Good explanation. Just a few days ago, I was telling my hubby that the younger generation do not know whats happening during a wedding and thats one main reason why many marriages end up in split up. If everybody understands and performs these rituals with utmost sincerity, the marriages will live longer.
You and your wife make a good pair and wish you both a very happy married life.
1. Madhwan Shaasthra - The groom goes to his uncle's house in order to participate in a ritual where the seven sacred bachelors are invoked and oil is placed on the groom's head, arms, and feet before he showers. This is followed by a lunch.
2. Pandhal (Chapra) Shaasthra - A canopy is made wrapped around with leaves from a coconut tree, and decorated with flowers. Such canopies indicate an auspicious occasion within the house.
1. Naandi - This ritual is the first in any major auspicious event, and is done to honor the ancestors and family dynasty. We invoke the blessings of our elders for the auspicious occasion that is about to begin. The groom is officially dressed from his bachelorhood attire to wedded life traditional attire, and is welcomed into "grihastha ashrama," the wedded phase of life.
2. Vishwaksena Aradhana - This is a tradition of all Iyengars. Vishwaksena is the chief of Vishnu's army, but symbolically is the first one who is worshipped in all festivities. He represents the removal of obstacles and hardships that may come.
3. Arishaani - This only a Mandyam Iyengar tradition, and is done in order to be blessed with children. A sacred tree known as the "arali" tree is circled by an elder married woman, the groom's sister, and the bride. In front of the tree, and a stone representing the snake, which symbolizes fertility, the bride and groom's sister put water, rangavalli (a white decorative powder), turmeric, vermillion, and incense.
6. Kaashi Yatra - This tradition is universal, and involves the groom enacting a scene in which he goes to Kaashi (aka Varanasi, Banares) in order to obtain higher education, as Kaashi was once a seat of high learning. On his way, the bride's side stops him and offers him the bride. He turns around, and is escorted with the bride's brother holding an umbrella to the wedding hall, representing his acceptance of the proposal.
7. Antharpata - This is a Madhwa tradition (also found in other Kannada and Telugu cultures) in which a curtain is held in between the bride and groom so they cannot see each other. As soon as the curtain is removed, the bride and groom see each other for the first time.
8. Sambandha Maala - This is a Tamil community (Iyengar and Iyer) ritual in which the bride and groom exchange garlands three times, representing the exchange of the relationship. The respective uncles carry both the bride and groom.
9. Oonjal - At this Tamil ceremony, the girl's father washes the groom's feet, and he sits with the bride on a swing. The couple is blessed and the elders sing songs.
10. Kankana - This is a Madhwa custom in which five married couples encircle the bride and groom, and a string is passed around. Other communities also tie a kankana - a string around the wrist - during the wedding, but do not encircle the bride and groom in the ritual.
11. Yedhara Akki - This is a Madhwa tradition in which the bride and groom face each other, and they take handfuls of colored rice and pour it in top of each other.
12. Kanya Dhaanam (Dhaara muhurtha) - This is a very important ceremony, which translates into "the gift of a maiden." During this intricate ceremony, the girl is given away by her father and mother to the groom's side. The groom receives the coconut that is held by the girl, the girl's father, and on which water is poured by the girl's mother.
In the Madhwa community, the water is poured spoon by spoon, but in Iyengar traditions, it is poured continuously flowing from a vessel. The groom then gives the coconut to his own father, symbolizing acceptance of the gift.
13. Mangalya Dhaaraam - This is also a universal ceremony, and is akin to the wedding band of Western socities. Though this is not part of the original Vedic wedding traditions, this custom has been an age-old practice in South India, and has likely merged in from there.
The girl is escorted by the groom's sister to a room, where for the first time, she wears a "madishaar" (a Tamil 9-yard sari, which only married women wear). The sister-in-law has to help the girl wear the sari, during which time the sacred thread containing the pendant ("mangalyam") with symbols unique to the groom's community is taken around to all the elders to bless it.
At the time of tying, the groom recites the following in Sanskrit, "This mangalyam, which represents my own life, Oh Maiden of Good Fortune, I tie securely around your neck, and seek to live with you to see a hundred autumns." In the ancient days, a piece of turmeric was tied, subsequently being replaced by the golden pendant.
14. Saptha Padhi - This is a crucial part of all Hindu weddings. The groom holds the bride's hand and takes her feet and helps her take seven steps, representing seven vows: to obtain nourishment, to become strong, to uphold righteousness, to acquire happiness, to protect life, to stay together for in all six seasons, to perform the seven types of ritual duties. The bride agrees to follow the lead of the groom. In taking the seven steps together, the couple formalize their friendship.
15. Pradhaana Homa - Offerings are made to the fire, which is considered the eternal witness of life, having seen everything in the past, present, and future. The fire represents the balance between what exists in creation and what has been destroyed, and links the living and ethereal worlds together. Offerings made in the fire are considered to have left the worldy state and transgressed into that of the cosmic state.
