|
« Back
to Featured Content
South
Indian Wedding
The
South Indian wedding and its rituals are integral part of the
customs. In a typical South Indian wedding, full-grown plantain
trees are tied to both the gateposts it symbolizes, the eternal
tree of evergreen plenty for endless generations.?Decorated overhead
of mango leaves, and screw-pine petals that never fade are used
in the ceremony. Notes of the Nadaswaram, the South Indian Shehnai?
are a must in the wedding ceremony. Kolam or Rangoli designs at
the doorsteps are used for an artistic welcome of the guests.
At entrance of the hall, sprinklings of rosewater, offerings of
flower, sandal batter, sugar candy,?are of the few traditional
rituals of the South Indian wedding.
The
evening before the wedding day
In
a flower decorated car the bridegroom is to be brought in a procession
from a temple in the evening. He is then escorted by the bride’s
parents, and welcome at the marriage mandap, which is the bride’s
quarter. 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 Barat in North
India. Through such a parade, public approval is sought of the
groom, chosen by the family.
Wedding
day
Ganapatipuja
As
in an inauguration of any function so also in a marriage –
Ganapati, the God of Initiation is invoked, to keep away all hindrance.
Nandidevta
puja
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.
Navgraha
puja
This is performed to propitiate the nine astral planets that rule
over man’s destiny.
Vratham
The Vartham is performed separately by the bride and the groom,
with this ceremony the wedding ceremony begins. 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 symbolizes
a kind of the protective armor for the bride. For the groom, the
various Gods – Indra, Soma, Chandra, Agni. From there on,
the groom prepares himself for a new 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.
Kasiyatra
This is a very important part of the ceremony. According to hindu
culture after the student- life, the young bachelor has two alternative
to lead his further life either as a Grihasta (married life) or
Sanyas (asceticism). 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 has faded and replaced
with as just a ritual to be followed.
Vaaku
Nichaya Muhoortham
At the marriage hall, the bride’s father and the bridegroom’s
father faces each other, celebrate the final betrothal ceremony,
the Vedic priest chants the relevant hymns-in which the names
of the bride, the bridegroom, as well as the names of their three
generations of ancestors, are cited in presence of friends, relatives,
and invitees.
The manthras say : "O God Varuna, Be she harmless to
my brothers and sisters? Oh Brihaspathi? May she no evil to her
husband? O Lord Indra? Bless her to be a good guardian of her
children? O Surya? Bless her with all wealths? "
[Top]
Exchange
of Garlands
The bride and the groom are lifted to the shoulders of their respective
uncles; and the two garland each other thrice for a complete union.
A garland worn by a person should not be used by another, ordain
the shastras. The exchange of garlands symbolizes their unification
– as one soul in two bodies.
Oonchal
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.
Paalkai
Seeds Sowing
Paalikais are earthen pots prepared a day earlier – pots
spread at the base with hariali grass and Bael leaves (Vilvam);
nine kinds of pre-soaked cereals are ceremonially sown in these
pots by Sumangalis. This is fertility rite. After the marriage,
the sprouted seedlings are released in a river or pool. This ritual
invokes the blessings for a healthy life and progeny to the couple.
Varapuja
The feet of the bridegroom is washed in milk, and wiped off with
silk. This is done by the bride’s father. As a brahmachari,
the groom is represented as the male principle of Godhead. Water
and lighted lamps are circulated around the swing in order to
guard the couple against demons and ghosts. Colored globules of
cooked rice are waved in circular motion, and thrown away –
to propitiate the evil spirits.
Kanya
Dhaanam
The bride is made to sit on her father’s lap and is given
away as gift by him, to the bridegroom.
A
ring made with Kusa, the sacred grass called DARBHA, is placed
on the girls head, 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 by the sister of the bridegroom.
To
bride changes into 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?”
The
father of the bride, while offering his daughter chants: "I
offer ye 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?
Thus offering her daughter, her father gets a word of assurance
three times that the bridegroom shall remain for ever her companion
in joy and sorrow – in this life, and after death too?
[Top]
Kankana
Dharanam
The bride ties a string fastened to a piece of turmeric, around
the wrist of the bridegroom to bind themselves by a religious
vow. It is only after tying the Kankanam that the bridegroom gets
the right to touch the bride. A little later, the bridegroom ties
a Kankanam on the bride’s wrist.
Mangalya
Dharanam
at the exact auspicious hour, the tying of the Mangala Sutra (
Thaali ) is done. The bride is seated over a sheaf of grain-laden
hay, looking eastward, and the bridegroom facing westward, he
then ties the gold Mangala Sutra around the neck of the bride.
As soon as he does so, the Nadaswaram drums are beaten loud and
fast, to muffle any inauspicious sounds at the critical hour.
This is called Getti Melam, the Sumangali ladies sing “GOURI
KALYANAME, 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 groom’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 is the marriage complete
legally. The belief is that when the two walks 7 steps together
they become friends. 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 )
[Top]
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?”
Showing
her the Arundhati star
groom shows his bride 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.
Laaja
homam
bride’s offers her 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.
Showering
of Aksadai
Akshadai, i.e. rice-grains coated with turmeric and saffron, are
showered on the couple, by elders and invitees – as benediction.
Griha
pravesam
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
On the eve of the marriage day it is time to relax and play. The
newly wed wife calls her husband for play, inviting him through
a song. Much to the cheerfulness 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 bring out many qualities of the bride and the groom –
sporting spirit, kindness, strength, co-operative nature etc.
[Top]
The
night time homam
- 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.
thaamboola charvanam and baladhaanam
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 colors, 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.
[Top]
«
Back to Featured
Content
|
