Ramanisblog

Tag: Kanyadaan

  • No Dowry Signed Inscription Virinchipuram Temple

    Dowry, the amount paid to the  Bridegroom by the Bride’s parents does not have the sanction of the Vedas or Smriti.

    How ever this practice was an is being followed in certain communities in India.

    The term Kanyadan , name for marriage, from the brides side , means gifting the Virgin Girl.

    Virinjipuram Temple.jpg
    Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple near Vellore, Tamil Nadu

    The term Panikgrahana from the Bridegroom’s side means ‘Holding the hand’

    This practice of dowry has played havoc in many a girl’s life.

    This obnoxious practice seems to have been in existence .at least, before 1300 AD.

    And people were concerned.

    Kanyddaan.jpg
    Kanyddaan, Gifting the Daughter.

    To such an extent an edict, sanctioned by the King and signed by the Brahmins find a place in a Temple’s inscription in Tamil.

    ”

    A Tamil Inscription from Margabandeswarar Temple in Virinchipuram offers some respite for DOWRY, THE SOCIAL CURSE that has vexed Brahman community during the reign Devaraya II (reigned 1432–46), Vijayanagara emperor.
    Agreement against Dowry by Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu
    This inscription refers to the Brahmana Dharma (Sacred Law of Brahmans) and specific reference to the Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu (town of  Padavedu – previously known as Padaividu – now in the Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai district) including Karnataka, Tamil, Telugu and Lata (the old name of Gujarat) Brahmanas. An agreement, signed by the representatives of Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu , vouch to conduct marriages in their families as mere ‘Kanyadhana.’ – the part of the marriage ceremony where the bride’s father only gives away the bride to the bridegroom”
    ..
    Inscription inside the front gopura of the Virinchipuram Temple
    (No.56 Inside the front gopura of the Virinchipuram temple, second inscription to the right: III – Inscriptions at and near Virinchipuram. Tamil and Grantha Inscriptions. South Indian Inscriptions)
    Tamil Text
    சுபமஸ்து. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ . ஸ்ரீமன் மகா ராஜாதிராஜ பரமேசுவரரான ஸ்ரீ வீரபிர
    தாப தேவராய மகாராஜர் ப்ரித்விராஜ்யம் பண்ணி அருளானின்ற சகாப்தம்
    1347ழின் மேல் செல்லானின்ற விஸ்வாசு வருஷம் பங்குனி மாதம் 3க்கு
    சஷ்டியும் புதன்கிழமையும்பெற்ற ஆநுசத்து நாள், படைவீட்டு இராஜ்யத்து
    அஸேஷவித்யமஹாஜநங்களும் அகர்கபுஷ்கரணி கோபிநாத ஸன்னதியிலே
    தர்ம ஸ்தாபந மையபத்ரம் பண்ணி குடுத்தபடிஇற்றைய நாள்முதலாக இந்த படைவீட்டு ராஜ் யத்து பிராமணரில்
    கன்ன(டி)கர் தமிழர் தெலுங்கர் இலாளர் முதலான ஆஸேஷ கோத்திரத்து
    அஸேஷசூத்தரத்தில் அஸேஷகையிலவர்களும் விவாஹம் பண்ணுமிடத்து,
    கன்னியாதானமாக விவாஹம் பண்ணக் கடவராகவும் கன்னியாதானம்
    பண்ணாமல் பொன் வாங்கி பெண் கொடுத்தால், பொன் கொடுத்து விவாஹம்
    பண்ணினால், ராஜ தண்டத்துக்கும் உட்பட்டு பிராமண்யத்துக்கும்
    புறம்பாகக் கடவரென்று பண்ணின தர்ம ஸ்தாபன மைய பத்ரம்; இப்படிக்கு
    அஸேஷ வித்ய மகாஜனங்கள் எழுத்து

    Translation    Let there be Prosperity! Hail! On the day of (the nakshatra) Anusham (Anuradha Star constellation) which corresponds to Wednesday, the sixth lunar day, the 3rd (solar day) of the month of Panguni (Tamil Calendar month) of the Visvavasu (Tamil Calendar year) year, which was current after the Saka (Shalivahana calendar) year 1347 (had passed),  while the illustrious maharajadhiraja-parameswara, the illustrious Virapratpa-Devaraya-maharaja was pleased to rule the earth,-the great men of all branches of sacred studies of the kingdom (rajyam) of Padaividu drew up, in the presence of (the god) Gopinatha (of) Arkapushkkarini, a document (which contains) an agreement fixing the sacred law. According  to (this document), if the Brahmanas of this kingdom (rajyam) of Padaividu, viz., Kannadigas, Tamilas, Telungas, Ilalas, etc.,of all gotras, sutras,  and  sakhas conclude a marriage, they shall, from this day forward, do it by kanyadana. Those who do no adopt kanyadana, i.e., both those who give away after having received gold, and those who conclude a marriage after having given gold, shall be liable to punishment by the king and shall be excluded from the community of Brahmanas. These are the contents of the document which was drawn up.

    The following are the signatures of the great men of all branches of sacred studies:-

    Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple
    Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple is located near Vellore town in the Chennai-Bangalore Highway.
    The east facing temple is around 1300 years old and is very rich in extraordinary sculptures and artistic pillars.
    The legend is found in  Arunachala Puranam, Siva Rahasiyam, Kanchi puranam and many other holy books . Aadhi Shankaracharyar did the Beejakshara Pradhishtai to the Simha theertham of the temple.
    The temple was venerated by Thirumoolar, Pattinathar, Thirugnana Sambhandhar, Appar, Arunagirinadhar,
    Appayya Dikshithar and few others.
    The holy tree is palm and the holy water tanks include Simha Theertham, Sooli Theertham and Brahma Theertham.
    Citation:
    Related articles

  • ‘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