The Importance Of Metal In The Indian Culture

If there is any culture that is vast as the sky, and as deep as the ocean, it’s the Indian culture. With numerous intricacies and stories, there is something associated with literally everything - every single ritual has a deep-rooted meaning, and every element of a ritual tells a story of its own.

Samskara aims at keeping our rich and diverse culture flourishing, and brings to you the most unique and beautiful traditional elements. 

Since time immemorial, metal has been an inseparable part of our lives. Whether we talk about men showing their machismo making tools, or women adorning themselves with glittery jewellery, the significance of metal is seen everywhere. Especially when it comes to religious and spiritual matters, certain metals take the center stage. Right from the idols of deities, to the mangalsutra we wear – metal plays a vital role. Principally, metals like gold, silver and brass are considered the most auspicious metals from a spiritual perspective. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most important metals in the Indian culture:

·       Brass:

The combination of copper and zinc gives us brass and the main reason for choosing copper was its abundance during the ancient times. The spiritual association of zinc with Venus is believed to bestow certain characters in people, such as creativeness, coherence and charisma. Our ancestors thus started using brass for worship, and made idols using the holy metal. Thus, originated the brass pooja items, which we can see in every household even today. Additionally, our Vedas and Puranas also restrain us from using metals like iron and aluminum for spiritual purposes, as these metals are believed to be non-absorbent of sound waves that would emanate in the form of slokas and chants, and thus cannot absorb nor spring forth spiritual sanctifications. 

Our Vedic texts have time and again mentioned that brass attracts positive energy, and brings profusion in life. Brass objects symbolize the divine beings, which is another reason why people light brass diyas during festivals, and some even on a daily basis. What is really great about brass is that it can be used not only for doing poojas and other spiritual activities, but also to beautify the walls of homes in the form of wall hangings, decorative mirrors and more. 

Samskara’s exclusive collection of exceptional pooja essentials such as idols, metal pooja thali, urli, and diyas are made of pure brass, thus imbibing pure and divine feelings in your hearts.

·       Silver:

Silver is yet another auspicious metal, which has kept us fascinated since time immemorial. Silver is used in jewellery, spiritual activities as well as making utensils and such, but mostly, it is preferred to make jewellery, given its shine and malleability. Interestingly, there are many Indians, especially Hindus, who believe that gold should not be worn below the waist. That’s the reason why waistbands (kamarbandh or oddiyanam), anklets and toe rings are mostly made of silver. Even today, people in Indian villages and tribal areas consider silver to be a status symbol, and prefer this metal to wear for auspicious occasions.

Silver is believed to denote protection from magic and dark energies; representing Luna or Moon, silver also embodies femininity, maternity and emotional cycles. Scientifically, the moon reflects the light it receives from the Sun, thus some believe it symbolizes responses and reactions.  Some also believe that silver has the tendency to alter negative emotions, fight bad dreams, and channel positive energy. That is why mostly silver kalash are used during spiritual activities such as Pooja or Havan. 

When you visit Samskara, you will find many Pooja articles such as aarti thalis, white metal pooja set, decorative pieces and idols of gods and goddesses in silver. These items will definitely boost the levels of positivity in your home and create divine consciousness in your heart!

·       Gold:

There is no denial that gold is considered the most preferred metal to wear for auspicious occasions by women all across the world. Even men wear gold chains, rings and bracelets, and some even consider gold as their lucky metal. Significance of gold in Indian culture is pretty deep rooted, enthralling people from across the country with its beauty and charisma. Any special event of our life – starting from a baby’s tonsuring and ear-piercing ceremony, puberty function to wedding, gold is an integral part of every ritual. Traditionally, gold is the metal that men and women wear for auspicious occasions.

From a spiritual point of view as well, gold is considered very important. According to Vedic scriptures, gold is believed to have purifying properties. Gold is associated with goddess Lakshmi – symbolizes wealth, prosperity and success. It also represents good health, opulence, and femininity. Most of the temples have idols of worship made of gold, or at least decorated with gold ornaments. In many affluent families, offering gold to deities or using gold for making a metal pooja thali set during religious activities is a tradition, as a gesture of their gratitude and devotion. Dhanteras and Akshaya Tritiya are just a few days when purchase of gold is considered even more auspicious.

The significance of metals in Indian culture has a history as old as the country itself, which is why, if you were to ever read through the pages of history, you would find several new stories and rituals associated. Do you know any interesting stories related to auspicious metals – write in to us!