13 STEPS OF A VEDIC WEDDING

13 STEPS OF A VEDIC WEDDING

1.  VARA SATKAARAH  -  Reception of the bridegroom and his kinsmen at the entrance gate of the wedding hall where the officiating priest chants a few mantras and the bride's mother blesses the groom with rice and trefoil and applies tilak of vermilon and turmeric powder.

2.  MADHUPARKA CEREMONY.  -  Reception of the bridegroom at the altar and bestowing of presents by the bride's father.

3.  KANYA DAN  -  The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantras.

4.  VIVAH HOMA  -  The sacred fire ceremony ascertaining that all auspicious undertaking are begun in an atmosphere of purity and spirituality.

5.  PANI-GRAHAN  -  The groom takes the right hand of the bride in his left hand and accepts her as his lawfully wedded wife.

6.  PRATIGNA-KARAN  -  The couple walk round the fire, the bride leading and take solemn vows of loyality, steadfast love and life-long fidelity to each other.

7.  SHILA-AROHAN  -  The mother of the bride assists her to step onto a stone slab and consels her to prepare herself for a new life.

8.  LAJA-HOMAH  -  Puffed rice offered as oblations into the sacred fire by the bride while keeping the palms of her hands over those of the groom.

9.  PARIKRAMA OR PRADAKSHINA  -  The couple circles the sacred fire seven times. This aspect of the ceremony legalises the marriage according to the Hindu Marriage Act as well as custom.

10.  SAPTAPADI  -  Marriage knot symbolized by tying one end of the groom's scarf with bride's dress. Then they take seven steps representing nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, long life and harmony and understanding.

11.  ABHISHEK  -  Sprinkling of water, meditating on the sun and the pole star.

12.  ANNA PRASHAN  -  The couple make food offerings into the fire then feed a morsel of food to each other expressing mutual love and affection.

13.  ASHIRVADAH  -  Benediction by the elders.