Most important part of Hindu Marriage is the Saptapathi, the Rite when the couple take Seven steps around the Fire in a Clockwise direction, with seven mantras , praying Lord Vishnu.
Riite of Seven Steps Cherokee Indians.
Hindu marriage is complete only after the performance of Saptapathi, be it performed among the Kashmiris or among the people of Kanyakumari.
Saptapadi Seven Steps, Hinduism Marriage ceremony.
The ancient Cherokee Indians follow this custom even today.
* The couple takes the first step and promises that they will take care of each other and pray for abundant blessings and prosperity in their life.
* In the second step, the couple promises and prays to the Gods to bless them with physical and mental powers and lead a healthy married life.
* During the third step, they promise to protect and increase their wealth by proper means.
* With the fourth step, the bride and the groom pledge to share happiness and sadness together.
* With the fifth step, the couple promises to be responsible and care for their children.
* The sixth step is taken by the couple to be together always.
* And while taking the last seventh step, they promise to be truthful and trustworthy to each other and pledge to be united always in friendship and harmony.
Citation.
Caste is some thing that can not be wished away in a Human being however enlightened one pretends to be.
For my views on Caste please refer my post caste, under Hinduism.
Religions that make fun of idol worship have landed in worshiping idols.
Islam, The Kaaba,Prophet’s hair,Hazratbal
Christianity, Jesus, The Cross.
Buddhism, The Buddha, His teeth.
Jainism, Bhaubali, Mahaveera.
Hinduism understands that human mind can not function and focus in a vacuum and hence recommended Idol worship, though in higher philosophy of Hinduism, Idol worship is discouraged.
Please read my articles on this.
This is the list of castes among Muslims in India, some 308 of them!
The 500 AD temple of the Vishnu Dashavatar is in Deogarh,UP,India.
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It was the first North Indian temple with a shikhara or tower, although the shikhara is curtailed and part of it has disappeared (details as to when the shikara disappeared are not reported). The temple has a high plinth and is set with a basement porch. The Dashavatara temple has a “compelling presence” in spite of its dilapidated condition.
The ancient treatise Vishnudharmottara Purana describes several temples including a “Sarvatobhadra temple”, which has been compared by archaeologists and Indologists with the Dashavatara Temple (Vishnu temple) or the Gupta Mandir of Deogarh. A comparative study revealed that the ideal temple design described in the treatise as “Sarvatobhadra temple” was the same as the Vishnu temple of Deogarh. This conclusion was based on plan, size, iconography and several other norms described for building Hindu temples.Based on this comparison, the structural details of the Deogarh temple have been inferred. Maps have also been drawn of the temple structure. The probable date of the temple’s construction has been estimated to be between 450 and 650. During this period, the temple was highly venerated.
In the unique and large sculpture of Sheshashayi Vishnu, Vishnu is depicted reclining on the serpent Shesha, with four-arms lying down on the spiral of a serpent with seven hoods, forming a shade over his crowned head. Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort), along with her two attendants, are at Vishnu’s feet. Other gods and celestials are seen watching this display. In another panel below this, two demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, are getting ready to attack. They are shown to be repulsed by the four personified weapons or ayudhapurushas of Vishnu.[23][24] According to another interpretation, the lower panel depicts the five Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi.
The relief on the doorway (Lalatabhimba in Sanskrit) of the temple depicts Vishnu seated on Shesha the serpent, with Lakshmi sitting down and caressing his feet, flanked by two incarnations of Vishnu: Narasimha (the man-lion form) on the right, and Vamana (the dwarf form) on the left.
The side and back walls of the temple depict carved panels related to several facets of Lord Vishnu’s life. On the northern wall, the elegantly carved panel shows “Gajendra Moksha”, which represents Vishnu coming to the rescue of the Gajendra (elephant). On the eastern side wall, a panel depicts a carved image of the sages Nara-Narayana. On the southern wall, Vishnu is depicted reclining on Shesha the serpent, relaxing or in a sleeping or creative mode. These depictions on the four walls (including entrance) of the temple, represent four facets of Vishnu:
the entrance represents Vasudeva; the Gajendramoksha side is referred as Samkarshana, the destructive aspect[disambiguation needed] of Vishnu; the Nara-Narayana side is known as Pradyumna, the preserving aspect of Vishnu; and the Anantashayana side is known as Aniruddha.
