All you need to know about temple jewellery - the most prized piece of a woman's wedding costume

Jewellery enhances the look of the person who dons it. It is said that an Indian bride isn’t completely dressed until she adds a prized piece of temple jewellery to her look.  

Of late, women including top actresses flaunt temple jewellery to raise their style quotient. Mouni Roy donned a beautiful red Banarasi drape for the occasion and accessorised the look with rich temple jewellery.

It not only adds glamour but also a status symbol as these expensive pieces of jewellery cannot be owned by everyone.  In its most basic form, this type of jewellery is made from gold or silver, without any gemstones or diamonds. But what is more interesting is the history of temple jewellery which dates to the 9th century AD. 

Temple jewellery is the most favoured accessory on special days like weddings. It adds that special touch of traditional grace. No matter how trendy you are, you will keep looking at your wedding pictures again and again. 

A traditional saree combined with temple jewellery lets you feel no less than a beautiful painting on your D-day. Head gears, armlets, kangan, nathni, chokers, kamarbandh, maang tika, you can get them all in temple jewellery. 

In fact, temple jewellery lends a royal look. True to its name, temple jewellery evokes art, mythology, divinity and temple culture over the centuries making it a class apart.

Temple ornaments are believed to have originated during the reign of Chola and Pandya dynasties in south India. Initially, this kind of jewellery was made out of precious metal donations made to temples, and was meant to be reserved for adorning deities and royals. Subsequently, temple dancers and devotees started using replicas of such jewellery in their daily life with jewellers drawing inspiration from temple architecture, history and the beauty of deities. 

Now, temple jewellery has become fashion craze among to-be brides in particular. Bollywood divas also had hands on temple jewellery at their real-life weddings. Have a look at them...

Vidya Balan kept her look traditionally South Indian and was decked in intricate gold temple jewellery. Her neckpieces were understated yet resplendent, and the matching earrings flattered her look further.

Esha Deol completed her bridal look with beautiful gold jewellery and looked pretty in her heavy Kanjeevaram saree. Since she had a temple-style wedding, she chose temple jewellery designs keeping the traditional theme in mind.

No other bride who could have looked as breathtakingly beautiful as Bipasha Basu did on her wedding day. The actress dazzled in her royal temple jewellery. She wore a Kundan and polki neckpiece, which was studded with green emeralds. Enhancing and topping up was her maang teeka, nose ring with a string and jhumkas.

Anushka dazzled in jaw-dropping antique jewellery pieces at her wedding. Anushka Sharma wore Sabyasachi Mukherjee designed matha patti, layered necklaces and jhumkas made in temple design style. Yes, there is no doubt about the fact that the statement pieces are giving us serious jewellery envy.