India is a land of diverse culture and religion. Every region of
the country has its own unique way of celebrating their marriage. Be it east,
west, north and south all the four regions have its own wedding customs and
rituals. Marriages in India are not just coming together of two individuals and
exchange of vows and rings, but it marks the bonding of two souls, two families,
their culture and their communities. Indian wedding is not an affair of few
hours but it is a matter of several eventful days. All the family members and
friends get together for the celebration.
It is said that marriages are
made in heaven but celebrated in country like India. The marriage rituals and
customs unfold different stories behind it. Condensed over centuries of cultural
admixture, Indian weddings showcase the rich culture and tradition of India. The
practices of Indian wedding are different according to the particular region.
There are various rituals with which you can associate an Indian wedding. The
wedding celebration is divided into three parts pre wedding, main day and post
wedding. The pre wedding rituals vary according to the region. But the ceremony
of mehendi is prevalent more or less in every caste and region. The ceremony of
mehendi is celebrated mostly at bride's place where female friends and relatives
of the bride gather to put henna on bride's feet and hand. Among the other
rituals garland ceremony is the most popular rituals, which is celebrated more
or less in every part of the country. On this occasion the bride and the groom
garland each other as a sign of mutual acceptance. On the main wedding day a
wedding altar or mandapa is built on the wedding venue within which the marriage
is conducted. The rituals, which were performed on that day is totally based on
the regional customs and traditions. The ritual of putting sindoor or vermilion
powder in the parting of the bride's hair by the groom is the ritual followed
mostly in the northern and eastern part of the country. Rituals like kanyadaan,
vidaii, tying of mangal sutra around the bride's neck, saptapadi (seven steps),
in which the couple moves seven times together around the fire exchanging the
wedding vows, here fire acts as a witness of their marriage. These are some of
the common rituals practiced in all the castes.
The wedding rituals were
initially simple and easy to follow but nowadays it has become more complicated
due to unnecessary customs like dowry. The custom of dowry is mostly prevalent
in the marriages in villages. In educated and high society families dowry system
is not seen so much. But whatever may be the rituals and customs the actual
essence behind all wedding celebration is the union of two souls, two families
and two communities. And that makes Indian wedding an unique celebration of
culture and tradition.
Know what the seven pheras mean.
Hindu
marriage ceremonies involve elaborate rituals, one of the most important being
the "saat phere" or the seven steps
to marriage. This ritual involves the bride and groom circumambulating around
the sacred fire seven times while the priest chants the holy mantras. With
every step, the couple invokes the Gods to shower their blessings on them.
The significance of each sacred "phera" is as follows:
First Step:
The couple invokes the gods for plenty of pure and nourishing food. "With God
as our guide, let us take the first step to live with honour and respect. Let
us walk together so we get food," the couple prays.
Second Step:
With the second step, the couple prays to the Gods to give them the mental,
physical and spiritual strength to lead a healthy life. "Let us be happy and
enjoy life. Let us walk together so we grow together in strength," they pray.
Third Step:
The third step is for preserving wealth and prosperity in life. The
chant at this stage means, "let us share joys and pains together. Let us walk
together so we get wealth."
Fourth Step:
With the fourth step, the bride and groom invoke the gods for attainment of
happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust in all walks of life. "Let us
not forget parents and elders. Let us walk together so we get happiness by
sharing our joys and sorrows," they say.
Fifth Step:
They pray for the welfare of all living beings in the Universe and pray for
virtuous, noble and heroic children." Let us observe all acts of charity. Let
us walk together so we have family," the mantras say.
Sixth Step:
They ask the gods to give them a long, joyous life and togetherness forever.
"Let us live a long and peaceful life. Let us walk together so we have joy,"
the couple prays.
Seventh Step:
With the seventh, and last, step, the couple prays for understanding,
companionship, loyalty and unity. "Let us be friends with love and sacrifice.
Let us walk together so we have friendship," the holy chants signify.
After the seventh step has been taken, the groom says to the bride: "With
seven steps we have become friends. Let me reach your friendship. Let me not
be severed from your friendship. Let your friendship not be severed from me."
With completion of the saptapadi, the two are pronounced husband and wife.
Saptapadi
Saptapadi, or the taking of seven steps by
the bride and the bridegroom before the sacred fire, is considered to be the
rite of prime importance in solemnizing a marriage. According to Paraskar
Grahaya Suktram and various other prominent Smritis, marriage has no strength
or recognition if this rite is not duly performed. Until the bride has
performed the Saptapadi she is considered unmarried. The Saptapadi is the only
ritual that gives the right to a girl to choose her husband in front of the
sacred fire (Agni).
