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 |
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". |
|
|
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
|
|
Kanya Danam (Giving Away of the Daughter)
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. |
|
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." |
|
|
|
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. |
|
Agni Parinaya : The Circumambulation of the
Fire
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!" |
|
|
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)
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. |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you! We appreciate your feedback!