What is Marriage all about? What happens at a Hindu Wedding Ceremony? What are the 7 vows of Marriage? How long is a Hindu Wedding Ceremony? What to wear to a Hindu Wedding?

What is Marriage all about?

Marriage is derived from an ancient English word Mariage which was as old as 1250 CE. The term Mariage is derived from a French Marier which means to marry. The term Marier is again derived from a Latin word, Maritare which means to provide with husband or wife.

Marriage means the sacred union of two individuals and a life long commitment of one wife and one husband.

Types of Marriage: The following are the various types of marriages as per the scripture, Manusmrti during the Vedic times

Brahma Vivaah - Where the boy and the girl belong to good families and are of the same varna, which is of same order, color, class as per the society.

Prajapatya Vivaah - Where the bride's father gives away his daughter as a gift to the groom's father.

Daiva Vivaah - Where wealth people help in the marriage of a girl belonging to a poor family. This practice is observed as an act of charity.

Arsha Vivaah - Where the groom pays the price of his bride to the bride's family. This is also called as Kanyashulkam.

Asura Vivaah - Where the groom is of no match to the bride but still marries the bride by paying as much wealth as possible to the bride's family. As an ancient practice people used to give away cows as they are considered as wealth.

Gandharva Vivaah - Where the boy and the girl marry each other without the consent of their families.

Rakshasa Vivaah - Where the boy and the girl love each other but the girl's family is against their marriage. In this case, the boy abduct's the girl and they get married with the consent of the girl.

Paishacha Vivaah - Where the bride is intoxicated due to which she is unconscious while getting married. The bride in this case was married unwillingly. This practice was banned in Manusmrti.

What happens at a Hindu Wedding Ceremony?

The following are the major rituals during a Hindu Wedding

Vaakdaanam - Where the boy sends two elders from his side to the girl's father requesting her hand in marriage.

Kanyaadaanam - Where the girl's father welcomes the boy and gives away his daughter to the boy.

Mangalasnaanam - Where the girl gets ready and is arrived at the agni kund.

Managaladhaaranam - Where the boy ties Managalasutra to the girl's neck.

Paanigrahanam - Where the right five fingers of the girl's right hand is covered by the right hand of the boy. This practice symbolizes the surrendering of the girl's hear to the boy.

Saptapadi - Where the boy holds the girl's right hand and takes seven steps around the Agni god.

Grihapravesam - Where the girl enters the boy's house by knocking down a cup filled with rice with her right leg.

Praavisya Homam - Where both the boy and the girl perform homam, a fire ritual to Agni god to perform the duties of grihasthas for the next 100 years.

What are the 7 vows of Marriage?

The following are the 7 vows of Marriage

• The boy provides food to the girl which is nourishing and pure.
• The boy promises the girl to give her physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual strength.
• The boy would promise to be wealthy and prosperous.
• The boy also promises to provide her all round happiness.
• The boy promises the girl a happy life with children.
• The boy also promises the girl that they would lead a long life together.
• The boy takes promise from the girl that they both are one for eternity.

How long is a Hindu Wedding Ceremony?

The Marriage ritual is performed for about 1 to 2 days and may vary based on the cultures and traditions.

What to wear to a Hindu Wedding?

Women prefer sarees or chudidhaars whereas the men prefer dhotis or kurthas.