Pearls Impact on the Hindu Religion
Hindu Bride wearing a traditional pearl headpiece
Pearls had a huge impact on the Hindu religion because they have become part of many religious ceremonies, and symbolic.
The Bahrain around India is one of the largest bodies of water that contains many freshwater, real pearls. Hyderabad, India also known as the "city of pearls" has become one of the most diverse cities and largest trading centers for pearls all around the world. Since Hinduism started to become one of the main religions in the world and popular in India the Indian pearls became symbolic to their religion.
Background Information of the Hindu Religion in India:
The Hindu religion is a very peaceful religion and is practiced by a majority of India's growing population dating back to 2000 BC. The Hindu's believe in unselfishness, tolerance, reincarnation (the existence of a life after death), karma (our actions in our present life will determine our next life that will follow in reincarnation and yoga. Most Hindu's homes have shrines where they pray and make offerings to their gods and goddesses. For Hindu's religion is a matter of practice rather than belief.
Wedding Ceremonies:
When the Hindu religion began to take over and spread throughout India many of it's customs and beliefs changed and started from the pearl or called "Mukta" in Indian. The pearl is used in wedding and pearl necklaces and headpieces (as shown in the picture to the left) are given to the bride to wear in the wedding ceremonies because it symbolizes purity, union, and innocence. During the ceremony they would present an un-drilled pearl and pierce it.This tradition started one of the Hindu religion's folk tales about a girl named Krishna who plucked the first pearl out of the water and gave it to her daughter on her wedding day.
White: Symbol of Purity
Rose, Pink: Symbol of Love
Golden: Symbol of Wealth
Peacock Green: Symbol of Romance
Sapphire Blue: Symbol of Eternity
Black: Symbol of Dignity (Benson, Patricia. "Pearl History." Pearl History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.)
Written in Hindu Scriptures:
The "Sacred nine pearls" is also mentioned in the Sri Garuda Purana one of the books of Hindu Mythology written around 2200 B.C.E and 300 C.E. The nine sacred pearls are the Conch Pearl, the Fish Pearl, the Boar Head Pearl, the Cobra Pearl, The Elephant Pearl, the Whale Pearl, the Bamboo Pearl, the Cloud Pearl, and the Oyster Pearl. Pearls are also a symbol of the moon and is believed to influence ones behavior and the mind.
The Bahrain around India is one of the largest bodies of water that contains many freshwater, real pearls. Hyderabad, India also known as the "city of pearls" has become one of the most diverse cities and largest trading centers for pearls all around the world. Since Hinduism started to become one of the main religions in the world and popular in India the Indian pearls became symbolic to their religion.
Background Information of the Hindu Religion in India:
The Hindu religion is a very peaceful religion and is practiced by a majority of India's growing population dating back to 2000 BC. The Hindu's believe in unselfishness, tolerance, reincarnation (the existence of a life after death), karma (our actions in our present life will determine our next life that will follow in reincarnation and yoga. Most Hindu's homes have shrines where they pray and make offerings to their gods and goddesses. For Hindu's religion is a matter of practice rather than belief.
Wedding Ceremonies:
When the Hindu religion began to take over and spread throughout India many of it's customs and beliefs changed and started from the pearl or called "Mukta" in Indian. The pearl is used in wedding and pearl necklaces and headpieces (as shown in the picture to the left) are given to the bride to wear in the wedding ceremonies because it symbolizes purity, union, and innocence. During the ceremony they would present an un-drilled pearl and pierce it.This tradition started one of the Hindu religion's folk tales about a girl named Krishna who plucked the first pearl out of the water and gave it to her daughter on her wedding day.
White: Symbol of Purity
Rose, Pink: Symbol of Love
Golden: Symbol of Wealth
Peacock Green: Symbol of Romance
Sapphire Blue: Symbol of Eternity
Black: Symbol of Dignity (Benson, Patricia. "Pearl History." Pearl History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.)
Written in Hindu Scriptures:
The "Sacred nine pearls" is also mentioned in the Sri Garuda Purana one of the books of Hindu Mythology written around 2200 B.C.E and 300 C.E. The nine sacred pearls are the Conch Pearl, the Fish Pearl, the Boar Head Pearl, the Cobra Pearl, The Elephant Pearl, the Whale Pearl, the Bamboo Pearl, the Cloud Pearl, and the Oyster Pearl. Pearls are also a symbol of the moon and is believed to influence ones behavior and the mind.