Pendant casket (ayigalu)

The egg-shaped pendant casket (ayigalu) crafted from gold and set with diamonds in diagonal lines around the case with rows of cabochon rubies around the top and the bottom. Set in the middle of the diamonds on one side of the casket is a gandaberunda or double-headed eagle motif in emeralds and rubies and on the other side is a flower set with the nine celestial gems or navaratna. On top of the lid there is a minuscule emerald Shiva lingam set within a gold snake hood. The two sides of the casket with rectangular attachments set with ruby and diamond flowers on which the cover slides on a thick twisted gold chain to open the interlocking lids. A rock-crystal lingam would have reposed inside.

The casket is designed to hold a portable sacred Shiva lingam. The ayigalu, usually of silver is a sacred amulet worn by members of the Lingayat community in Karnataka. The presence of the gandaberunda or double-headed eagle – emblem of the Wodeyar royal house of Mysore on the present example implies that this was a royal jewel.