Ramanisblog

Tag: Groom

  • ‘Thaali’ Mangal Sutra’ Not A Part OF Vedic Marriage

    I have posted some articles on the Samskaras or the Rites of The Hindus and on Hindu marriages.

    Yesterday, my brother’s daughter posted a message in Facebook asking me to write on ‘Thaali, Metti’ and their significance in Hindu marriages,

    Thali in Tamil and Mangal Sutra in Hindi has no place in Vedic marraiges.

    In Vedic marriages marriage has two names Panigrahana and Kanyadaan, handing over and Gifting away the daughter.

     

    Thali
    Mangal Sutra,Thaali

    The steps in the Vedic Marriages are.

    • 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.

    The practice of wearing Thaali is from the Tamil Dravidian Culture.

    Vedic Marriages are complete with Panigrahana, Kanyadaan and Saptapathi.

    Sage Viswamitra’s descendants ,banished to the South(Dravida) mingled with the Tamils and sage Apasthamba included this procedure in Vedic Marriages.

    In fact a Neckband was worn by Men to indicate that they are married and women Metti, an ornament around the third toe of the Foot.

    Source.History of Tamils by PT Srinivasa Iyengar

  • South Indian Hindu Wedding Rituals Detailed List

    Wedding is one of the important Samskaras in a Hindu’s Life, as ordained by the Smriti(Guidelines for Day to-day Living).

    Kolam For Marriage.
    Kolam or Rangoli for Hindu Wedding

    Forty Samskaras are listed(please read my posts filed under Hinduism)

    Pandhalkal Ceremony
    Pandhalkal, Hindu Wedding ceremony.

    The Wedding ceremonies are elaborate.

    Typical Marriage arrangements consist of these parts.

    1.Finding a Boy or a Girl.

    2.Matching of the Horoscopes.

    3.Visiting the Girl’s House by the Groom with his close relatives to know more of the Girl and the Family.

    4.Nischyathaatham of the exchange of MOU between the parents of the Groom and Bride( If Grandparents are alive they will perform this-(Paternal Grandparents). At this function only close relatives are invited;The Religious aspect is very minimal and this is more of a Social Occasion, when Date , Time and Venue of the Wedding is announced.

    5. Sumangali Prarthanai, when those women who died ,remaining Married, are propitiated.This is normally performed about a couple of days  before the Marriage.

    6.Samaaradhanai or Dadhyaaradhanai is performed normally after the Sumangali Prarathanai to the family Deity.

    7.Pandakkal Naduthal

    8.Inviting the Bridegroom is done a day before the Wedding.

    9.Wedding Ceremony.

    Read my Post on the procedures for the  Wedding ( A post on Sumangali Prarthanai has been shared already)

    On the evening prior to the wedding day, the bridegroom is  brought in a procession from a temple in a flower decorated car.

    An Archana is performed at the Temple.

    He is escorted by the bride’s parents, and welcomed at the marriage  Hall (mandap), which is the bride’s abode.

    Nadaswaram band leads the way along the streets, the flower decorated car jam-packed with children.

    This is  function is called JANA VASAM in South India and BARAAT in North India.

    Through such a parade, public approval is sought of the groom, chosen by the family..

    If the Boy or Girl has had any liaisons before the Wedding , the Public may inform the families.

    After reaching the marriage hall, there is a formal ceremony of betrothal.

    At the Marriage Hall

    • Full-grown plantain trees tied to both the gateposts – Eternal tree of evergreen plenty for endless generations!
    • Festoons overhead of mango leaves, and screw-pine petals that never fade!
    • Notes of the Nadaswaram, the South Indian Shehnai!
    • Kolam or Rangoli designs at the doorsteps – an artistic welcome!
    • At threshold of the hall, sprinklings of rosewater, offerings of flower, sandal batter, sugar candy!

    A ceremony called Pandhalkal Naduthal’ is performed some days before the Wedding, after Samaradhanai .

    Now onto the Wedding day.

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/07/17/an-introduction-to-samskarashindu-rites/