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Hindu matrimonial |
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The hindu religion has a deep significance and meaning for the institution of marriage. Hindu matrimonial rites have a deep significance and they are made to observe marriage as a sacrament and not as a contract. As soon as the bridegroom along with his party arrives, they are warmly welcomed by the bride's parents, relatives and friends. At the entrance of the hall, there is a ceremony in Hindu matrimonial. This ceremony is called “doorway ceremony” is performed. The wedding priest chants a few mantras of blessings and welcome. In the “doorway ceremony” the bride’s mother receive and bless the groom with rice, red tumeric powder (kumkum) etc., by applying tilak,a red dot and uncooked rice on the groom’s forehead. She sprinkles rice and red tumeric powder on the groom, and then blesses him with the palms of both hands - stretching them close to the groom’s head.
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Then the priest and the bride’s parents lead the bridegroom and his parents to the stage where they are given appropriate seats. To the accompaniment of ceremonial mantras by the officiating priest, in Hindu matrimonial the bride’s parents welcome the groom by invoking God’s blessings and then offering the bridegroom a nutritious drink called Madhuparka. This is called the Madhuparka Ceremony. The bride’s father, then symbolically offers to the bridegroom a cow as a present. In olden times sons-in-laws received real cows as gifts, since that was the most precious asset with which a newly wedded couple could start life.
Kanyadaan is the most important of the Hindu matrimonial rites. Kanya means daughter or girl. Daan means giving away. In this ceremony the bride’s parents give their daughter to the groom by entrusting her to the bridegroom. The officiating priest chants verses in Sanskrit. The people present in the ceremony now came to know that the parents have willingly expressed their wish and consent in the marriage by requesting the groom to accept their daughter as his bride. Kanyadaan is followed by the “Vivah-homa”. Vivah-homa is also called the "sacred fire ceremony”. The bridegroom rising from his seat, facing the bride, shall raise her right hand with his left hand and then clasped it. The bridegroom taking the palm of the bride into his hand helps her to rise and then they both shall walk round the altar, the bride leading. Then facing the east they together take somw solemn vows.
The next ritrual that followed in the Hindu matrimonial is called “Shilarohanam”. In this ceremony, the mother of the bride assists her to step onto a stone and counsels her to prepare herself for a new life. The stone signifies strength and trust.
Other than a religious meaning there is also a mathematical rationale on performing the 7 rounds circling the fire in Hindu matrimonial. A circle is 360 degrees, all the numbers between 1 and 9 divides 360 except the number 7. It becomes an indivisible number therefore symbolizing marriage as indivisible.
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