Another unique sculpture found in the Vishnu temple depicts the Krishna legend in which Devaki hands over her new-born son Krishna to her husband Vasudeva. This sculpture is said to be one of the best depictions of Gupta period art, based on the sensuous and graceful modelling of the figurines, but different in that its clothes are shown draped in an exclusive fashion. It is now housed at the National Museum in New Delhi.
Brahmins a part of Santana Dharma have branches and subcastes.
It may be noted that Caste is a loose translation of the Term Varna, which indicates disposition(even this term is not an exact translation)
It has nothing to do with race.
Brahmin Community, India
Brahmins, an essential part of Santana Dharma, were spread throughout India.
Brahmins, as in the case of the other varnas(Castes) were a single community.
However over a period of time, there evolved a division among them based on the Sutras they follow and later Geographical location.
Astasahasram, a Group of eight thousand Families,
Vadama, who settled on the northern banks of River Cauvery,
Vaathimaa, most of this group were engaged in Proestly duties, Purohitham.
Bruhatcharanam. it is believed that long time back a family of Brahmins were accused of Brahmahathi, that of killing a Brahmin.
They were ostracized by the Brahmins.
Then they performed a Yagnya, Bruhat Yagnya, to purify themselves.
Then they were readmitted into the Brahmin -fold and hence the name Bruhtrcharanam , now called Brecharanam.
For example, there are Shaiva Vellalars,Kaar Vellalars,Karai Vellalars in the Vella community.
The term Vellala in Tamil means one who regulated Flood.
One who regulates Flood is Vellala.
Among them who minds the Bund are Karai Vellalas.
Kaar Vellalas are those who regulate the flow of Flood at the time of Rainy seasons,Kaar in Tamil means heavy rains.
Among all these those who do not eat meat are called Shaviva Vellalas.
Similarly those who follow the six duties assigned to Brahmins, are Brahmins.
The six duties.
“Adhyaapanam Adhyayanam
Yajanam Yaajanam Tathaa
Daanam Pratigraham Chaiva
Brahmanaanaamakalpayaat”
Learnng the Vedas,
Teaching the Vedas,
Perfoming the Yagnyas by themselves,
Perfoming Yagnyas for the others,
Accepting Gifts and
Donating the needy.
In addition they must have realized Brahman.
The Vedas contain branches, called Sakhas.
Please read my post on Vedas.
The Veda mantras are , most of them aphorisms, especially in Brahmanas and Upanishads.
While the Upanishads speak about Reality Brahman, the Brahmanas talk about the duties to be performed.
As they are terse, there arose people who explained them.
The aphorisms are the Sutras.
Those who explain them are called the Sutradhaars.
They explain the sutras and as the individuals are different , so are the interpretations.
However the essence, the core message of the Vedas are kept unchanged, certain practices vary.
Later geographical locations were taken as a Yardstick.
Read my post on Brahmins subcastes.
” During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BC to 200 BC, Brahmins became divided into various Sakhas or branches, based on the adoption of different Vedas and different readings and interpretations of Vedas. Sects or schools for different denominations of the same Veda were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins. The teachings of these distinguished rishis are called sutras. Every Veda has its own sutras. The sutras that deal with social, moral and legal precepts are called dharma sutras, whereas those sutras that deal with ceremonials are called Srauta sutras and domestic rituals are called gruhya sutras. sutras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse. These sutras are based on divine Vedas and are manmade and hence are called Smritis, meaning “recollected or remembered.”
There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautama, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, Parasara, Samvarta, Sankha, Satatapa, Usanasa, Vasishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Dharma Sastras. There is a lot of contradiction among theseDarmasastas, even within one Smriti. These differences in the rules and rituals resulted in the rigid stratification of subcastes among Brahmins. None of these smritis is supreme and universally applicable throughout the Indian Continent. The oldest among these Dharma Sutras are Apasthambha, Baudhayana, Gautama and Vasishta Sutras.
