The Opulently Elegant Tamil Iyengar Bride Doll

Ideal for: 

• Premium Home Décor (Especially Tamil Iyengar themed room)
• Ideal Wedding gift for Iyengar Bride
• Housewarming gift item for Iyengar Couple
• Wedding Anniversary Gift for Iyengar Wife or Parents
• Valentine’s Day gift for Iyengar Girlfriend/ Wife/ fiancée
• Gifting option for people with roots in Tamil Nadu or Iyengar Heritage
• Doll Collectors/ Plangonologists interested in Collectible Dolls
• Birthday gift for Iyengar Girl/ Lady/ Woman

Description of the Ensemble of the Iyengar Bride

The Iyengars are Vaishanavites (a major Hindu sect that primarily worships Lord Vishnu or one or more of his many incarnations/manifestations). To give expression to this deep-seated part of their culture and traditions, Iyengar weddings are conducted by priests symbolizing the union of Andal and Perumal.  Perumal is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu while Andal is an Alwar poet-saint from ancient Tamil Nadu considered to be a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi (Lord Vishnu’s consort). 

Let’s see how the Iyengar bride’s ensemble makes her the perfect showcase of Iyengar culture and traditions. 

Attire: The Nine Yard Iyengar Madisar Saree

The ‘Madisar’ is a nine-yard silk saree (usually Kanchipuram silk native to Tamil Nadu) worn by Tamil Brahmin women during religious ceremonies and especially during weddings. The Tamil Iyengar bride wears the Madisar in the style unique to their community viz. the Iyengar drape with the pallu (layer of saree covering the bosom and shoulder) worn over her left shoulder.

Head Jewellery for Tamil Brahmin Iyengar brides

The hairstyling of a Tamil Iyengar bride is a very elaborate and complicated affair as it comprises buns, braids and numerous hair ornaments arranged in a very specific manner. Given below is an exhaustive list of the hair ornaments:

Nettichutti

The Nettichutti adorned by the bride consists of an embellished gold chain that begins at the hair partition on the middle of the head and ends with a gem-encrusted pendant dangling at the centre of the bride’s forehead. It also has broad gemstone encrusted belt that serves as a border between the hairline and the forehead thereby framing the face. The Nettichutti adorned by Tamil Brahmin brides are usually the most exquisite and elaborate among all communities in Southern India. It is usually crafted based on Tamil temple jewelry patterns and is a major contributing factor to the bride’s regal look. 

Our Iyengar bride is adorned with a very elaborate Nettichutti (based on temple jewelry pattern) on her head. 

Suryapirai and Chandrapirai 

The Suryapirai (representing the Sun) and Chandrapirai (representing the moon) are circle-shaped and crescent-shaped pieces of temple jewelry respectively. They are positioned on the right and left side of the bride’s hair parting respectively. Usually, only brides on the Brahmin caste wear these gem-encrusted hair pieces on their wedding day. 

Andal Kondai

Since an Iyengar wedding is intended to symbolic to Goddess Andal marrying Lord Perumal, every aspect of the Iyengar bride’s look must resemble that of the Goddess she represents. One unique feature of the Goddess is her side bun. This side bun is known as ‘Andal Kondai’. To imitate this look, the Iyengar bride dons a hair bun on the left side of the hair partition. A cone pointing in the opposite direction is tucked onto this side bun. This bun is then accessorized with gold, gemstones, pearls and flowers, enhancing the bride’s visual beauty. 

Rakkadi

In addition to the side bun, the Iyengar bride has her hair neatly tied into a bun at the back of her head. A bejeweled hair brooch known as ‘Rakkadi’ holds her bun in place. 

Jada Billa (Braid ornaments)

And if you think that the side bun and back bun are enough to make the bride’s hairstyle exceptional, you are in for a surprise! The bride’s bun extends into a long braid. The braid is decked with ornamental plates/ pieces of descending sizes known as the ‘Jada Billa’. The accessorized back bun and braid is known as ‘Jadanagam’ which literally means ‘hair serpent’. 

Jada Kunjam 

The end of the braid is tied with black ribbons ending in three ornamental black cloth balls. This accessory is known as the ‘Jada Kunjam’.  

