jayasartn4240 scribbled: Shree keshav, Mangalya dharanam was not there. But Mangal abharaN worn around the neck had been there. This has been brought out in the later part of the article based on Adhi shankara's Soundharya Lahiri. But it was one among many other jewels. The jewel worn around the neck had been tacitly mentioned in astrology as the Naadi koota - the absence of which is said to result in the death of the husband. Varahmihira says that among the koota-matching factors, matching of the naadi koota is like the head of all kootas. He further says, "Brahmana kanyaka kantha sutratwena vinirimitam.." It means that Lord Brahma has designated the naadi koota as the sacred thread around the neck of the bride. The thread can be a protecting thread or a strangulating rope. Today Naadi koota has been replaced by Rajju -which means rope. All these have been explained in the article. With uncertainty in longevity in times of Kali, the symbolism of longevity connected to mangal abharaN seems to have been perpetuated by a distinct rite called Mangalya dharanam. This rite was not there until 1000 years ago.