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On the wedding day, the marriage hall and wedding altar are tastefully
decorated to reflect the local fauna and flora - festoons of mango
leaves, flowers, plantain trees and Kolam or Rangoli on the floor
(colorful, geometric designs on the floors with colored powders). A
festive atmosphere prevails. Women wear colorful silk sarees and
dazzling ornaments. Women have a very important role to play throughout
the marriage and some of the rituals are exclusively theirs. The
nadaswaram (also called nagaswaram - a wind pipe instrument) accompanied
by thavil (percussion drum) is an important part of the marriage. No
marriage ever takes place without it in the South. This ancient musical
instrument of South India is highly venerated. The traditional belief is
that its auspicious music heralds in tranquility and beatitude. The
musicians play a variety of classical tunes (ragas) to suit every
ceremony during the marriage.
PRIESTS
Generally, every family has their own priest who conducts the wedding.
They are Vedic scholars - thoroughly acquainted with Vedic practices,
ceremonies, prayers, rituals and the mantras (Vedic hymns). They conduct
the wedding in accordance with the Vedic tenets. In Hindi, the priest is
called the pandit, from which comes the word "Pundit". The Sanskrit and
Tamil words are purohit and vadhyar.
The chief priest brings a group of Brahmin priests and assigns various
duties, including the chanting of Mantras. He presides over the function
as the ceremonial Lord and supervises its progress. The bride and the
groom, parents and close relatives are instructed by him on all their
duties during the function. The chief priest (brahaspathi) represents
higher Gods at the ceremony and is therefore treated with great respect
ad piety. He plays the most important role in the wedding. Generous
donations are given to the Brahmins in cash, clothes and other forms as
guru dakshina (offerings to the teacher). These priests play a vital
role in society.
WEDDING EVENTS
Traditionally, South Indian weddings lasted for five days. Nowadays, a
typical South Indian wedding takes a day and a half. We will now
describe the events that take place in a typical wedding.
VISHWAKSENA ARADHANA (PRAYER TO LORD VISWAKSENA)
VISHWAKSENA ARADHANA (Prayers to the God Vishwaksena - Chief Commandment
of Lord Vishnu's retinue), is the first prayer performed. Viswaksena is
the Lord of Wisdom, Dispenser of Success in all undertakings, and the
eliminator of obstacles. As a rule, Sri Vaishnavites invoke Vishwaksena
prior to commencing any ceremony or function.
WELCOMING THE GROOM
The evening before the wedding day, a grand welcome is accorded to the
bridegroom and his entourage by the parents, family members and the
friends of the bride. After offering presents and ornaments to the
groom, the parents of the bride formally invite the groom and his party
to the place of the wedding. The procession usually commences from a
temple after prayers by both the parties under guidance of the priest.
This procession is called Janavasam (similar to the baraat of North
India). The groom, duly well dressed, travels in a decorated open
vehicle lead by Nadaswaram troupe with their music.
This event serves as the public introduction and announcement of the
bridegroom to Society. After arrival at the marriage hall, a short
ceremony of betrothal is performed by the priest, followed by feasting
and entertainment (music, ballet etc). The marriage hall, with its
festive atmosphere, becomes a bustling center of social interaction.
WEDDING DAY
After the ceremonial bath in the morning, the bridegroom is escorted to
the altar to commence his prayers and rituals. Several prayers (or pujas)
are performed during the ceremony, led by the chief priest, chanting the
appropriate mantras. The initial prayers prepare the bride and groom for
the Muhurtham, the most auspicious time to solemnize and sanctify the
wedding. This time and day of the marriage are calculated by pundits
from Panchangams (Hindu almanacs) based on the birth stars and ruling
planets of the bride and the groom. This time usually falls during the
morning. The chief pundit ensures that the required ceremonies are
completed before the Muhurtham, as follows:
VRATHAM (THE MATRIMONIAL VOW)
This ceremony is performed by the bridegroom before the marriage
ceremony. The bride performs Jathakarma & Namakarna ritual before actual
commencement of wedding ceremony. While the groom conducts the ceremony
himself, guided by the pundits, the father of the bride performs
Jathakarma & Namakarna on her behalf. Oblations are poured into agni in
tribute to the Vedic-Gods, - invoking them individually. It is a solemn
request to the Gods, inviting them to witness the oath taking and the
marriage ceremony. The pundit chants the appropriate mantras while the
groom pours he oblations into the agni. After invoking each God the
pundit pronounces 'Avahayami' (The Gods have arrived) followed by 'Idham
Asanam' (The Gods are seated). The belief is that the Gods shall stay
throughout the Wedding and shower the blessings on the couple and the
congregation. Some of the Gods invoked are Soma (for fine progeny),
Varuna (abundance and wealth), Brahaspathi (impeccable morals and
conduct), Gandharvas (conjugal bliss), Indra (power and protection),
Adityas, Visvadevas (health, long life and compassion), and Surya (the
Sun - purity, wisdom and peace). After completion of this ceremony, a
yellow thread soaked in turmeric solution is tied on the wrists of the
groom and the bride. This is called Kappu or Kankanam (a protective
charm to indicate they are under oath). The Couple are exhorted to abide
by the Vedic dictum on moral, social and spiritual obligations and
responsibilities of married life. The bridegroom repeats these mantras
as narrated by the pundits. After this oath, nine earthen bowls are
brought containing edible seeds (lentils, rice). Water is poured into
these bowls. The seeds sprout and are immersed in a river later. This
ceremony is called palikai, and symbolizes fertility and compatibility.