A question that often comes to the mind is why seven steps? Seven has a very
deep spiritual, philosophical & divine significance in it. There are seven
matrikas or seven aspects of mother energy. The sacred fire has seven flames,
there are seven porous pious rivers, seven phases in the life of a woman,
seven elements of body, seven notes of music, seven rays of the sun and seven
main planets. Therefore, seven is always considered to be a mystic number that
bestows long life. In the famous puranic story of Savitri and Satyavan,
Savitri mentions to Yamaraj (Lord of Death) that I have moved with you for
seven steps, so we are already friends. As a friend how can you make me a
widow by taking away my husband Satyawan's soul. Hence the concept of
Saptapadi is very closely related with our mystic legends in the tradition of
fulfilling the four ends of human life i.e. Dharma, Kama, Artha and Moksha in
family life (grahasta).
While performing this rite, the bride, bearing in mind all previous ceremonies
of Kanyadaan and Laja Homa, agrees to take the seven steps as the beginning of
her life together with the bridegroom.
It is important to mention here, that this ceremony i.e. Saptapadi is mostly
confused with pheras or agni pradakshina. The agni pradakshina or pheras is a
totally different rite of four, three or seven circuits round the sacred fire,
three of which are led by the bride and rest by bridegroom. The Saptapadi on
the other hand is the rite of seven steps taken together by the bride and the
bridegroom, at a slow and measured pace side-by-side and step-by step in the
north-eastern direction. While moving forward the bride is always on the right
side so that the bridegroom's right hand is on her right shoulder. He says to
her "Let not your left foot surpass your right foot." With each step, the
bride and the bridegroom take a pledge together.
First Step
Bridegroom Says
"Om esha ekapadi bhava iti prathaman"
"My beloved, our love becomes firm by your walking one step with me. You will
offer my food and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide for
your welfare and happiness and that of your children.
Bride Says
"Dhanam dhanyam pade
vadet"
"I humbly submit to you, my lord. Kindly give me the responsibility of the
home, food and finance. I promise you that I shall fulfil all responsibilities
towards the welfare of the family and the children.
Second Step
Bridegroom Says
"Om oorje jara dastayaha"
"My beloved, now you have walked the second step with me. Fill my heart with
strength and courage and together we shall protect the household and the
children."
Bride Says
"Kutumburn
rakshayishyammi sa aravindharam"
"My lord, in your grief, I shall fill your heart with courage and strength. In
your happiness, I shall rejoice, I promise you that I will please you always
with sweet words and take care of the family and children. And you shall love
me and me alone as your wife.
Third Step
Bridegroom
says
"Om rayas Santu
joradastayaha"
"My beloved, now you have walked three steps with me. By virtue of this, our
wealth and prosperity are going to grow. I shall look upon all other woman as
my sisters. Together, we will educate our children and may they live long"
Bride Says
"Tava bhakti as vadedvachacha"
"My love, I will love you with single minded devotion as my husband. I will
treat all other men as my brothers. My devotion to you is that of a chaste
wife and you are my joy. This is my commitment and my pledge to you."
Fourth Step
Bridegroom Says
"Om mayo bhavyas jaradastaya ha"
"My beloved, it is a great blessing that you have walked four steps with me.
You have brought auspiciousness and sacredness into my life. May we be blessed
with obedient and noble children. May they live long."
Bride Says
"Lalayami cha pade vadet."
"My lord, I will adorn myself from head to toe with flowers, garlands and
ornaments, and anoint myself with sandalwood paste and fragrance for your
sake. I will serve you and please you in every way I can."
Fifth Step
Bridegroom Says
"Om prajabhyaha Santu jaradastayaha"
"My beloved, now that you have walked five steps with me, you have enriched my
life. May God bless you. May our loved ones live long and share in our
prosperity."
Bride Says
"Arte arba sapade vadet"
"My Lord, I will share your joys and sorrows. Your love will make me trust and
honour you. I will carry out all your wishes."
Sixth Step
Bridegroom Says
"My beloved, you have filled my heart with happiness walking six steps with
me. May you fill my heart with joy and peace at all times and seasons."
Bride Says
"Yajne home shashthe vacho vadet."
"My Lord, in all acts of righteousness, in material prosperity in all
enjoyment and divine acts, I promise you I will participate and I shall always
be with you."
Seventh Step
Bridegroom says
"Om sakhi jaradastayahga."
"My beloved, as you walked the seven steps with me, our love and friendship
became eternal. We experienced spiritual union in God. Now you have become
completely mine and I offer my life to you. Our marriage will be forever.
Bride Says
"Attramshe sakshino vadet pade."
"My Lord, as per the law of God and the holy scriptures, I have become your
spouse with the taking of the seventh step. Whatever promises we gave, we did
so with a pure mind. We will be truthful to each other in all matters. We will
love each other forever."