Apasthambha: Apasthambha, a native of Andhra Country, belonged to Krishnayajurveda School. He belonged to fifth century BC. Apasthambha’s teachings are called Apasthambhasutra orApasthambhasmriti. Baudhayana: Baudhayana also belonged to Krishnayajurveda School and was an inhabitant of Andhra Country. Baudhayana’s teachings are called Baudhayanasutra or Baudhayanasmriti. Brihaspati: Brihaspati was probably the first jurist to make a clear distinction between civil and criminal justice. Yajnavalkya referred to Brihaspati. However, Brihaspati is considered to belong to 200-400 AD. Brihaspatismriti has a lot of similarities with Dhammathats of Myanmar (Burma). Gautama: Gautama was the most ancient sage of all Brahmin lawgivers. He was quoted by Baudhayana and belonged to Samaveda School. Gautama’s teachings are called Gautamasutra orGautamasmriti. Harita: Baudhayana and Vasishta in their Dharmasutras quote Harita. Haritasmriti or Haritasutra is an extensive work. Katyayana: Yajnavalkya mentions Katyayana. Katyayanasmriti is quoted in several works of Viswarupa, Mitramisra etc. Smriti Chandrika cites 600 verses of Katyayanasutras. He may belong to the same period as Narada and Brihaspati. Manu: Manu is a mythical personality and is the ancestor of the entire humankind. Manu received the code from Brahma, and communicated it to ten sages and requested Bhrigu rishi to repeat it to the other nine. This code of conduct recited by Bhrigu is called Manusmriti. For convenience, the British took Manusmriti as the paramount law of the Indian Continent.Manudharma is not only revered by Brahmins and Hindus, but also by Buddhists in Java, Siam and Myanamar. Manusmriti was composed around 200 BC, around which time a revival of Brahminism took place under the rule Sungas in the North India. Narada: Sage Narada was probably a native of Nepal around first century AD. Naradasmriti is the first legal code unhampered by the mass of religious and moral teachings. Some authors think that Narada belonged to Gupta period when there was a distinct revival of Brahminism and Sanskrit literature. Vasishta: Vasishta belonged to 3rd century BC and a native of North India. Vasishta’s teachings are called Vasishtasutra or Vasishtasmriti. Vishnu: Vishnu belonged to 1st or 2nd century AD. Vishnu’s teachings are called Vishnusutra or Vishnusmriti. Yajnavalkya: Yajnavalkya belonged to Suklayajurveda School12. He was a native of Mithila City in North Bihar and probably lived anywhere from few centuries before Christ to 200 AD. However, some scholars think he belonged to first or second century AD. Yajnavalkya Dharmasmriti has been subject of numerous commentaries. The most celebrated of all the commentaries ofYajnavlkyasmriti is Mitakshara and is practically the beginning of the Brahmin law and the so-called Hindu law. Passages from Mitakshara have been found practically in every part of the Indian Continent and became an authority. The Yajnavlkyasmriti is concise, more systematic and better arranged than the Manusmriti. From early times, commentators like Viswarupa, Vijnaneswara, Apararka, Sulapani, Mitramisra etc., from every part of India selected the Yajnavalkyasmriti as the basis of their commentaries. Passages from Yajnavalkyasmiriti appeared in Panchatantra.
Other important Brahmins who gave smritis/sutras/laws are: Angirasa, Atri, Daksha, Devala, Laugakshi, Prajapati, Pitamaha, Pulatsya, Yama, Vyasa, Samvarta and Satatapa. Prominent smriti writers of later age include, Devanabhatta or Devanandabhatta of Madras province, who belonged to ~1200 AD and wrote Smritichandrika, and Madhavacharya or Vidyaranya, who was the Prime Minister of Vijayanagara dynasty and pontiff for some time of the celebrated mutth at Sringeri in Mysore province. He wrote Parasaramadhaviya, which is a commentary onParasarasmriti.
I have often wondered who organized the Marriage System (Monogamy) in India.
Though marriage is considered to be sacred in Hinduism and has elaborate Rituals to solemnize and conduct marriages, I have not been able to find any definite information on who organized this system of marriage.
Hindu Marriage ceremony.
I could not find the origin of marriage details from the Puranas, Vedas or Ithihasas.
All these texts glorify and explain the rituals connected with Marriage.
The first written record on who organized marriage as a System is found in the ancient Tamil Grammar Book, Tholkappiyam, written by Tholkappiar (between 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE), a disciple of Sage Agasthya.
He states that the society was being ruined by indiscriminate copulation ,involving Lies, frauds.
Hence Brahmins organized the system of marriage.
“மேலோர் மூவர்க்கும் புணர்த்த கரணம்
கீழோர்க்காகிய காலமும் உண்டே (1090)
பொய்யும் வழுவும் தோன்றிய பின்னர்
ஐயர் யாத்தனர் கரணம் என்ப (1091) Tholkappiyam.
Here there is a rider.
Marriage as a system which was in existence for the three Varnas(மேலோர் மூவர்க்கும்) is now being set for the Fourth Varna by the Brahmins.
Meaning of the text.
Marriage as a System, which was in existence for three varnas, is now set for the fourth varna by Brahmins
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