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WEDDING CEREMONY RITUALS SIVAPRIYA WEDS RAJESHWER May 12,
1999.
GANESH POOJA WITH YATRADHANAM The ceremony will begin with Pooja (Ritual) to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles in all human endeavors. This is followed by invocation of other deities (Representation of God). After this, the groom starts from his house to the place of the wedding. VRITHAM This is conducted to convey a message to the groom that he has to prepare himself to move from bramhachariyam (Bachelor) to grahasthasramam (Married). Prayers will be conducted to seek the blessings of the ancestors. UPAKARMA, PRAYACHITAM AND KANTHAVRITHA HOMAM There are certain duties that a groom should have fulfilled after his upakarma (Sacred thread function, also called Poonool function). They are reciting Gayathri, performing sandyavadhanam, madhyanam, etc. Strictly speaking once upakarma takes place, one has to necessarily be in "Padasala" (The place of learning, also called Gurukulam). As these things could not have been fulfilled in this busy world, the following homams (Rituals) are conducted as Pariharam. They are UPAKARMA, PRAYACHITAM AND KANTHAVRITHA HOMAM. ARRIVAL OF THE GROOM The groom decides to give up worldly pleasures and prepares to go to Kashi to lead the life of an ascetic. The Parents and the Guru advise the groom to marry the bride and to enter grahastasrama (Family life). This is a ritual enacted prior to the actual wedding where the groom's uncle persuades him that he should get married and not go to Kashi. VARAPRESHAN AND PRAVARAN The bride and groom exchange garlands three times. They prepare to enter the grahasthasrama dharma. Elders bless them by aarthi and other connected vritha samans. SANKALPAM The groom's lineage is stated and his intention to marry is expressed. MADHUPARKAM The Mother of the bride will give honey, milk and fruits to the groom. The groom will keep a stick (Nugathadi) on the head of the bride and conduct Swarna Mangalya Pooja. KANNIKADANAM The families of the bride and the groom bring them together. The bride's father gives the bride away to the groom. The groom receives the bride and accepts her to be his wife, life long partner and friend. VIVAHAHOMA In Hindu mythology, Fire has special significance. Fire is believed to have the ability to destroy all evils and to purify everything in its path. Therefore, Hindu marriages always take place in front of the Fire. The underlying belief is that people who get married in the presence of this all-powerful fire will never break their marriage vows. In this part of the ritual, mantras (prayers) are recited to offer our respects to the God of Fire (Agni Bhagavan). MANGALYA DHARMA O Devoted Wife!, I put this mangalsutra (sacred thread) around your neck. The mangalsutra denotes well being and is considered auspicious. This will confer on you happiness and grant long life to your husband. PANIGRAHANVIDHI
SAPTAPADHI SAPTAPADI
LAJAHOMAM, AGNIPRADHAKSHINA
SESHAHOMAM AND PRAVESHAHOMAM Seshahomam is conducted to inform the bride’s family that the groom will keep in constant touch with the family. Likewise, bride's father invites the groom for all the functions and ceremonies that will take place in his house. By performing Praveshahomam, the bride and the groom vow that wherever they go, they will go united. ASHIRVADAM (Blessings) All elders present bless the newly weds. Friends and other guests may offer best wishes and congratulations. MANGALA AARTHI (Conclusion) The ceremony ends when the friends and relatives of the family bring the sacred lights to the newly weds and wish them happiness and prosperity.
SIVAPRIYA WEDS RAJESHWER May 12, 1999. |