Jewellery for Arms

Vanki

Worn on the upper arm, the Vanki is a golden armband that comes in all varieties from delicate gold to the more elaborate ones that are studded with diamonds and rubies. Our Iyengar bride is wearing gold Vanki with minimalistic and simple beaded design. 

Bangles

The bride wears multiple gold bangles (‘Valayal’). Thicker solid gold bangles with intricate designs known as ‘Kappu’ are also worn by her on her wrists.

Parrot Figurine

A parrot is perched on the left hand on the Iyengar bride. The parrot represents the pet parrot that Goddess Andal holds in her left hand. 

Necklaces

Kempu Attigai

Kempu jewellery refers to the collection of various Indian ornaments that have been designed by taking inspiration from the sculptures and deities in the temples of Southern India. Kempu jewellery ornaments are studded with gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds and imitation stones of various colours.

The choker necklace worn by our Iyengar bride doll is a traditional Kempu Attigai (‘Attigai’ means choker necklace). 

Kilikasu Haram

With delicate gold coins aligning a gold chain and an intricately carved gold pendant at its centre, the ‘Kilikasu Haram’ is an eye-catching neck accessory that is usually layered with other neckpieces worn by the bride. The second necklace worn by our stunning Iyengar bride doll is the Kilikasu haram (‘haram’ means necklace).

Manga Malai

The ‘Manga Malai’ is one of the signature pieces of South Indian Temple jewellery. ‘Manga’ in Tamil refers to the Mango fruit. Therefore, a proper Manga malai will consist of paisley (mango-contoured) motifs of identical shape and size going all around the necklace in succession. 

The mango has deep significance in South Indian culture as this tree symbolises love, wealth and fertility. So, what better way to literally portray divine blessings during a wedding ceremony than to adorn a Manga malai! 

The largest necklace worn by our regal Iyengar bride is the Manga malai. 

Thaali/ Thirumangalyam

The sacred necklace symbolizing marriage is known as Thaali/ Thirumangalyam in Tamil. In Tamil marriages, the Thirumangalyam pendant is worn with the yellow thread during the ceremony and later replaced with gold chain for more sturdiness to handle the daily use.

Our Iyengar bride is wearing a Thirumangalyam pendant with Lord Vishnu’s iconography flanked by ‘Bottu’ coins and gold ‘Gundu’ beads on yellow silk thread.

Sri Vaishnava Tilaka

On the center of the Iyengar bride’s forehead is the Bindi version of the ‘Urdhva Pundra Tilaka’, a popular forehead marker associated with Lord Vishnu. The vertical red drop shaped red bindi represents Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu while the two white lines beneath it represent the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.

Ear Jewellery

Jimikki (Earrings)

Our alluring bride is wearing “Jimikki” earrings. Mirroring the shape of a dome, the Jhimki is a versatile ornament worn by many Indian brides. Its design usually consists of dainty floral motifs and dangling beads that sway with every move.

Mattel (Ear chain)

The Mattel is an embellished ear chain that are hooked to the earrings and extend to the hair. It enables the ear lobe to support the heavy earrings worn by the bride. 

Our ravishing Iyengar bride is wearing Mattel that has the same temple jewellery design as her Nettichutti. 

Oddiyanam (Waist Ornament)

The waist belt or ‘Oddiyanam’ is an elaborate and ostentatious gold belt with intricate and detailed designs that accentuate the bride’s curves and holds her saree in place. This ornament plays a huge role in elevating the bride’s look to that of the Hindu Goddesses portrayed in calendar art.

Jewellery for Feet

Kolusu (Silver Anklets)

Tamil brides do not wear gold below the waist as it is considered inauspicious and disrespectful to the Goddess.  Therefore, the anklets known as ‘Kolusu' that she wears is made of silver.  

Metti

The bride adorns the ‘Metti’ on her toes during wedding rituals. The Metti are silver toe rings slipped on to her toes by her husband-to-be during the marriage rituals. These rings serve a visual marker of a woman’s marital status for among all Hindus (for only married women wear them). 

Isn’t this bride doll a perfect showcase of Iyengar culture and roots as we promised? So, what are you waiting for? Order your Tamil Iyengar Bride doll exclusively crafted by the artists at Roots and Wings Doll Studio today!