Why do married Hindu women wear toe rings?

Significance of Metti (toe ring) in Hinduism

Wearing of TOE RINGS is highly practiced in India. It is worn as a symbol of married state by Hindu women and is called Bichiya (pronounced: bee-chee-ya) in Hindi, Mettelu in Telugu, Metti in Tamil & Kalungura in Kannada. Toe rings (also known as bichwa) are a must for married Hindu woman. Tradition of wearing toe rings carries tremendous social significance for married women in India.Both Hindu's and Muslim Women wear these Toe rings, as a symbol of Married state. They are usually made of silver and worn in pairs on the second toe of both feet.Why they use only Silver and Why Not gold? 'Bichiyas' may not be made of gold, as gold holds a 'respected' status and may not be worn below the waist. Indians especially Hindus believe that gold is the metal of the God Lakshmi Devi, The Goddess of Wealth, and therefore they consider it inappropriate to wear gold below the waist. In the olden days both married women and men wear toe rings and at that time girls were never allowed to walk with her head held up high, thus it is believed when she sees a man wearing a toe ring she will know that he is married and would not try and court him or make any advancements.

Scientific and Ayurvedic Reason:

Some Men frequently wore a ring on the big toe for curative purposes or to augment their masculine vigor.Wearing toe ring to the second toe has sexual/erotic effect.The reflexology texts also mention about treating gynecological problems by massaging the second toe.There is also a belief that the wearing of toe rings press on certain nerves that pertain to the reproductive system, keeping it in balance and healthy.Ancient Ayurvedic medicine has long been used along side acupressure.Indians believe that your "prana" or "life force" must be in balance in order for you to stay healthy. All of the paths of your "prana" run down to your toes, so the idea that a marital symbol could double up as a reproductive enhancer is not a big stretch.By wearing this in both feet, it is believed, that their menstrual cycle course is regularized with even intervals. This gives good scope for conceiving to married women.Also it is said just because that particular nerve in the second finger from toe, also connects the uterus and passes through heart. Because of this, the constant friction caused while walking and doing all sorts of chores during a day, it revitalizes the productivity organs.As Silver being a good conductor, it also absorbs the energy from the polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body, thus refreshing whole body system.

EXAMPLE OF A METTI

HUSBAND PUTTING THE "METTI" ON HIS WIFE'S TOE TO SOLEMNISE THE WEDDING