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A GLIMPSE AT THE ROOTS
Hindu marriages are generally conducted in accordance with the Vedic
principles. The Vedas and the Kalpa Sutra (a corollary to the Vedas)
specify the ceremonies and rituals of a Hindu wedding and their
Spiritual significance.
The first and oldest of the Vedas, Rig Veda, specifies the mantras
(hymns) to be chanted during the Wedding ceremony. The Grihya Sutra, a
branch of the Kalpa Sutra, describes the conduct of the wedding,
specifies suitable seasons and timings for the ceremony, and describes
the qualification for compatibility of the bride and groom. The Grihya
Sutra divides the wedding into various phases and allocates duties to
everyone involved in the wedding (priests, the couple, their parents and
close relatives). Each ceremony and its associated mantras are
enumerated. It is the duty of the chief priest to supervise the wedding
and ensure conformity to the traditions. Thus, the Hindu wedding is a
vibrant synthesis of religious, moral, cultural, spiritual and social
values. It also incorporates color, gaiety and entertainment, and
becomes a very memorable event for the couple and their community.While
the solemnizing rituals and the mantras retain their original character
and essence, weddings have undergone many variations down the ages. As
the Vedic culture Spread, its robust flexibility absorbed local Social
customs and regional cultural influences into its frame, enriching its
expansive mosaic. These variations added vitality to the traditions
without altering their fundamentals. The objectives, principles, and
ceremonies propounded by the Vedas and Grihya Sutra still retain
authority and charm in their pristine form.The mantras solemnize the
marriage and specify the responsibilities of the couple to each other
and to humanity. The wedding has many ceremonies and prayers, each of
which has a paramount and direct relevance to life. The mantras explain
that marriage is the noblest path for the couple to establish their
identity in unison to promote prosperity, stability and peace.
Generally, the mantras enjoin the husband and wife to be inseparable
companions of each other in the spheres of religion, philosophy, love
and wealth. Fine progeny for continuation of the lineage is the prime
objective for many prayers. Marriage is the highest religious sacrament
rather than a secular contract. The prayers and the rites of the entire
ceremony emphasize matrimony as a holy bond of divine continuity and
ordainment. The Vedic mantras propound that marriage is a celestial
institution - sacrosanct and eternal.
The Vedic tradition is traced to very ancient times. Scholarly
speculations have not been able to trace the Vedic period accurately. In
this circumstance, it would be reasonable to accept the common Indian
belief that the Vedic period falls between 6000 to 8000 BC. Due credence
must be given to this Indian concept, since every Indian continues to
live through his civilization - an integral part of his life that
preserves the past and formulates the future. The Vedas are his roots
and his gift to humanity.
A SURVEY OF THE PRESENT
We describe the typical South Indian Brahmin Wedding, which is
reasonably close to the original Vedic Customs. The old practice of the
conducting the wedding at the bride's residence is gradually fading
away. Nowadays, weddings are typically conducted at temples, hotels, and
marriage halls (called Kalyana Mandapams). The marriage halls are
specially constructed to supply all the requisites of wedding, easing
the cumbersome logistics.
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