Chudamani Pradhanam – Jewelry and identity

Rāmayanam is a Hindu epic that details the life history of King Rāma of Ayodhya, his brothers, his wife Sītā and their trials and tribulations. Chudamani or Cūḍāmaṇi Pradhanam is an episode in the Sundara Kāṇḍa section of Rāmayana which presents the messenger Hanumān as the hero.

The story thus far

Rāma, his wife Sītā and his half-brother Lakshmanā live their lives peacefully in exile. However, one day, Sītā is abducted by Rāvanā, the King of Lanka and flown to his island capital. Rāma and Lakshmanā are furious when they find Sītā missing. As they go looking for her, they come across Jaṭāyuḥ, a dying vulture, who informs them that it was Rāvanā who abducted Sītā and gravely injured him when he tried to stop Rāvanā.

However, Jaṭāyuḥ passes on before telling them the direction in which Rāvanā went. Not knowing how and where to look for her they wander the forests. They then meet Sugrīva, a monkey king in exile and his troop of monkeys. The monkeys bring an assortment of jewels that they claim fell from the sky to the brothers. Lakshmanā identifies Sītā’s anklets and realize that Sītā’ had thrown them creating a trail. Rāma helps Sugrīva win his rightful claim to his throne. In return Sugrīva promises to help Rāma in getting Sītā back.

Rāma’s ring – an Identity marker

As the first step, the monkeys propose to send their general, Hanumān as a scout and messenger to verify where Sītā is held in Lanka. Rāma gives his signet ring to Hanumān appointing him as his representative. He is to meet Ravana and inform him to give back Sita. If he refused he would perish in a great war.

Hanumān flies over land and sea to reach Lanka. At Lanka, Hanumān comes across a beautiful woman living in utter misery in Ashokanvana – a grove filled with Ashoka trees. To calm her, he narrates the story of Sītā and Rāma. Sītā is shocked to hear the monkey speak and assumes it to be a trick of Rāvanā. Hanumān introduces himself as Rāma’s messenger. He gives Rāma’s signet ring to Sītā as proof of identity.

Chudamani Pradhānam

The ring brings up many memories. The hands of her beloved husband, his soft touch, and how he would hold her hands as they walked in the forest together. Hanumān offers to take her back. She refuses, stating that she will wait for her husband. Instead, she gives him her hair jewel, chudamani (Cūḍāmaṇi), as his proof of having met her.

Chudamani, was an ornament worn at the back of the head, to embellish a hair bun while keeping the head covering in place. As a married woman who kept her head covered, it was likely that only her husband or her parents or in-laws would identify it. Giving away jewelry that serves as a marital sign denoted her state of mind. The separation felt like death and that she longed to be reunited with her husband.

Hanumān tries to negotiate with Rāvanā to secure Sītā’s release in which he fails. Further, he takes revenge on the Lanka as people watched when his tail was lit on fire. Having caused enough damage to the city, Hanumān flies back to Rāmā, reports that he has seen Sītā and listens to the story of the origins of the Chudamani. Rāmā clutches the crest jewel close to his heart, imagining as though he was holding his wife in his arms. That image would carry him through the epic and gruesome war that he would go on to fight.

The Origins of Chudamani (Cūḍāmaṇi)

There are two popular origin stories for the chudamani.

In Valmiki Ramayana, the chudamani is described as a crest jewel that emerged in celestial waters and was presented to Indrā, who was the god of thunder. It was worn by his wife, Sāchi for long. Centuries later, Indrā gifts it to King Janaka, Sītā’s adoptive father, who in turn gives it to Sītā on her wedding day.

In another origin story, the Chudamani was one of the jewels that emerged from the Samudra Manthan (the epic churning of the Ocean of Milk) along with Aditi’s earrings. It was gifted to Lord Viṣṇu who in turn gifted it to his wife Lakshmi when he married her. However, Indra, who was the god of thunder desired the Chudamani for his wife, Sāchi. Therefore, he requested Viṣṇu to part with the hair jewel and it was worn by Sāchi as a talisman that brought prosperity. Centuries later, King Dasarathā (Rama’s father) helps Indrā battle the demon Shambarasur. As a symbol of gratitude, Indrā gives Dasarathā the hair jewel who in turn gifts it to one of his three wifes – queen Kaikeiyi, who presents it to Sītā on her wedding day.

References

Raghunathan, R. 2007. “Choodamani Pradanam.” Srimad Ramayana. April 26, 2007. http://srimadramayana.blogspot.com/2007/04/choodamani-pradanam.html.
Smith, H Daniel, ed. 1981. Picture Book Ramayana: An Illustrated Version of Valmiki’s Story (Foreign and Comparative Studies). Syracuse, New York: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
Valmiki, Maharishi. “Sundara Kanda.” Chapter 5. In Valmiki Ramayana. https://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/utf8/sundara/sundara_contents.htm.

Note

All stories have been collected from various sources, including oral histories and temple histories and compiled to form one narrative. Hence, there may be differences from the master narrative. The project hopes only to be a curator of stories and not an expert on history, religion and iconography.