My fascination with Chhedi ka Jantar, a picture jewellery amulet began a few months ago, when a piece was listed for sale on the Virtual souk run by Sarah Corbett. Listed at 360 pounds, it was way beyond what I could spend on a whim. Though I had seen pictures of it in Oppi Untracht’s Traditional jewelry of India, I had not really thought much about it until that listing. When it did not sell, I was secretly glad. Then I came across similar objects in Susan Stronge’s Jewels of India as Chhedi ka Jantar. My desire to own one grew.
Jantar
Until recently, the word Jantar reminded me of Jantar Mantar – the Equinoctial sundial and an assemblage of ancient astronomical instruments at Jaipur and New Delhi in India. However, the word “Jantar” means device and refers to yantra which could be a diagram, tool, device, or method. Jantar is also a commonly used word for amulet. My speculation is that a jantar, as a device used to study the cosmos and understand it, could be imbued with mythical, even magical properties.
Chhedi ka Jantar
Chhed means a hole, a notch, or a hollow. Chhedi ka jantar is a type of hollow amulet in which an image protected by glass, can be inserted. It has a cut frame that looks like a window. Through the window or what resembles a doorway, you get the “Darshan” of the deity inside. This made them religious amulets and portable shrines. The deity would be painted on paper or vellum and protected by glass tiles. The Tiles and image are encased in a silver box amulet with a plain back and decorated with small silver bells – gunghroos or balls on the sides. In more expensive versions, the balls will be looped very close together to make it look like a beaded tube. At other times, it would be suspended in clusters to show off the granulation and other decorative work done on them. Typically the pendant is dye stamped. But there are also versions that are chased and have micro repousse work. Manual die stamping is carried out even today in India and is considered handwork. The pendant will have multiple bails on top.
Darshan
While the word darshan indicates sight and the positioning of sight over all other senses in the experience of the divine, Darshan as a practice is slightly different. Yes, we see the deity, who is adorned who in turn looks at us to see how we live. How the worshippers who are praying for more, use what they already have. While the line of sight between the deities and the worshipers is clearly maintained, darshan is not just about sight, but an overall sensorial experience of being in the presence of the divine.
Pilgrim Pendants
Several jewellery historians and collectors refer to these pendants as ‘Pilgrim pendants.” There may be two reasons behind the name. Some researchers claim the pendants were worn as necklaces for their amuletic properties or were hand-carried using a short-chain. Either way, they were portable shrines, to be worshipped during travel. Others claim that such pendants were available for purchase along with other religious icons and items outside temples. As the image in the pendant would be in the likeliness of the main deity at the temple and the pendant would be purchased as a keepsake and taken back home to be worshipped by family members who could not visit the temple. The latter practice still continues to some extent with religious icons and photos. While I have seen (and bought) religious charms and pendants outside temples, I have never seen them being used for worship. International Art and jewellery collector and seller, Michael Backman Ltd has a whole host of Chhedi ka Jantar necklaces and pendants from the late 19th century-early 20th century Rajasthan. Ethnoarte has a stunning gold variation of Chhedi ka jantar.
An amulet for sale
Coming back to my story, last week the Chhedi ka Jantar went on sale at 250 pounds. It was still too much of a stretch for me. I am extremely indecisive, to begin with and would 10 times before buying a T-shirt for 250 INR. Imagine how many times I would think before buying something for 25,500 INR. Also, I do have mixed feelings about buying and wearing used jewellery, particularly amulets. On one hand, antique and even vintage pieces are quite lovely and have so much history. On the other hand, the Indian Hindu in me is worried about the Karma of the wearers that objects carry. More so in the case of amulets which carry remnants of both positive and negative energy in them. Therefore, I typically shy away by buying any old jewellery with amulets in them. Still, I was fascinated by the jantar.
I kept thinking and thinking and thinking until I saw the “Sold” notification go up. On one hand, I was relieved that a decision was made for me. On the other hand, I felt bad.
Was it an object of unsurpassed beauty? No! Was it an example of exquisite Indian craftsmanship? Not really! Then why did that object stir up so many thoughts and emotions in me, I wondered. In the end, I realised that it was more than an object. It was a signifier that signified the attainment of my goals. I had just started to research picture jewellery and was fascinated by amulets, a category that I hadn’t really paid attention to in the past. It signified a new beginning that was buried deep in centuries of Indian jewellery history. It signified accessibility to that history, meaning, and protection that such an amulet was believed to provide.
This slip between the cup and the lip told me that I cannot control everything and that I need to learn to be more decisive. Therefore, I made the decision to write this post. So what if I could not own or wear the object, I could find a place for it in my blog forever.
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
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