Hindu Wedding Ceremony Explained
There are sixteen sansakaras (sacraments) to be performed in a Hindu's life.
The most important sansakaras is marriage, this is the joining together of a man
and women bought together in a sacred bond of holly matrimony.
Stages of the Hindu Ceremony:
Ganesh Puja (Worshipping the Elephant God) - Shree Ganesh is the god of good beginnings
and the fabled remover of obstacles. All religious ceremonies begin with the worship
of Ganesh.
Mandap Ropan (Canopy to invite deities) - A Mandap is a canopy. Each of the four
corner posts are sanctified and blessed.
The ceremony
The bride's mother welcomes the groom, she then applies rori (vermilion powder)
on his forehead and arti is performed. She then escorts him to the Mandap.
The bride is escorted to the Mandap with her Mama (Maternal Uncle). This is followed
by the garlanding ceremony.
Kanya Daam (Giving away the bride) - The bride and bridegroom are given consent
by their parents, to proceed the wedding ceremony.
Vaivahik Homa (Invoking the sacred fire) - The Agni (fire) symbolises illumination
of mind, happiness and knowledge. Ablations are then poured into the sacred fire.
Agni Panikram (Going around the fire) - This is the main part of the ceremony. The
bride and groom go around the fire seven times, six times led by the bride and the
seventh time is by the groom, who approaches the fine with seven steps. It is believed
by all Hindu’s that in the first seven years of the brides married life she is protected
by the moon then followed by the sun for the next seven years and then by Agni.
Saptapadi (Taking seven steps) - The bride and groom take seven steps around the
sacred fire. Each step signifies blessings of gods for food, strength, family pregnancy,
prosperity, enjoyment of life, performing religious rites together and life long
friendship.
Saubhagya Chinha (Blessing the bride) - The Groom blesses his bride by giving her
a mangalasutra (sacred necklace) and putting sindoor (vermilion powder) on her forehead.
Hridaya-Sparsha (Touching of hearts) - The bride and groom symbolically touch each
other's heart. They both make a vowel to each other saying… "I touch thy
heart unto mine. God has given thee as my husband. May my heart be thine and thy
heart be mine now. When I talk to thee, please listen to me in perfect attention".
Anna-Prashan (Feeding the groom) - The groom is fed by his bride, by telling him
"By feeding this sweet food I shall bind thee with the strings of truth, love
and sincerity, so you be mine and I shall be yours forever."
Purnahuti (Completion of the ceremony) - The Priest blesses the bride and groom
after the final oblation is poured in the sacred fire. The marriage ceremony is
completed when the family and guests and bless the married couple by throwing flower
petals and rice on to them.
The marriage is regarded as a union of two souls to help each other in their spiritual
evolution. The ceremony has to take place in a high spiritual atmosphere. The bride
and groom are no longer two independent beings but are now merged into one.