South Indian Wedding/Vadhyar.com
VADHYAR.COM
SOUTH INDIAN WEDDING
THE RITUALS
The Hindu
Wedding Ceremony has a number of rituals and customs most of which are often
labeled as superstitious or time wasting. It is believed to be nothing but
rituals more rituals. But have we asked ourselves what a “Ritual “is?
A ritual begins as a creative rational action to express a sentiment or idea
– like the lighting of lamp to dispel darkness at twilight or folding
of hands into a "Namaste" to greet an elder. As more and more people
succeeding generation repeat the action it becomes a convention – then
a RITUAL. A ritual is thus an action on which time has set its seal of approval.
The Ritual of the Hindu Wedding too is each symbolic of beautiful and noble
sentiments. Unfortunately today many parents and couples perform them without
an awareness of the rich meaning behind them.
A modest attempt has therefore been made to briefly describe the meaning and
significance of the rituals of a Tamil Brahmin Wedding. Mostly these are applicable
to any other Hindu section. For the elders, this information may be superfluous
but it is hoped the younger generation, especially those yet to be married,
may find this useful.
So let us take you around . . . . .
As you enter you see . . .
• 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
& the
Priest who is the main important person for the rituals!!
THE EVENING PREVIOUS TO THE MARRIAGE DAY
USHERING-IN OF THE BRIDEGROOM
JANAVASAM (Mappilaiazyappu)
On the evening prior to the wedding day, the bridegroom is to be brought in
a procession from a temple in a flower decorated car. He is escorted by the
bride’s parents, and welcome at the marriage 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 a social function, 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.
After reaching the marriage hall, there is a formal ceremony of betrothal.
ON THE WEDDING DAY
THE PRELIMINARY INVOCATION
‘GANAPATI PUJA’(Vigneshwara Pujai)
As in an inauguration of any function so also in a marriage – Ganapati,
the God of Initiation is invoked, to keep away all impediments.
‘NAVAGRAHA PUJA’(Navagraha Pujai)
This is performed to propitiate the nine astral planets that rule over man’s
destiny.
VRATHAM
The marriage ceremonies begin with the Vratham performed separately by the
bride and the groom. For the bride, it means the tying of the KAPPU –
the holy thread on her wrist which is meant to ward off all evil spirits.
It symbolises a kind of the protective armour for the bride. For the groom,
the various Gods – Indra, Soma, Chandra, Agni. From there on, the groom
prepares himself for a new chapter in his life as a householder or Grihasta.
The days of his bachelorhood or brahmacharya are now over and the acceptance
of this is all what the Vratham is about.
‘PAALIKAI’ SEEDS SOWING (Palikai Talitthul)
This is fertility rite. Paalikais are earthen five pots prepared a day earlier
– pots spread at the base with mango leaves (mavilai) and sand , nine
kinds of pre-soaked cereals are ceremonially sown in these pots by Five Sumangalis(Married
ladies). After the marriage, the sprouted seedlings are released in a river
or pool by kanyas(Unmarried girls). This ritual invokes the blessings of the
eight-direction-quartered guardian angles, for a healthy life and progeny
to the couple.
‘NANDI SHRADHAM’
There are several presiding deities – the Nandi Devatas. To propitiate
them, a leaf-laden branch of the pipal tree is installed, and an ablution with
milk is performed by five Sumangalis (housewife, with husband living). This
puja is followed by a presentation of a dhothi, and a saree to the marrying
couple.
‘KASI YATRA’
This a very important part of the ceremony. Immediately after his student-life,
the young bachelor has two alternatives before him – Married life ( Grihasta
) or asceticism (Sanyas). Being by nature escapist, he prefers the ascetic life
to the tribulations of married life. He therefore ‘makes his way’
to kasi (VARANASI), complete with slippers, umbrella, bamboo fan etc. On his
way, the bride’s father intervenes and advises him of the superiority
of married life to ascetic life. He also promises to give him his daughter as
companion to face the challenge of life. The umbrella is to remain with groom,
to remind him in the future, of this advice.the real tradition.
(However there are different view points on this aspect).
EXCHANGE OF GARLANDS (malai Mattal)
The bride and the groom are lifted to the shoulders of their respective uncles;
and in that position the two garland each other thrice for a complete union.
A garland worn by a person, should not be used by another, ordain our shastras.
Here the exchange of garlands symbolises their unification – as one soul
in two bodies. It is inward acceptance by each of the very fragrance of the
other.
