History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c34.s1.7

v1.c34.s1.7

*Necklaces or Kaṇṭha-bhuṣaṇa*: The necklace seems to have been the most popular ornament amongst men and women in ancient India. The necklaces were made of gold, beads, pearls and other precious stones. Kauṭilya in his *Arthaśāstra* has mentioned a large variety of necklaces, including their characteristics and names (Shamasastry, 1923-24). The necklaces were generally composed of numerous strings, popularly, known as *Yaṣṭi* and the central part of it was adorned with a large gem, called *nāyakamani*. A necklace comprising of gold coins was named as *Niṣka*, which was also the name of a gold coin (Apte, 1965).