Hindu Marriage, Which Is Considered

Hindu Marriage, which is considered a deeply sacred social and religious institution, aims to create a bond between the bride and groom's families, and help the couple attain spiritual union. As such, a Hindu marriage is steeped in ritual and tradition. All parts of the marriage, from the selection of the bride and groom, to the after-ceremony rituals, are influenced by centuries of tradition.

Hindu marriage is a sacred institution that is seen as a life-long commitment. In the Hindu tradition, the woman is charged with keeping the marriage together, as Hindu tradition sees women as more emotionally in tune with the needs and demands of the marriage. Hindu scriptures charge women with maintaining domestic peace within the marriage (About.com). In Hindu society, marriage is seen as the strongest social bond between a man and a woman, and viewed as a sacrament. This view of marriage as a deeply sacred social and religious matter contrasts sharply with the west's view of marriage as a simple contract between two individuals (Mypurohith).

Traditionally, one of the most important purposes of Hindu marriage is to foster love for the entire family unit, including the extended family of both the bride and the groom. As a result, the wife and husband are supposed to exercise self-restraint at all times, in order to keep the needs of the family above their own individual desires and goals. The bride and groom take a vow of self-restraint in Vedic marriages, and also pledge to work together for the welfare of the entire family (About.com). Marriage is seen as a blending of the wife's and husband's families (Mypurohith).

Marriage is also seen as a route to spiritual growth. In the Hindu tradition, both the husband and wife are viewed as soul mates that work together to help each other grow spiritually. During the marriage, they take vows to support each other, and remain friends (Mypurohith).

The marriage begins with the selection of the couple, which is usually arranged by parents or elders. The younger bride and groom are often viewed as too immature to make such an important decision about the rest of their lives, and often seen to be too concerned with more trivial matters (Mypurohith).

After the couple is selected by the more experienced members of the families, the engagement takes place. A day is selected for the engagement, which does not normally fall during the months of December, October, Mark, or on Sundays, Tuesdays or Saturdays. The groom's party goes to the bride's house for the betrothal, where a prayer is said, and a ceremony takes place where the young woman's guardian announces that the girl is betrothed to the boy (Mypurohith).

Hindu marriage ceremony can be divided into three main parts: the pre-ceremony, the ceremony proper, and the conclusion of the ceremony. The pre-ceremony includes a reception that is held by the bride's parents for the groom and his parents at the entrance of the marriage hall. After this first reception, the bride's father meets the groom on the stage, and gives several presents to the couple. The daughter is then given away by the bride's parents (Hinduism.co.za). Pre-marriage ceremonies can also include Pair Pana (where sweets and gold coins are exchanged), and Milni (where sweets, ornaments and token money are exchanged) (Mypurohith). The bride's feet and palms are decorated with Mahendi before the ceremony (Vivaaha.org).

The marriage ceremony consists of several distinct parts, including the sacred fire ceremony, exchanging vows, the acceptance of the hand, a stone-stepping ceremony, offering of fried rice or popcorn, tying of the marriage knot, taking of holy vows, and the ceremony of seven steps. The marriage knot, or tie between the husband and wife, is symbolized by a knot made from an end of the groom's scarf and the bride's dress. Holy vows are made when walking around the sacred fire. The groom vows to consult and include his wife, and both vow to be friends and be concerned for each other's welfare (Mypurohith). Fried rice or popcorn is offered into the sacred fire (Hinduism.co.za).

The marriage ceremony itself takes place at the Vedi, where banana tree trunks are decorated against the open sky. The boy and girl sit together on a wooden seat. Parents of the bride, groom, and two priests surround the couple. Vedic mantras are said throughout the ceremony (Mypurohith).

The sacred fire is a crucial part of the marriage ceremony, and begins the rites and ceremonies that make up the ceremony. The sacred fire provides a pure and spiritual atmosphere for the marriage (Hinduism.co.za). The boy and girl, tied together by the symbolic marriage knot, walk around the sacred fire seven times. Traditionally, the new marriage is not considered to be complete until the seventh round around the consecrated fire. Before this time, the marriage can be revoked (Mypurohith).

Samagree, a mixture of herbs, sandalwood, clarified butter, rice, twigs, and sugar is sprinkled into the sacred fire (Vivaaha.org). At the end of each round around the fire, the bride and groom step on a stone and pay that their love will be long-lasting, like the stone (Vivaaha.org). Several mantras, including the Achaman and Angasparsha mantras take place around the sacred fire (Hinduism.co.za).

The acceptance of the hand (Pani-Grahanam) is also part of the marriage ceremony proper. In this rite, the groom vows to protect the bride, and vows to live happily with his wife for their entire life (Hinduism.co.za).

The conclusion of the ceremony incorporates three main parts. The first is sprinkling of water, and meditation of the Pole star and sun. Food is offered to the sacred fire, and a benediction, or blessing, ends the ceremony (Hinduism.co.za). Kangana Khelna is another popular after-marriage ceremony, where milky water, color and Durba grass are placed in a dish. The bride and ring are both asked to pick out a ring thrown in the water (Mypurohith). When the ceremony is over, the couple engages in other ceremonies. In the Grahapravesha ritual, the couple carries a sacred fire in a vessel to the groom's house, where he tells his bride "Enter with your right foot. Do not remain outside." They sit together silently until the stars can be seen (Vivaaha.org).