Hindu Wedding

Hindu Wedding Rituals

            Of the 16 samskaras, or milestones, that mark the stages in a person’s life, a very special place is accorded to the ritual of marriage, or vivah samskar. In Hindu Scriptures, man and woman are considered as the two halves of a divine body. Marriage is considered as the divine union of the masculine energy represented as Shiva and the feminine energy represented as Shakti into the form of the supreme Lord for the sustainment of universal creation. Through marriage a person enters the Grihasta Ashrama or the life of a Householder. In Hinduism, marriage is not just perceived as the union of two individuals; rather it is observed as the melding of two souls. The rituals of marriage are conducted by a priest who enunciates the sacred verses in Sanskrit, with the deity Agni as the witness. 

            The Haldi Ceremony is a significant pre-wedding ritual. Haldi paste is made from turmeric, sandalwood and rose water. It is applied on both the bride and groom, in their respective homes, on their face, hands and feet. It is considered an Indian beautification process for the bride and groom before their wedding. 

            Swagat, the first of many rituals that are part of a Hindu Wedding, is the welcoming ceremony of the bride and the groom. By receiving and greeting the bride and groom we welcome Lord Vishnu, as the groom and Devi Lakshmi as the bride. It is believed that in so doing the divine couple comes together once more to sustain the earth - Lord Vishnu with his stability and wisdom and Goddess Lakshmi with her generosity. The bride and groom are greeted with madhuparka, a mixture of curd, honey and ghee. 

            The next is the exchange of garlands, Jai Mala. This is the time for the bride and groom to announce their decision, their acceptance of one another and seal it with a gesture. Just like Sita chose Rama and Draupadi chose Arjuna with a garland, when a woman first places a garland around her chosen groom, the groom can proceed with the wedding ceremony. From pre-Vedic times, this was one of the many ways in which a woman’s right of choice was protected. 

            After the bride and groom have expressed their desire to be companions for life, a beginning is made with the ritual of shilarohan. The term literally means, “stepping on stone.” The bride’s brother places her right foot on a stone. With this gesture, he imparts advice that will stand her in good stead in the days to come. With this the woman agrees to be firm in her loyalty, and be like a rock at her husband’s side. 

            In olden times, it was believed that of all the acts of generosity that a man could perform, the greatest was that of the giving away of his daughter in marriage. This is the Kanyadaan. “Kanya” meaning young girl or maiden and “daan” meaning donation or gift, this ritual translates to “gift of a maiden.” 

            Once the bride and groom have pledged themselves to each other, a scarf fastens their garments together. Three knots tie them securely together as a symbolic gesture of their lifelong commitment to each other. The three knots are an important part of the nuptials and symbolize a multitude of things like the gunas, the three states (human, God and nature) and the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The couple invites Agni as a witness to the marriage ceremony. 

Agni Dev grants permission and the Gods have been appeased. It is time for the groom to claim his bride. He offers her a sacred charm, the mangalsutra. By accepting the chain, the bride grants his request and accepts him as her husband. The groom applies sindoor to the parting of the bride’s hair. The sindoor is not just an expression of vitality and passion but also the sign of Grihalakshmi, the goddess of the household. With the application of sindoor the bride is invited to enter and bless the couple’s home. She is responsible for bringing fullness and joy in all that they do.  

            The most meaningful part of the ceremony is the Saptapadi, the Seven Steps. These are the seven steps taken by the bride and groom together, in the presence of God and the guests. At his marriage ceremony, Shiva requested Parvati to sit on his left but Parvati refused, insisting that she would become one half of his consciousness, only when she was granted seven wishes. Shiva acceded to her desire and asked her to take seven steps with him, granting a boon at each step. Since then, every Hindu bride has taken these steps with her spouse, hoping by this to become as versatile a bride as Parvati, hoping too that her husband is as appeasing as Lord Shiva himself. In tune with those ancient wishes, the groom prays to the Lord on behalf of the bride, while bestowing on her the title of one of the many goddesses who guard and protect our lives. 

v With the first step, bountiful maiden, like Annaporna, may she always have food to offer each guest at their door.

v With the second step, Resilient Woman, be Shakti, may those she cherish have strength of will and health of body. 

v With the third, become Mahalakshmi, and all their acts be anchored in prosperity.     

v With the fourth step, Serene One, be the embodiment of Shanti, may all that transpires between the couple be filled with peace. 

v The fifth step, invokes Mother Gauri so the bride may nurture the lives that are in her care.   

v The sixth, adorn the bride as Kamini, may the husband delight each season in the wife’s company. 

v And lastly, with the seventh step, the groom honors the bride as his Sakhi, may she always stand by him, performing each dharma with fidelity. 

            And so, the couple’s journey begins.

Written by Mahika Jhangiani

Assistant Director HYSC 2015