| Hindu Wedding Rituals13 Steps of a Vedic Marriage CeremonyWhile various regional steps are followed by different sects of Hindus across India, the following 13 steps form the core of a Vedic wedding ceremony:
- Vara Satkaarah - Reception of the bridegroom and his
kinsmen at the entrance gate of the wedding hall where the officiating priest
chants a few mantras and the bride's mother blesses the groom with rice and
trefoil and applies tilak of vermilion and turmeric powder.
- Madhuparka Ceremony - Reception of the bridegroom at the altar
and bestowing of presents by the bride's father.
- Kanya Dan - The bride's father gives away his daughter to
the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantras.
- Vivah-Homa - The sacred fire ceremony ascertaining that all
auspicious undertakings are begun in an atmosphere of purity and spirituality.
- Pani-Grahan - The groom takes the right hand of the bride
in his left hand and accepts her as his lawfully wedded wife.
- Pratigna-Karan - The couple walk round the fire, the bride
leading, and take solemn vows of loyalty, steadfast love and life-long fidelity
to each other.
- Shila Arohan - The mother of the bride assists her
to step onto a stone slab and counsels her to prepare herself for a new life.
- Laja-Homah - Puffed rice offered as oblations into the sacred
fire by the bride while keeping the palms of her hands over those of the groom.
- Parikrama or Pradakshina or Mangal Fera
- The couple circles the sacred fire seven times. This aspect of the ceremony
legalizes the marriage according to the Hindu Marriage Act as well custom.
- Saptapadi - Marriage knot symbolized by tying one end of
the groom's scarf with the bride's dress. Then they take seven steps representing
nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, long life and harmony
and understanding, respectively.
- Abhishek - Sprinkling of water, meditating on the sun and
the pole star.
- Anna Praashan - The couple make food offerings into
the fire then feed a morsel of food to each other expressing mutual love and
affection.
- Aashirvadah - Benediction by the elders.
|
|