Van Gelder Indian Jewellery - Vangelderjewellery.com

The middle pendant depicts the name
of Shrinathji, an incarnation of the
Hindu god Vishnu, on one side. The
script is in Devanagari characters
Vishnu is one of the three gods in the
great Hindu trinity. The other gods
are Shiva and Brahma. Shiva is the
destroyer, Brahma represents creation
and Vishnu is the preserver. The name
‘Shrinathji’ is reserved in gold against a
red background, the whole symbolising
a flowering Lotus, surrounded by red
flowers and green leaves, and a bird
on either side. To the left and right are
three pendants, each decorated with
birds perching on a flowering
tree.
On the reverse, the Vishnupada, or
feet of Vishnu, are shown, within a
white circle with a green rim on a blue
ground, representing the primordial
waters.
The feet are adorned with symbols
such as the axe, and the fish, objects
that are connected with episodes in the
mythology of Vishnu.
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This necklace was worn by pilgrims to
the shrine of Shrinathji.
Illustrating Vishnu’s footprints with
objects connected to him is traditional
in Hindu iconography. Pictures of his
footprints are no less revered than
other painted and sculptured images of
Vishnu.
Showing reverence to the feet of a
deity, and elder, a holy man, or someone
of higher status is common practice
in India. An amulet with the feet of
Vishnu around the neck keeps the god
close to the heart and identifies the
wearer as a Vaishnavite, follower