations of Rairh, Nalisar, Ahar, Madhymika, Kalibanga and Rangmahal in Rajasthan, it is known that women wore different kinds of ornaments such as bangles, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, ear-pendants, beads and girdles.
Haribhadra Sūri who lived in the seventh or eighth century A. D. supplies the names of various types of ornaments which were popular among the people in towns and cities in the Samarāditya Kathā. Their names are bāhūsarikā, an ornament for the the bāhumalā or arm-pits, a pearl dusurullaka for the neck, a plavangabandha for the breasts, a retanachakralata for the ears, and a chūdāratnā for the forehead and jewelled ring for the fingers.
The Hamira-Mahākāvya describes Hamīrā's queens as decked with Kundalas in their ears, Kasturitilakas on their foreheads, hanging pearl in their noses, pearl necklaces on their breasts, nūpuras for their ankles, champaka buds for their dhumillas, rings for the fingers of both the hands, alaktaka for the feet and blue duküla on their hips.
They are referred to not merely in the Rajasthani Jain and other literature of the period but also depicted in sculptures of Kirādū, Abū and Pallű.
An early description of Rajasthani ornaments comes from Paümsri Cariü. At the time of Paümasri's marriage, women put on their wrist the holy kankana along with divine herbs and white mustard. They put jewelled nūpura (on her feet), kundalas (in her ears), mukuța (on her forehead), necklaces (round her neck) and a tinkling girdle (round her waist).