South Indian Marriage

Thali Kattuthal

Ketti Melam

Parippu Thengai

 Mehndi

South Indian wedding

The marriage ceremony is the 13th among the 16 SAMSKARAS or rites of passage that a Hindu observes in a lifetime. In Hindu scriptural writings, marriage is considered a sacrament and not a contract. It is meant to unite two persons so firmly together that although they retain their two separate bodies, they become one in spirit. This is graphically and dramatically expressed in the figure of the ARDANAREESWARA. No man or woman is so whole or so fully rounded as not to need the other to complement and to complete him or her. MANU the great sage gives expression to this idea in a poetic fashion in Sanskrit. The translation as follows: "He is Vishnu, the god the Preserver; she is Shri, the goddess of prosperity and felicity. He is thought, she is speech, He is reason, she is perception, he is law and she is prudence. He is justice and she is truth. She is fire and he is fuel. He is patience and she is peace. He is piety and she is virtue. He is the sun and she is the moon. He is the chant and she is the note. She is the orb and he is the space. He is the ocean and she the shore. He is day and she is night. He is the lamp and she is the light. He is the tree and she the sap. She is the stream and he the channel. He is the flagstaff and she the flag. He is the strength and she is beauty. He is PURUSHA and she is PRAKRITI.

KARYA KRAMAM Vigneeswara Pooja:

Mahaganapati is worshipped before the commencement of wedding rites. Gauri Pooja: Gauridevi is the repository of all that is mangalam or auspicious and confers DEERGA SUMANGALYA (lasting marital bliss). The bride and her parents pray to GAURI for her grace. Punyahavachanam: This is a purifying rite, which renders the site and its environs sacred for conducting the ceremony. Raksha Bandhanam: RAKSHA means protection. As the bride and the groom embark upon the second stage of life's journey, GRAHASTA, protective bands are tied to their wrists. Dwiteeya Yajnopaveeta Dharanam: The groom puts on the second sacred thread preparatory to become a GRIHASTA. Kanya Varnam: The lineage of the bride and the groom up to three generations is declared to the assembled guests. Vara Pooja: The groom is ceremoniously invited by the bride's father to accept the sacrament of marriage. Kanya Dana Sankalpam: The bride's father makes the resolution to offer his daughter of marriage to the groom. Dasa Dhanam: The bride's father symbolically offers ten different kinds of gifts to the groom. Kanya Danam: Of all the gifts a father makes, the offer of a daughter in marriage is considered the most meritorious. Sumuhoortham: At the astrologically determined moment, the bride and the groom place on the other's head, a ball of ground cumin and jaggery, signifying their willingness to accept the bittersweet responsibilities of marriage.


Mangalya Pooja:

The priest invokes the blessings of MAHALAKSHMI, the goddess of prosperity, upon the mangalyam, a necklace with a pendant. The groom is required to place this around the bride's neck to seal the matrimonial union. Mangalya Asirvadam: The Mangalyam is passed around to the assembled guests for their blessings. Agni Pratishtapana: Agni or fire is installed for conducting the sacrifice and offering the oblations.

Mangalya Dharanam:

The groom ties the Mangalyam around the bride's neck. Mala Dharanam: The bride and groom exchange flower garlands. Panigrahanam: The bride and groom hold hands and agree that they will pursue the PURUSHARTHAS - the four ends of human existence - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Akshataropanam: The bride and groom shower on each other: turmeric-colored rice desiring happiness, enjoyment and contentment. Pradhana Homam: Agni is regarded not only as the great purifier but also as the conveyor of all offerings to the cosmic deities. The fire sacrifice is now conducted. Saptapadi: It is a Hindu belief that if one walked seven steps with another, one became friends with the other. Since there can no marriage without friendship, the bride and groom take seven steps together. They pray For physical, emotional and spiritual strength, as we tread the first step For peace and tranquility, as we take the second step For the blessings of abundance, we go on our third step together For love, pleasure and happiness in life, as we walk our fourth step For healthy and long-lived children, as we move along our fifth step For commitment to the joint ideal of making the world a better place, we pledge our sixth step together For everlasting friendship and commitment, as walk the seventh step together SAKHA HA JAYA; BE THOU MY LIFE MATE ON THIS JOURNEY

Laja Homam:

The bride's brother gives her three handful of puffed rice to be offered as an oblation for her long married life. Dhruva/Arundhati Darsanam: Dhruva and Arundhati are a constellation of illustrious spirits who symbolize steadfastness, fidelity and loyalty in marriage. The couple pray to them for inspiration and guidance. Ashirvadam: The priests invoke the blessings of the cosmic deities on the married couple. Mangala Harathi: Camphor is lit in a plate of vermilion water and the auspicious event is concluded in a SONG.