Nichaya Muhurtham (Proclamation of Betrothal)
The bride and groom are led to the ceremonial altar and platform by
their parents and the pundits. There in the presence of all the guests,
the chief pundit declares the commencement of the marriage rituals. The
pundits introduce both the bride and the groom, tracing their respective
lineage from the preceding three generations - their names and Gotra
(clan). The names and the Gotras of the couple, their parents,
grandparents and great-grandparents are recited. This announcement is
considered as the proclamation of the betrothal and marks the
commencement of the marriage ceremonies and the beginning of the
Muhurtham.
NAANDI DEVATHA PUJA (PRAYERS TO VEDIC DEITIES)
The bridegroom continues with this ritual under the guidance of the
pundit. A small leafy branch of pipal tree is planted in the center of
the altar, and milk is poured by Sumangalis (noble married ladies).
Though explanations vary, the common belief is that this ritual is
intended to offer oblations to the 33 Vedic Deities. These benevolent
deities symbolize splendor, strength, knowledge, wealth and truth. The
Vedic Gods belong to three orders: Terrestrial (Prithivisthana). Aerial
or Intermediate (Madhya-masthana) and Celestial (Dayusthana). They are
invoked to subdue evil forces and make nature benevolent. The hymns
chanted describe the individual characteristics and distinctive traits
of each god.
On completion of this worship, new clothes are presented to the
bridegroom and the bride, after they are anointed with sandal paste,
vermilion (Kumkum) and turmeric powder. The presumption is that these
Deities arrive to witness the wedding and bless the couple and the
assemblage with peace and prosperity.
KASI YATRA (PILGRIMAGE TO KASI OR VARANASI)
The Hindu code of Law and Justice (Dharma Sastra) formulates four
successive stages of a man's life. The first stage is Brahmacharin, a
student's days with his guru at his hermitage learning the Vedas, while
observing strict celibacy and discipline. The second stage is Grihasta,
in which a man enters married life, establishes a household, begets
children, and discharges all social and religious responsibilities. The
third stage is Vanaprastha, in which he dwells in the forest as a hermit
devoted mainly to meditation. The final stage is Samyasin (ascetic)
where he becomes an ascetic, renouncing the world to meditate on the
Atman, or supreme soul, and to achieve union with it. The ascetic does
not follow rituals or ceremonies. A man may opt to enter married life or
to become an ascetic at the early stage of life. To become an ascetic,
he must, after his studies (Brahmacharin), proceed to Kasi in pursuit of
higher knowledge. Through the ages, the Hindus have revered Kasi (Varanasi)
as the holiest place and seat of learning. The tradition holds that
every Hindu, after completing his studies, proceeds to Kasi in pursuit
of higher knowledge in philosophy. This choice is Jana Marga, the path
of wisdom.
In the Kasi Yatra ceremony, the bridegroom (Brahmachari, or bachelor) is
supposed to be commencing his pilgrimage to the holy city of Kasi to
seek a guru for learning advanced philosophy to attain salvation. here,
the father of the bride intercepts him and endearingly dissuades him
from the pilgrimage, assuring the groom that the same supreme state
could be attained through married life. The father of the bride promises
to give his daughter to the groom for becoming a Grihasta (married man).
In this ceremony, the groom is attired in yellow robes and holds an
umbrella and some religious texts - like a young monk.
The bride's father addresses the groom thus: "We accord you a grand
welcome. O Mahavishnu in human form. Please step into my house and I
shall give away my daughter to you in marriage". The bride's father then
places a coconut and flowers in the hands of the groom and leads him to
the entrance of the marriage hall. There, the bride and the groom
exchange garlands and are seated on a swing. Sumangalis circumambulate
the swing singing devotional songs that describe the marriages of
various Gods. They carry oil lamps, flowers, water in silver pots, and
colored cooked rice. These are scattered around the swing, which is
believed to ward off all evil spells.
The Hindus believe in triad of gods (Trimurti) composed of Brahma, the
creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer. By describing
the groom as an incarnation of the god Mahavishnu (Vishnu), the father's
invitation implies the indirect meaning of the Vedanta, that everything
is an incarnation of the triad.
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