South Indian Gold & Rudraksha Priest’s Necklace (Gowrishankaram)

This fine and impressive necklace known as a gowrishankaram  or a rudraksha malai is one of the few types of jewels in India meant to be worn exclusively by men.

It comprises a large pendant all in gold of at least 22 carats, 30 large rudraksha seeds separated by gold spacer beads, and a large back counter-balance clasp, again in gold, that is worn on the back of the neck.

The main pendant has four suspended coral beads, a pillow-shaped emerald, a large oval clear stone – probably rock crystal, and on top, a large, spherical ruby cabochon in a gold setting. It is worked in high relief with a central figure of Shiva Nataraja performing the Tandava dance on a dwarf demon named Apasmara, symbolising his triumph over ignorance, four other deity attendants, and on each side, rearing yalis.

The counter-balance is similarly worked in gold.

Such necklaces were especially important to men of the wealthy trading Chettiar community, who were devotees of Shiva, and to the priests (dikshitars) at the Chidambaram Temple in Tamil Nadu where Shiva is said to have first performed his dance.

The main pendant has a small pair of gold loops below the central emerald from where a gold lingam box could be suspended. This is no longer present. Traditionally, such a box might have held a miniature lingam or sacred ashes from cremation grounds.

The rudraksha seed is the stone of the fruit of the utrasam tree and is believed to be sacred to Shiva. The name ‘rudraksha’ means ‘eye of Rudra’, an ancient name for Shiva. The seeds are made into beads and worn as rosaries, necklaces and bracelets by Shaivite devotees and priests. Many devotees never remove such items, considering them among their most sacred possessions.

See Untracht (1997, p. 39) for a related example.

The necklace here is in superb condition albeit without its lingam box. Each rudraksha has wear and patina. The gold is crisp and without any crushing. It is difficult to determine the precise weight of the gold content of the necklace but we suggest it is at least 100 grams.

The necklace is stable and wearable.