‘OONJHAL’
SWING, RIDE AND SINGING OF LAALI
Then, the marrying couple is seated on a swing ( OONCHAL); they rock forth and
back, as the ladies around sing – LAALI, songs to praise to the couple.
The chains of the swing signify the eternal Karmic link with Almighty above;
the to-and-fro motion represent the undulating sea-waves of life; yet, in mind
and body they shall move in harmony unperturbed, steady and stable.
‘VARA PUJA’(Varapreshanam)
The feet of the groom is washed by bride’s father to welcome the groom
as Mahavishnu Svarupaya varahaya ie maha vishnu himself and the bride as Lakshmi
. Then the bride’s father and the bridegroom’s father facing each
other, solemnise the final betrothal ceremony, the vedic priest chanting the
relevant hymns-in which the Ghotras & names of the bride, the bridegroom,
as well as the names of their three generations of ancestors, are recited in
presence of friends, relatives, and invitees.
‘KANYA DHAANAM’
The bride is made to sit on her father’s lap and is given away as gift
by him, to the bridegroom.
‘ MADHUPARKAM ’
Madhuparkam is a part of the aforesaid ritual. It has the bride’s father
offering a mixture of curd, gee and honey to the groom.Curd, ghee and honey,
all are considered to be good for one's health. Besides, these edibles are believed
to be auspicious and impart good effects to whatsoever associated with it.
On the girl’s head, a ring made with Kusa, the sacred grass called DARBHA,
is placed, and over it, is placed a yoke; the Gold Mangal Sutra ( or THAALI
) is placed right on the aperture of the yoke, and water is poured through the
aperture. The Mantras chanted at this time, say:
"Let this gold multiply your wealth? Let this water purify your married
life, and may your prosperity increase. Offer yourself to your husband? "
The bride then is given an auspicious ablution, and an exclusive new KOORAI
Saree is draped around her – this is done by the sister of the bridegroom.
To bride in her new saree, a belt made of reed-grass is tied around the waist.
The manthras chant:
"She standeth here, pure before the holy fire, as one blessed with boons
of a good mind, a healthy body, life-long companionship of her husband ( Sumangali
Bhagyam ) and children with long life. She standeth as one who is avowed to
stand by her husband virtuously. Be she tied with this red-grass rope, to the
sacrament of marriage? "
Thanks giving vedic hymns follow to the celestial caretakers of her childhood:
the Deities of SOMA, GANDHARVA and AGNI. Having attained nobility, the girl
is now free to be given over to the care of the human – her man.
The Vedic concepts underlying this ritual is figuratively this: that in her
infant stage, SOMA had given her coolness of the moon, and strength; in the
next stage, GANDHARVA had given her bodily beauty; and lastly AGNI gave her
passions.
The father of the bride, while offering his daughter chants: "I offer you
my daughter, a maiden virtuous, good-natured, very wise, decked with ornaments
to the best of my ability-; that she shall guard the Dharma, Wealth, and Love?
"
‘MAANGALYA DHARANAM’
Next, timed to exact auspicious hour, is the tying of the Mangala Sutra ( Thaali
). The bride seated over a sheaf of grain-laden hay, looking eastward, and the
bridegroom facing westward, ties the gold Mangala Sutra around the neck of the
bride. As he does so, the Nadaswaram drums are beaten loud and fast, so as to
muffle any inauspicious sounds at the critical hour. This is called Getti Melam;
as it sounds, the Sumangali ladies sing "GOURIKALYANAME,VAIBHOGAMAY"
Three knots are tied – the first one by the bridegroom, the other two
knots by his sister to make the bride a parts of the boy’s family. The
Vedic hymn recited by the bridegroom when he ties the knot, is: " Praying
the Almighty that I be blessed with a long life, I tie this knot around your
neck, oh soubhaygavati, may providence bestow on you a fulfilling life of a
‘Sumangalis’ for a hundred years to come? "
‘PAANI GRAHANAM’
This means "holding hands". The groom holds the hand of the bride.
The Manthras say: The Devas have offered you to me in order that I may live
the life of a householder ( GRIHASTA ); we shall not part from each other even
after we grow old? "
‘SAPTHA PADHI’
Holding the bride’s hand, the bridegroom walks seven steps with her. This
is the most important part of the marriage ceremony, and only when they walk
seven steps together ( i.e. perform SAPTHAPADHI) is the marriage complete legally.
