The jewellers of Nilavala
by ASIFF HUSSEIN
There could hardly be imagined a more beautiful sight than a Kandyan lady wearing her embroidered bodice covered with a sari of old Indian brocade, bare-footed, and covered with delicate tinkling chains and pendants, rings and bracelets, of which profusion one feels that nothing could be spared. – Ananda Coomaraswamy
Traditional Kandyan jewellery like Agasti Mala, Hansa Puttu valalu, Lunu Mal karabu, ridi havadi and padagam are turned out here using age old methods and designs in a variety likely to captivate the heart of any Kandyan damsel.
Origin
The legendary origins of Nilavala are as colourful as the jewellery it produces. Nilavala, according to an elderly native of the village, Ratnavalli Navaratna Abharana Gedara Vijeratna was founded by a Brahman named Nila Narayana.
Vijeratna’s family gained esteem when one of his ancestors was conferred a high-sounding titular name and given lands by a Kandyan king of yore. The story goes that the king who was travelling from Kandy to Hanguranketa on horseback had sought shelter in the house of the jeweller after his horse had broken its legs and could take him no further.
The king, having made his way to the house amidst dense forest was given a mat and told to sleep outside by the woman of the house as her man was away at the time.
The jeweller having arrived, recognised the sleeping figure to be that of the king and quickly made a gem-set ring which he surreptitiously placed on the person of his king. The following morning the king found his way to the palace and ordered that the jeweller be brought to court.
The jeweller was also given 999 acres of land by the king which was subsequently taken over by the government some time ago.
Rare ornament
Vijeratna turns out some wonderful pieces of silver jewellery like the havadi or waist chain worn with the osariya or Kandyan sari, koral male necklace worn by aristocratic Kandyan dames comprising spherical silver filigree beads known as kasa gedi, pattan gedi and coral, agasti male made of red agasti stone and silver filigree chains, an ornate inch-wide silver bangle known as tuna bandi sari valalla and a similar silver bangle engraved with the forms of two swans and set with gems known as hansa puttu valalla. Vijeratna also manufactures a very rare Kandyan ornament known as the botupetta, a disc-like silver pendent set with a jewel in the middle and suspended from the neck with a black thread.
This ornament we were told was worn by Kandyan women over a century ago at the time of their marriage, a practice known as botupetta-bandinava. Besides silver jewellery, Vijeratna also manufactures gold jewellery and brass items and supplies to Laksala and other handicraft shops. He also has several certificates to his credit. One of his more notable creations is a miniature giraya and heppuva made of silver, no doubt the smallest in the world. Vijeratna learnt his trade from his father who in turn learnt it from his father. He has two sons Ariyaratna and Mahinda who are continuing the good work and would hopefully pass it on to posterity.
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