16. Laaja Homa - This ritual is performed with the bride's brother, in which puffed rice is given to the couple, and offered to the fire. The bride's brother prays that the couple live together for a hundred years, life well as husband and wife, and that his sister is taken good care of in her new house. Like rice that expands and becomes puffed rice, the couple as that their lives also expand with goodness and prosperity.
17. Dhruva Arundhathi Darshana - In this ritual, the girl's foot is placed on the "ammi" stone, and looking at the star "Arundathi," toe rings are placed on the second toe of each foot. Wearing a toe ring is considered a sign of auspiciousness.
19. Naagavalli - The brother of the girl take a beatle leaf and folds it in half and gives it to the groom. The couple prostrate to the lord and ask for blessings.
20. Pooja Kaala
21. Aashirvaadam - The couple ask for blessings from the elders and guests.
22. Bhojanam - Lunch is served, typically in batches to accommodate nearly a thousand people.
23. Gruhapravesham - The girl bids farewell to her family, and is escorted by the groom's side to his house. At the entrance of his house, a coconut is broken, and "arathi" is performed. At the threshold of the doorway, a cup of rice is kept, along with jaggrey (a solid caramel) and money. The bride kicks the rice with her right foot as hard as she can, and the farther the rice goes, they say, the more prosperity she will bring to the house.
24. Urutaani - This is a sequence of games that are played between the couple in order to help them become more comfortable with each other. Close family and friends sit around and tease them. Games played include rolling a coconut, playing catch with a ball of flowers, singing, etc.
25. Shanthi kalyaana - The bride and groom change into a different set of traditional clothes. An idol of baby Krishna is tied into the girl's sari, which she will wear into the bedroom. The couple is escorted into the bedroom. The next morning, the girl takes the baby idol from her sari and gives it to her mother-in-law, symbolizing the giving of progeny to the family lineage.
Good explanation. Just a few days ago, I was telling my hubby that the younger generation do not know whats happening during a wedding and thats one main reason why many marriages end up in split up. If everybody understands and performs these rituals with utmost sincerity, the marriages will live longer.
You and your wife make a good pair and wish you both a very happy married life.
azyb2409 1 year ago
Pre-wedding Day Events:
1. Madhwan Shaasthra - The groom goes to his uncle's house in order to participate in a ritual where the seven sacred bachelors are invoked and oil is placed on the groom's head, arms, and feet before he showers. This is followed by a lunch.
2. Pandhal (Chapra) Shaasthra - A canopy is made wrapped around with leaves from a coconut tree, and decorated with flowers. Such canopies indicate an auspicious occasion within the house.
vskain 1 year ago
Wedding Day Events:
1. Naandi - This ritual is the first in any major auspicious event, and is done to honor the ancestors and family dynasty. We invoke the blessings of our elders for the auspicious occasion that is about to begin. The groom is officially dressed from his bachelorhood attire to wedded life traditional attire, and is welcomed into "grihastha ashrama," the wedded phase of life.
vskain 1 year ago
2. Vishwaksena Aradhana - This is a tradition of all Iyengars. Vishwaksena is the chief of Vishnu's army, but symbolically is the first one who is worshipped in all festivities. He represents the removal of obstacles and hardships that may come.
vskain 1 year ago
3. Arishaani - This only a Mandyam Iyengar tradition, and is done in order to be blessed with children. A sacred tree known as the "arali" tree is circled by an elder married woman, the groom's sister, and the bride. In front of the tree, and a stone representing the snake, which symbolizes fertility, the bride and groom's sister put water, rangavalli (a white decorative powder), turmeric, vermillion, and incense.
vskain 1 year ago
4. Gowri Pooja - This is a Madhwa custom in which the bride prays to goddess Gowri for her blessings.
5. Bhagina - This is a Madhwa tradition in which the bride gives her mother-in-law gifts.
vskain 1 year ago
6. Kaashi Yatra - This tradition is universal, and involves the groom enacting a scene in which he goes to Kaashi (aka Varanasi, Banares) in order to obtain higher education, as Kaashi was once a seat of high learning. On his way, the bride's side stops him and offers him the bride. He turns around, and is escorted with the bride's brother holding an umbrella to the wedding hall, representing his acceptance of the proposal.
vskain 1 year ago
7. Antharpata - This is a Madhwa tradition (also found in other Kannada and Telugu cultures) in which a curtain is held in between the bride and groom so they cannot see each other. As soon as the curtain is removed, the bride and groom see each other for the first time.
vskain 1 year ago
8. Sambandha Maala - This is a Tamil community (Iyengar and Iyer) ritual in which the bride and groom exchange garlands three times, representing the exchange of the relationship. The respective uncles carry both the bride and groom.
