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Mehendi
and Peethi
A day before the wedding the palm and feet
of the bride are decorated with "Mendhi".
A canopy or mandap decorated with flowers
is erected at the place of wedding. On the
wedding morning, various ablutionary rituals
are performed on both the bride and the groom
in their own homes. Their bodies are anointed
with turmeric, sandalwood paste and oils,
which cleanse the body, soften the skin, and
make it aromatic. They are then bathed to
the chanting of Vedic mantras. |
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Laya
(Laja) Homa : The Oblation of Parched Grain
Here the bride offers sacrifice
of food (poured into her hands by her brother
or someone acting in her brother's behalf)
to the Gods for their blessings. "This
grain I spill. May it bring to me wellbeing
and unite you to me. May Agni hear us."
He then asks the bride to spill the grain
into the fire, saying: "This woman scattering
grain into the fire, prays: Blessings on my
husband. May my relatives be prosperous".
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Baarat
(Wedding Procession)
The Bridegroom arrives for
the wedding along with his family and friends
in a procession. They are then received by
the bride's family and friends. |
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Commencement
of Marriage
The priest commences the marriage
under a canopy that is specially decorated
for the ceremony. The priest invokes blessings
of God for the couple to be married. The bride
offers yogurt and honey to the groom as a
token of purity and sweetness. The bride greets
the groom by placing a garland around his
neck and the groom reciprocates. Both are
congratulated by guests. The priest invokes
the memory and blessings of forefathers of
the bride and the groom for this auspicious
occasion. |
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Kanya
Danam
The bride accepts her change
of status from an unmarried woman to a wife
by spreading turmeric powder on her hands.
Kanya Danam is performed by the father (or
uncle of guardian) of the bride in presence
of a large gathering that is invited to witness
the wedding. The father pours out a libation
of sacred water symbolizing the giving away
of the daughter to the bridegroom. The groom
recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the God of love,
for pure love and blessings. As a condition
for offering his daughter for marriage, the
father of the bride requests a promise from
the groom for assisting the bride in realizing
the three ends : dharma, artha, and kama.
The groom makes the promise by repeating three
times that he will not fail the bride in realizing
dharma, artha and kama. |
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Paanigrahana
or Hasta Milap (Holding the Hand)
The bridegroom stands facing
west and the bride sits in front of him facing
east. He seizes her hand and recites Vedic
hymns for happiness, long life, and a lifelong
relationship When the Bridegroom Takes the
Bride's Hand, He Says : "O Sarasvati,
gracious one, rich in off spring, you whom
we hymm first of all the Gods, may you prosper
this marriage. "I seize your hand."
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Vivaaha
(Wedding)
The bride and the bridegroom
face each other, and the priest ties their
garments (the bride's saree to the groom's
shirt) in a knot, symbolizing the sacred union.
The bride and the bridegroom garland each
other and exchange the rings. Next the nuptial
fire, symbolizing the divine witness, and
the sanctifier of the sacrament, is installed
and worshipped. Both the bride and the groom
grasp their hands together and pray to God
for His blessings. Samagree, consisting of
crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee
(clarified butter), and twigs is offered into
the sacred fire to seek God's blessings for
the couple. |
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Agni
Parinaya The bridegroom
holds the bride by the hand and both walk
three times around the nuptial fire. Both
offer oblations and recite appropriate Vedic
hymns to Gods for prosperity, good fortune,
and conjugal fidelity. They touch each others
heart and pray for union of their hearts
and minds While walking around the bridegroom
repeats: "First now they bring to you
in bridal procession this Surya, guiding
her steps in circular motion. Return her
now, O Agni, to her husband as rightful
wife, with hope of children to come."
Then the entire rite is repeated twice more,
beginning with the rite of the fried grain.
At the fourth round she pours into the re
all the fried grain from the mouth of the
winnowing basket saying: "To Bhaga
Svaha!" |
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Asmaarohana
or Shilarohana (Mounting the Stone)
At the end of each round of nuptial
fire, both the bride and the groom step on a stone
and offer a prayer for their mutual love to be firm
and steadfast like the stone.
Satapadi
(Seven Steps) Satapadi (Seven Steps)
This is the most important rite of the entire
ceremony. Here the bride and the bridegroom take
seven steps together around teh nuptial fire (Agni)
and make the following seven promises to each
other :As per the Vedic rituals, the bridegroom
sings the following : With God as Our Guide, Let
Us Take,
* the first step to nourish each other
* the second step to grow together in strength
* the third step to preserve our wealth
* the fourth step to share our joys and sorrows
* the fifth step to care for our children
* the sixth step to be together forever
* the seventh step to remain lifelong friends,
the perfect halves to make a perfect whole. After
the seventh step he makes her remain where she
is and says: "With seven steps we become
friends. Let me reach your friendship. Let me
not be severed from your friendship. Let your
friendship not be severed from me." The Saptapadi
ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union
is indissoluble. At the end of this ceremony,
the bridegroom and bride become husband and wife.
In some communities such as Gujarati, instead
of seven, only four steps, signifying Artha, Dharma,
Kama and Moksha are taken.
Mangal
Sutra Dharana
The Mangala suthra Dharana is the tying of the
thread containing the marks of the Vishnu or Shiva
in the neck of the bride by the groom.
Suhaag
or Sindhoordana
The groom places sindhoor (red powder) on the
bride's hair symbolizing her as a married woman.
Post-Marriage
Game Playing
There are several regional variations to this
ceremony.
Aeki-Beki
In the groom’s house a game called aeki-beki
is played, by placing a ring and several coins
in a tray of water which is colored by vermilion
and milk. It is said that the person who finds
the ring four times, will rule the house.
Talambra
In many South Indian marriages
the rice mixed with the turmeric is poured over
the heads of groom and bride, by bride and groom.
After this there are ceremonies of name calling
singing and other games aimed at the bringing
the bride and the groom closer.
Arundhati
Darshan
Arundhathi Darshana is the showing
of the Saptha Rishi Mandala and the small star
Arundhathi underneath the star of Vashistha. These
seven sages and their families are the originators
of the Vedic Lore of the Hindus. In memoriam of
these great sages the seven stars in the Great
Bear constellation are named after them. The significance
of this ritual is to remind the couple of the
cosmic responsibilities they have to fulfill.
Darshan of these Great Sages is intended to remind
the couple the heritage they have to carry and
the debt to the sages they have to pay.
Dhruva
Darshan - Looking at the Polestar
After sunset he shows her the polar star, saying:
"You are firm and I see you. Be rm with me,
O ourishing one! Brhaspati has given you to me,
so live with me a hundred years bearing children
by me, your husband."
Aashirvaad
The groom's parents bless the
couple and offer cloth or flower to the bride
(now their daugher-in-law), symbolizing her joining
of the groom's family. All those assembled shower
flowers on the couple and bless them completing
the marriage.
Grahapravesha - Entering the Home
The couple depart from the girl’s
house after the vidai , for the groom’s
house. They carry behind the couple the sacred
fire in a vessel. They should keep the fire constantly
alight. When they reach his house, he says: "Enter
with your right foot. Do not remain outside."
The bride enters the home placing the right foot
- considered auspicious, first. When the bride
and the groom enter the groom's house, the mother
of the groom welcomes the bride by doing an arati.
They sit silently until the stars are visible.
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