Nose ring (Wikipedia picture)

Research paper written by London swaminathan

Research Paper No. 1636; Dated 9^th February 2015

In the past two days I have listed the 106 topics dealt with by Varahamihira in his encyclopaedic Brhat Samhita in Sanskrit and his treatise on Diamonds. Today I will give you some interesting information on pearls and compare it with Kalidasa and Sangam Tamil literature.

Tamils are very proud to say that both the words for Pearl came from their language: Muthu (mukta in Sanskrit) and Paral (Pearl in English). Though the Sanskrit word Pravala (coral) also sounds similar, ancient Hindus might have had similar sounding words for the Sea Gems. Strangely the animal products Pearl and Coral are among the famous Nine Gems of Hindu literature (Nava Ratna). Both pearls and corals come from sea creatures.

South Indian Temples, particularly Meenakshi Temple of Madurai, Sriranagam Vishnu Temple and Tirupati Balaji temple have got valuable pearl jewellery. Goddess Meenakshi  and Goddesses in several other temples have got full dress made up of thousands of pearls! It is called Muthu Angi.

The ancient Hindus believed that oysters in the sea open their mouth on the Swati Star (asterism) day and the rain drops that enter the oysters become pearls. Kalidasa, Bhartruhari and many poets have sung about it. I have written a research paper on it three years ago (see below for link)

Gem Stones in Kalidasa and Tamil Literature

13^th February 2012

http://swamiindology.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/gem-stones-in-kalidasa-tamil-literature.html

Pearls in the Vedas and Tamil Literature- posted by me on 17 May 2014

http://swamiindology.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/pearls-in-vedas-and-tamil-literature.html

Varahamihira in Chapter 81 of Brhat Samhita gives the following details on pearls:

Eight types of pearls are there:

Pearls come from Elephants, Serpents, Oysters, Conch Shells, Clouds, Bamboos, Whales and Hogs.

Oyster pearls and Conch shell pearls are known to biologists and the scientists. Other types of pearls are not known to gemmologist. But there are references to Cobra Jewel (Nagaratna), elephant pearl, bamboo pearl in Tamil and Sanskrit literature. Even Shakespeare mentioned Nagaratna in his play, but he wrote that it came from toads!! Read my earlier post on Nagaratna and Shakespeare.

Pearls come from eight sources:

Simhalaka (Sri Lanka), Paraloka (Travancore coast), Surashtra (Gujarat), Tampraparani River (in South Tamil Nadu), Parasava (Iran), a Nothern country, Pandya vataka and the Himalayas.

Kautilya’s Artha Shastra (Third Century BCE) mentioned Pandya Kavata pearl. Fahien (399-414 CE) mentioned Simhala/Sri Lankan pearls.

Paraloka is a confusing term. There is one river called Parali in Kerala and there is an island Parali in the Lakshadweep. But the interesting thing is that itself sounds pearl in Tamil (Paral in Tamil is pearl in English and this town name is Paral+i).

 

Muthangi Seva, Srirangam

Deities and Pearls

Varahamihira listed the deities who preside over different types of diamonds in the previous chapter. Here in this chapter he gives the details of deities associated with the pearls:

Atasi flower coloured dark pearl – Vishnu

Ataasi flower is identified with Linum usitatissimum (Fiber plant Flax)

Moon like pearl – Indra

Bluish yellow pearl – Varuna

Pomegranate seed (red) –  Vayu

Dark pearl –Yama

Fire like or lotus coloured – Agni/ Fire god

One of the largest pearls auctioned.

Vrahamihira described the shape and colour of pearls obtained from the eight sources. Now let us look at the price list that is 1500 year old!

Pearls weighing Four Masakas= 53,000 Karsapana in silver

3 and half masaka= 3200 Karsapana in silver

3 masaka= 2000 Karsapana in silver

2 and half masaka = 1300 Karsapana in silver

2 masaka= 800 Karsapana in silver

1 and half masaka = 353 Karsapana in silver

Five Gunjas (Rattis or Krsnalas or Gundumani in Tamil) make one Masa. Tenth part of Pala is called a Dharana.

13 pearls weighing one Dharana= 325 karsapana silver

16 pearls= 200 karsapana

20 pearls= 170

25 pearls=130

30 pearls= 70

500 pearls weighing One Dharana= 4 silver pieces.

Muthu Angi

There is a link between the price and the size. Whether we can calculate the prices or not in today’s currency is immaterial. We have to look at the way the gem trade was run 1500 years ago. Varahamihira lived 800 years after Kautilya of Arthashastra. At least we have information about the value of pearls for thousands of years!

Tables

Five Gunjas = One Masa

16 Masas = 1 Suvarna

4 suvarnas= 1 Pala

Half Pla = 1 Dharna

Elephant Pearls:

Pearls are also obtained from the head and tusks of Bhadra class of elephants, says Varahamihira. But Varahamihira makes it clear that he repeats what the ancients believed about the elephant pearls. (This means they are not found even in Varahamihira days who lived around 510 CE)

He speaks about the pearls found in Boar tusk, Whales etc. Then he gives details about the pearls that are found in the seventh layer of winds. But the heaven dwellers will catch them before it falls on to earth!

Then he categorises Nagaratna as pearls. If the kings wear Nagaratna pearls enemies will be destroyed and his reputation will increase.

Pearl in Oyster

Benefits of wearing Pearls:

Those who wear pearls are bestowed with sons, wealth, and popularity; they destroy diseases and grief. Kings get the desired objects.

Varahamihira gives a long list of jewellery made up of pearls. He is justified in giving such a description, because we have proof in our 2500 year old sculptures and temple jewellery.

A pearl necklace consisting of 1008 strings and four cubit long it is called Inducchanda. It is worn by Gods

504 strings, 2 cubit long = Vijay chanda

108 strings, 2 cubit= Haara

81 strings= Devachanda

64 string= ardha hara

54 strings= Rasmikalapa

32 Strings= gucha

20=Ardha Gcha, 16= Manavaka, 12- Ardhamanavaka, 8= Mandra, 5=Haraphalaka.

Necklace containing 27 pearls= Naksatramala

Same with gold & gems=Manisopana

Catukara= with central piece as gem

Ekavat= any length

Varahamihira deals with pearls in 36 verses. He has not devoted so many verses to any other gems. If Hindus have decorated their gods with such great jewellery no wonder Mahmud of Gazni and Malikkaffur plundered all the temples on their way!!

For Goddess Meenakshi’s wonderful jewellery, please read my research article “ The Wonder that is Madurai Meenakshi Temple” posted here on 14^th October 2011.

http://swamiindology.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/wonder-that-is-madurai-meenakshi-temple.html