In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: archive.org: History of Dharmasastra (Vol II Part I)

Maṅgalasūtrabandhana (मङ्गलसूत्रबन्धन) refers to “tying a string having golden and other beads on it round the neck of the bride” and represents one of the various Marriage Rites (saṃskāra) according to the Gṛhyasūtras—The main outlines of the marriage saṃskāra show a remarkable continuity for several thousand years from the times of the Rig Veda down to modern times.—Maṅgalasūtrabandhana refers to “tying a string having golden and other beads on it round the neck of the bride”. This is now regarded as the most important ornament which no woman will part with as long as her husband is alive. But the Sūtras are entirely silent about it. Among the earliest references is one from Śaunaka-smṛti (ms. in Bombay University Library, folio 39 b). The Laghu-āśvalāyana-smṛti 15.33 also prescribes it and the mantra to be employed when doing so. Gadādhara on Parāskara-gṛhya-sūtra 1.8 says that maṅgalasūtra should be worn and garlands be placed round their necks by the bride and bride-groom, though the Sūtra of Paraskara is silent on the point. The Baudhāyana-gṛhya-śeṣa-sūtra V.5 in describing ‘arka-vivaha’ speaks of maṅgalya-sūtra to be tied to the plant. It is not clear whether it means the same as the maṅgalasūtra now tied by married women, round their necks. About the nose-ring or nose ornament to which all women whoso husbands are living attach the greatest importance in modern times, the sūtras, smṛtis and even the early digests are entirely silent. Dr. Altekar in his recent work “Position of Hindu women in Hindu Civilization” pp.362-64 holds from the evidence of the sculptures throughout India-that the “nose-ring was unknown throughout the whole of India during the entire Hindu period” (i.e. till about 1000 A. D.). Mr. P. K. Gode in Annals of B.O.R.I. vol. XIX (for 1939) pp.313-34 adduces evidence to show that a nose ornament was known to literary works from at least about 1000 A.D.

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Mangalasutra, Bandhana.

Query error!

Full-text: Mangalasutra.

Relevant text

No search results for Mangalasutrabandhana, Maṅgalasūtrabandhana, Maṅgalasūtra-bandhana, Mangalasutra-bandhana; (plurals include: Mangalasutrabandhanas, Maṅgalasūtrabandhanas, bandhanas) in any book or story.