9. Oonjal - At this Tamil ceremony, the girl's father washes the groom's feet, and he sits with the bride on a swing. The couple is blessed and the elders sing songs.
vskain 1 year ago
10. Kankana - This is a Madhwa custom in which five married couples encircle the bride and groom, and a string is passed around. Other communities also tie a kankana - a string around the wrist - during the wedding, but do not encircle the bride and groom in the ritual.
11. Yedhara Akki - This is a Madhwa tradition in which the bride and groom face each other, and they take handfuls of colored rice and pour it in top of each other.
vskain 1 year ago
12. Kanya Dhaanam (Dhaara muhurtha) - This is a very important ceremony, which translates into "the gift of a maiden." During this intricate ceremony, the girl is given away by her father and mother to the groom's side. The groom receives the coconut that is held by the girl, the girl's father, and on which water is poured by the girl's mother.
vskain 1 year ago
In the Madhwa community, the water is poured spoon by spoon, but in Iyengar traditions, it is poured continuously flowing from a vessel. The groom then gives the coconut to his own father, symbolizing acceptance of the gift.
vskain 1 year ago
13. Mangalya Dhaaraam - This is also a universal ceremony, and is akin to the wedding band of Western socities. Though this is not part of the original Vedic wedding traditions, this custom has been an age-old practice in South India, and has likely merged in from there.
vskain 1 year ago
The girl is escorted by the groom's sister to a room, where for the first time, she wears a "madishaar" (a Tamil 9-yard sari, which only married women wear). The sister-in-law has to help the girl wear the sari, during which time the sacred thread containing the pendant ("mangalyam") with symbols unique to the groom's community is taken around to all the elders to bless it.
vskain 1 year ago
At the time of tying, the groom recites the following in Sanskrit, "This mangalyam, which represents my own life, Oh Maiden of Good Fortune, I tie securely around your neck, and seek to live with you to see a hundred autumns." In the ancient days, a piece of turmeric was tied, subsequently being replaced by the golden pendant.
vskain 1 year ago
14. Saptha Padhi - This is a crucial part of all Hindu weddings. The groom holds the bride's hand and takes her feet and helps her take seven steps, representing seven vows: to obtain nourishment, to become strong, to uphold righteousness, to acquire happiness, to protect life, to stay together for in all six seasons, to perform the seven types of ritual duties. The bride agrees to follow the lead of the groom. In taking the seven steps together, the couple formalize their friendship.
vskain 1 year ago
15. Pradhaana Homa - Offerings are made to the fire, which is considered the eternal witness of life, having seen everything in the past, present, and future. The fire represents the balance between what exists in creation and what has been destroyed, and links the living and ethereal worlds together. Offerings made in the fire are considered to have left the worldy state and transgressed into that of the cosmic state.
vskain 1 year ago
16. Laaja Homa - This ritual is performed with the bride's brother, in which puffed rice is given to the couple, and offered to the fire. The bride's brother prays that the couple live together for a hundred years, life well as husband and wife, and that his sister is taken good care of in her new house. Like rice that expands and becomes puffed rice, the couple as that their lives also expand with goodness and prosperity.
vskain 1 year ago
17. Dhruva Arundhathi Darshana - In this ritual, the girl's foot is placed on the "ammi" stone, and looking at the star "Arundathi," toe rings are placed on the second toe of each foot. Wearing a toe ring is considered a sign of auspiciousness.
vskain 1 year ago
18. Aupaasana
19. Naagavalli - The brother of the girl take a beatle leaf and folds it in half and gives it to the groom. The couple prostrate to the lord and ask for blessings.
20. Pooja Kaala
21. Aashirvaadam - The couple ask for blessings from the elders and guests.
22. Bhojanam - Lunch is served, typically in batches to accommodate nearly a thousand people.
vskain 1 year ago
23. Gruhapravesham - The girl bids farewell to her family, and is escorted by the groom's side to his house. At the entrance of his house, a coconut is broken, and "arathi" is performed. At the threshold of the doorway, a cup of rice is kept, along with jaggrey (a solid caramel) and money. The bride kicks the rice with her right foot as hard as she can, and the farther the rice goes, they say, the more prosperity she will bring to the house.
vskain 1 year ago
24. Urutaani - This is a sequence of games that are played between the couple in order to help them become more comfortable with each other. Close family and friends sit around and tease them. Games played include rolling a coconut, playing catch with a ball of flowers, singing, etc.
vskain 1 year ago
25. Shanthi kalyaana - The bride and groom change into a different set of traditional clothes. An idol of baby Krishna is tied into the girl's sari, which she will wear into the bedroom. The couple is escorted into the bedroom. The next morning, the girl takes the baby idol from her sari and gives it to her mother-in-law, symbolizing the giving of progeny to the family lineage.
vskain 1 year ago
26. Sambandhi virundhu - This means, "feast of relatives." The bride's side is called by the groom's side for a banquet.
vskain 1 year ago