The belief is that when one walks 7 steps with another, one becomes the another’s
friend. The manthras recited then, mean: "Ye who have walked seven steps
with me, become my companion, where by I acquire your friendship. We shall remain
together inseparable. Let us make a vow together; we shall share love, share
the same food, and share the strength, the same tastes. We shall be of one mind,
we shall observe the vow together. I shall be the SAMA, you the RIG: I shall
be the Upper World, you the earth; I shall be the SUKHILAM, you the HOLDER –
together we shall live, beget children, and other riches, come thou, O sweet-worded
girl? "
‘PRADHAANA HOMAM’
A crucial part of the wedding is the homage paid by the couple to AGNI, the
fire- God. They circle around the fire, and feed it with ghee, and twigs of
nine types of trees, as sacrificial fuel. The fumes that arise, are supposed
to possess medicinal, curative and cleansing effects on the bodies of the couple.
AGNI, the mightiest power in the cosmos, the sacred purifier, the all-round
benefactor, is deemed as a witness to the marriage (AGNI SAAKSHI )
‘LAAJA HOMAM’
This shall comprise the bride’s own offering to the sacrificial fire.
As she is forbidden to do it herself, her brother helps her. He gives her a
handful of parched rice grains which she hands to bridegroom who on her behalf,
feeds it into the fire. Through this food offering, the bride seeks a long life
for her husband, and propagation of the family. Participation of the bride’s
family members indicates the continuance of links between the two families,
even after marriage. The couple circle around the fire, three times, and the
feeding of the fire with parched rice, is repeated thrice.
TREADING ON THE GRINDSTONE
Holding the bride’s left foot toe, the bridegroom helps her tread on a
grindstone kept on the right side of the fire. The Manthras says: "Mount
up this stone. Let thy mind be roc-firm, unperturbed, by the trials and tribulations
of life? "
SHOWERING OF ‘AKSHADAI’(Ashirwadam)
Akshadai, i.e. rice-grains coated with turmeric , are showered on the couple,
by PRIEST(Vadhyar),elders and invitees – as benediction.
‘GRIHA PRAVESHAM’
Taking with her, fire from the Laaja Homam, the bride takes leave of her home,
and enters the new home of her in-laws. The vedic hymns now sound likes the
mother’s words of advice to her daughter: "Be the queen of your husband’s
home. May your husband glorify your virtues; conduct yourself in such a way
that you win your mother-in-law’s love, and be in the good books of your
sister’s-in-law."
‘NALUNGU’
The evening of the marriage day is the time to relax and play. The newly wed
wife calls her husband for play, inviting him through a song. Much to the merriment
of one and all gathered, there follows list of playful items: the bride anointing
the groom’s feet with colour paste ; fanning him, showing him a mirror;
breaking papads over each other’s head; wrenching the betel pack from
each other’s hand; rolling the coconut from one to another as in ball-play;
and so on. During these items, the ladies sing songs poking fun at the bride,
groom and the in-laws.
These events brings out many qualities of the bride and the groom – sporting
spirit, kindness, strength, co-operative nature etc.
THE NIGHT TIME HOMAMS
• THE JAYAATHI HOMAM – is performed to propitiate the Gandharvas
and deities.
• PRAVESA HOMAM – is done to solemnise the bride’s entry in
to the husband’s home. The sacrificial fire is brought along by the bride.
• SESHA HOMAM – is Fire oblation with the residual ghee, a little
of which is sprinkled on the bride’s head four times.
SHOWING HER THE "ARUNDHATI " STAR
Next he shows her the Star ARUNDHATI ( of the SAPTHA RISHI Constellation ),
as also DHRUVA the polestar. Arundhati, the wife of VASISHTA Mahrishi, is exemplified
as an ideal wife, the embodiment of chastity. DHRUVA is the one who attained
immortality through single-minded devotion and perseverance – virtues
to be emulated through out married life
THAAMBOOLA CHARVANAM & PHALA
DHAANAM
The girl’s brother gives the ceremonial first betel to the couple to chew.
Certain other gifts are made to bless the couple with children and long life.
MANGALA ARATHI
A solution of lime and turmeric powder, and in colour, is prepared on a plate,
and circled around, and thrown away to ward off evil eye. This is done a number
of times during the entire wedding ceremony, and at the end.
SHANTI MUHOORTHAM
The consummation of the marriage at night – the nuptials?
Note:
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offers this service according to your personal
needs and requirements. To invite a priest(vadhyar) to perform the rituals to
carry out your special ceremony, please do not hesitate to Contact
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