Heritage Kanjivaram Silk Sarees from Angadi Silks Bangalore
Heritage Kanjivaram Silk Sarees from Angadi Silks Bangalore
As the legend has it, the finest master weavers of Kanchipuram are the descendants of Sage Markendeya, who wove the first of the finest silk fabric from the Lotus fiber given to him by Lord Maha Vishnu. Belonging to this lineage is believed to be the stamp of acceptance from the Lord himself to weave the finest silks for all, including his idol in the temples.
Kanchipuram, the illustrious city, much known for its 1000 temples and silk saris, gained eminence during the reign of Krishnadeveraya, a 16th Century emperor of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. It is during this period that weaving communities are believed to have migrated here from present day Telengana or Andra Pradesh.
Saris from these region are characterized by use of heavily plied yarn with Gold and Silver zaris woven in perfect harmony with silk yarns sourced from Karnataka and Surat. The architecture of the surrounding temples and legendary epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana were source of infinite inspiration to the weavers inspiring them enough to create intricate motifs and weaves that are treasured by silks connoisseurs and their generations to come.
With a legacy of over 600 years of weaving the finest silks, the Angadi Silks located in Bangalore recreates traditional signature Kanjivaram weaves and Motifs such as Malli moggu or the jasmine bud design, coin butta, mango or paisley. The stripes and checks, the veldhari (representing the spear of Lord Murugan), neli (a type of finger ring), aathi vazhai (horizontal stripes); the different kind of multi-coloured checks, ranging from kottadi or small zari checks, vaira oosi (diamond needles), and muthu kattam to larger checks called papli are very special designs. The geometric precision of a Kanjivaram can be seen in a muppagam or arai pagam sari; muppagam, means three parts and arai pagam means two parts.
In addition to the checks and lines series, Angadi Silks in Bangalore produces some of the finest handloom silk saris, reviving motifs such as Yali (a mythical creature), mythical birds such as Annam, Hamsam, Mayil, Pulli Maan (Exotic dotted deer), Rudhraksham, Gandaperunda (a mythical two headed bird) that are considered exotic and rare.
In Southern communities, traditional muhurtam sari carry a rettai pettu (double row) border to signify auspiciousness, with a preference for white, vermilion, green and yellow hues. Representing the harmonious relationship between the bride and groom, the muthu kattam checks resemble evenly spaced pearls. Featuring the arai maadam (half-diamond, wall lamp niche ), the nine-yard koorai pudavai pettu, which appears uniform in front and reverse, represents the equality of husband and wife.
The unique motifs that decorate the Kanchipuram silk sarees and the rich weaving traditions stand as a testament to the ageless charm and grandeur of the silk.
Each time you wear a sari, it’s like you’re adding a chapter to its story. At Angadi Silks Bangalore, one can find rich intricate weaves of classic handloom Kanjivarams that date back to many centuries but disappeared with late advent of powerloom and jacquard loom. The saris are designed to remind the wearer and onlooker about Kanjivaram’s rich legacy and our art of handloom . Preferred for wedding rituals and special occasions, these masterpiece saris with antique finished border take an ardent place in every Sari a connoisseur’s wardrobe.
