Earrings in tamil culture
Earrings have always been a fashion in tamil nadu . As per sangam literature and other inscriptions both men and women adorned themselves with earrings . Ancient literature refers earrings as thodu , thodal , thongattam , pambadam , kuzhai , kundalam and kaathanai . MEN Men had their ear piercing ceremony during their first birthdays. Men wore special ring like earrings and stones . Some rich men like kings or merchants wore long earrings made of many jewels like gold pearl , silver , lapis lazuli etc . Some community wore earrings made of conch shells , pearls . Lord mahavishnu is said to be wearing makarakundalam ( makara is a demonic fish like creature ) and hence called as makaranedunkuzhaikadhan . Lord shivan is said to be wearing pure white shells as earrings . WOMEN Women had different types of earrings . EARLOBE ORNAMENTS Thodu - normal earring made of gold or silver , with a precious stone at centre . It may be pearl , ruby ...