The words we work in

Silver & Deity Adornment Glossary

Most of these words have no entry anywhere else. They are the vocabulary of a working silver bench, written down plainly — what each thing is, not what we sell.

Short answer

What is an aangi?

An aangi is the complete set of ornaments worn by a Hindu or Jain deity idol — the mukut (crown), kundal (ear ornaments), haar (necklace), kandora (waistband) and a chhatra or backdrop. The set is designed together so one motif runs through every piece, and it is fitted to the measurements of the particular idol.

Core pieces: Mukut · Kundal · Haar · Kandora · Chhatra
Metal: 925 sterling silver, often gold-plated
Made to: The idol's own measurements
Typical lead time: 2–5 weeks

See complete aangi sets

Deity adornment

Aangialso angi, anghi, aangi set, deity wearing set: An aangi is the complete set of ornaments and dress worn by a Hindu or Jain deity idol, traditionally changed through the day and across festivals. A full silver aangi usually comprises the mukut, kundal, haar, kandora and a chhatra or backdrop, all designed with one shared motif.; See aangi we make →
Mukutalso mugut, kirit mukut, idol crown, deity crown: A mukut is the crown worn by a deity idol, fitted to the head of the murti rather than made to a standard size. Silver mukut are shaped and hand-chased over a form, then sized to the idol's own head circumference so they sit without slipping during aarti or abhishek.; See mukut we make →
Kundalalso kundals, deity earrings, idol ear ornaments: Kundal are the ear ornaments of a deity idol, always made as a matched pair. They are proportioned to the idol's face rather than to a human ear, and are normally designed alongside the mukut so the chasing on both runs the same.; See kundal we make →
Kandoraalso kandoro, kardhani, waistband, deity waist chain: A kandora is the ornamental waistband worn by a deity idol, sitting at the hip over the dress. In a silver aangi set the kandora repeats the engraving of the haar above it, which is what makes the set read as one piece rather than several.; See kandora we make →
Pagdialso pagh, turban, deity turban: A pagdi is a turban-form headpiece for a deity idol, used in place of a mukut in traditions and festivals that call for one. Silver pagdi are chased to imitate folded cloth, so the metal reads as fabric from the viewing distance of a shrine.
Chhatraalso chatra, chhatri, parasol, canopy, umbrella: A chhatra is the parasol or canopy held above a deity idol, an ancient Indian mark of sovereignty and protection. In a shrine it is mounted on a stem behind or above the murti and completes the composition that the mukut begins.; See chhatra we make →
Singhasanalso simhasan, sinhasan, throne, deity throne: A singhasan is the throne a deity idol is seated on, its name meaning 'lion seat'. Silver singhasan are built as a frame with a chased back panel and are sized to the base of the specific murti they will hold.; See singhasan we make →
Haaralso har, deity necklace, idol necklace: A haar is the necklace of a deity's aangi, framing the chest of the idol. It is the piece that usually sets the motif for the rest of the set, because it carries the largest uninterrupted area of chasing.
Shringaralso sringar, shringaar, deity decoration, laddu gopal shringar: Shringar is the act and the art of adorning a deity — dressing, ornamenting and decorating the idol as a form of devotional service. The ornaments themselves are the aangi; shringar is what is being done with them.; See shringar we make →
Murtialso murthi, idol, deity idol, vigraha: A murti is a consecrated image or idol of a deity, the form worshipped in a Hindu or Jain shrine. Every ornament we make is cut to a particular murti's measurements, because no two idols of the same deity are the same size.

Ritual articles

Aartialso arti, aarati: Aarti is the ritual of offering light to a deity, performed by circling a lit lamp before the idol. The silver thali, diya and bell used in it are the articles most often replaced or re-polished, because they are handled daily.; See aarti we make →
Abhishekalso abhishekam, abhisheka: Abhishek is the ritual bathing of a deity idol with water, milk, honey or ghee. It is why silver ornaments for a shrine have to be removable and why the metal is polished rather than lacquered — a sealed finish would not survive being washed daily.
Puja thalialso pooja thali, aarti thali, puja plate: A puja thali is the tray that holds the articles of worship — lamp, bell, incense, kumkum and offerings — carried before the deity during a ritual. Silver thali sets are made as a matched group so every piece on the tray shares one engraving.; See puja thali we make →
Toranalso torana, door hanging, doorway garland: A toran is the decorative hanging fixed above a doorway or a shrine opening, marking the threshold as auspicious. Silver torans are made as a pierced strip with drops, scaled to the width of the mandir door they will hang over.

Jewellery

Jhumkaalso jhumki, jumka, bell earrings: A jhumka is a bell-shaped drop earring, one of the oldest and most recognisable Indian earring forms. The dome is raised from sheet metal and the fringe of beads or drops around its rim is what gives it movement.; See jhumka we make →
Payalalso paayal, anklet, pajeb, jhanjhar: A payal is an anklet worn in pairs, usually in silver rather than gold by long-standing custom across much of India. They are made to an ankle measurement and are normally the first silver a child is given.
Mangalsutraalso mangalsutr, thali chain, marriage necklace: A mangalsutra is the necklace a Hindu woman receives at marriage, traditionally strung with black beads. Silver mangalsutra are made in the same forms as gold ones and are often worn as a daily alternative to a heavier gold piece.; See mangalsutra we make →
Kadaalso kara, bangle, rigid bracelet: A kada is a rigid bangle, worn singly or in pairs by both men and women. Because it does not open, it is sized by the widest part of the hand rather than the wrist, which is the measurement we ask for.

Metal & finish

925 sterling silveralso sterling silver, 925 silver, standard silver: 925 sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% other metal, usually copper, added because pure silver is too soft to hold a form. It is the standard for jewellery and for ornaments that are handled, and the '925' stamp is what states it.; See 925 sterling silver we make →
999 fine silveralso fine silver, pure silver, 99.9% silver: 999 fine silver is silver of 99.9% purity, soft enough to mark with a fingernail and therefore used for coins, bars and articles that are stored rather than worn. Investment coins and bars are 999; jewellery and ornaments are not.; See 999 fine silver we make →
Hallmarkalso hallmarking, BIS hallmark, purity mark: A hallmark is an official mark struck into a precious-metal article certifying its purity, administered in India by the Bureau of Indian Standards. It is the buyer's only independent proof of what the metal actually is, as distinct from what the seller says it is.
Chasingalso repoussé, repousse, hand chasing, hand-worked silver: Chasing is the technique of shaping a design into sheet metal by hammering it with punches from the front, usually paired with repoussé, which raises the same design from behind. It is how a flat silver sheet becomes a crown, and it is done entirely by hand — no mould is involved.
Tarnishalso silver tarnish, black silver, oxidation: Tarnish is the dark surface film that forms when silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air; it is a surface change, not damage, and the metal underneath is unaffected. It is removed by polishing, and it returns faster in humid air and near camphor and incense smoke.; See tarnish we make →
Rhodium platingalso rhodium finish, white plating, anti-tarnish plating: Rhodium plating is a microscopically thin layer of rhodium applied over silver to give a bright white finish that resists tarnish. It wears off with handling over a few years and is reapplied during a service rather than being permanent.
Oxidised finishalso oxidized silver, antique finish, blackened silver: An oxidised finish is tarnish applied deliberately and then polished back off the raised surfaces, so the recesses stay dark and the design reads with more depth. It is a decorative choice, which is why an oxidised piece should never be cleaned as if it had tarnished by accident.

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