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Ornaments are generally called by several names such as 叠丑奴峁�a峁嘺, 膧产丑补谤补峁嘺, 惭补峁囜笉补苍补 and 础濒补峁卥腻谤补. 叠丑奴峁�a峁嘺yojana (The wearing of ornament) was considered an art^[1]. The exact shape or size of an ornament is not specified in any literary work. So it is difficult to understand whether they were synonyms or were of different characteristics. So we can only infer the pattern on the basis of their names. Basically, Bharata classifies ornaments into four-膧惫别诲测补 (To be pierced), 叠补苍诲丑补苍墨测补 (To be tied), K峁�epya (To be put upon) and 膧谤辞辫测补 (To be worn round the neck)^[2].

惭腻苍补蝉腻谤补 (惭腻苍补蝉腻谤补) groups ornaments in another way depending on the status of the wearer^[3]. They are鈥�

1. Patrakalpa:鈥擮rnaments of divinities, decorated with leaf patterns on it.

2. Citrakalpa:鈥擮rnaments having floral patterns prescribed for sovereigns and celestials.

3. Ratnakalpa:鈥擱atnakalpa is meant for 础诲丑颈谤腻箩补蝉 and Narendras. They are made out of jewels and flowers.

4. 惭颈艣谤颈迟补:鈥擶orn by all.

Both of the above mentioned classifications (Seen in 惭腻苍补蝉腻谤补 and 狈腻峁瓂补艣腻蝉迟谤补), include ornaments from head to feet. Some of these are discussed below in detail.

Head Ornaments

Head ornaments in general are those adorning the head, which include ornaments for forehead, crest, and hair. Though these ornaments are usually worn by kings and other royal personalities, some sort of head ornaments were worn by ordinary people also. They were made of metals, sometimes inlaid with precious stones. Flowers also were employed in their finishing. Head ornaments were known by various names some of them are鈥� [...]

Ear Ornaments

Sufficient references are found for numerous models of ear ornaments. Earnings, ear tops and ear drops form part of ear ornaments. They were fashioned from metals, jewels, flowers and sprouts. Various methods were in vouge regarding their mode of wearing. A number of words are used to indicate ear ornaments. Some of them are as follows.鈥擺...]

Nose Ornaments

Specific mentions of nose ornaments are rare. But in some places, the term Vesara is used to indicate them.

Neck Ornaments

Numerous variety of neck ornaments are referred to in our literature. They were made of many materials and were called by several names. Some of them are.鈥擺...]

Hand Ornaments

Usually hand ornaments are of two types -armlets and wrist lets. Armlets are worn on the upper arms, while wristlets are for wrist, which are either bangles or bands tied round the wrist. They are made of gold, beeds, ivory, conch, glass and precious stones. Plain types or those modelled after different motifs at the end were in vogue. Men and women wear this ornament alike. Wearing this ornament was considered auspicious by women. A number of words are used to indicate hand ornaments. Some of them are鈥擺...]

Finger Ornaments

The ornaments decorating the fingers were generally known as A峁単ul墨bh奴峁�a峁嘺. It is a subject of reference in most of the works ranging from Vedas. Rings of various designs and of various materials were in vogue. Though the finger ornaments are small in shape, they have greater importance. Like today, presenting rings was considered as a token of love by both the sexes. They were known by several names in different periods.

Waist Ornaments

Jaghanavibh奴峁�a峁嘺 is the general name given to the ornaments worn on the hip or waist. It was used as an embellishment as well as a method to keep the lower garment in position. Though girdles were worn by both men and women, they were more popular among women. Various metals, jewels, precious stones and grass were employed in making girdles. Girdles were of either one or more than one string. Plenty of references are seen in the literature ranging from Vedas about girdles. They were known by different names, and were different in their features. Some of the types mentioned are鈥擺...]

Leg Ornaments

Leg ornaments chiefly consist of two types -worn on ankles and on toes. The practice of wearing anklets and toe-rings was prevalent from Vedic period onwards. They were indicated by different words鈥擺...]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

碍腻尘补蝉奴迟谤补, I.13-16

[2]:

XXI.12-13

[3]:

Chapter 50, vv.5-12