What Customs Surround A Hindu Wedding?

The Hindu wedding ceremony, also known as Sagai or Mangni, is a formal engagement ceremony in India. The rituals of the Hindu wedding ceremony may vary depending on the region where the bride and groom come from, but they all share the same seven promises of marriage: the solemnity and exclusivity of the vows, the commitment to unite the couple forever, and the application of sindoor, a red or orange-red colored powder, to the bride’s head.

The main stages of a Hindu wedding include Jayamaala, the ritual of 7 pheras, performed under the guidance of a priest, or pandit, who utters religious sayings. These elaborate rituals acknowledge the solemnity and exclusivity of the vows, and seek to unite the couple forever.

The Hindu marriage is the most important of all the samskaras, the rites of passage described in the Dharmashastra texts. The groom applies sindoor to the middle part of the bride’s head to show her marriage.

The Hindu pre-wedding ceremonies include Muhurat, Roka or Tilak Ceremony, Barni Bandhwana, Mehndi Ceremony, and the Haldi ceremony. These rituals embrace the five elements of nature: fire, earth, water, air, and ether, and include invocations to the Divine, followed by vows.

A popular prewedding ritual is the Haldi ceremony, which is intended to bring happiness, prosperity, and peace through a ritual cleansing and purification. The wedding ceremony concludes with the Vara Yatra/Baraat, the groom’s welcome, Ganesh Puja, Varpooja Kanya Aagman, and Vivaah Homa.

What is the meaning of 7 steps in Hindu marriage?

The Saptapadi, a traditional Hindu Indian wedding ritual, involves the bride and groom taking seven steps on the mandap, symbolizing their journey through the seven stages of life. The ritual, derived from Sanskrit words “Sapta” (meaning seven) and “Padi” (meaning steps), promises love, companionship, and mutual support. The Saptapadi symbolizes the journey and unity between the couple, promising to nurture, support, and respect each other.

In today’s era of transformations in marriages, the Saptapadi serves as a timeless reminder of the core values that form the foundation of a harmonious and prosperous married life. The first step, “Commitment to Nourishment and Growth”, represents the commitment to nourish each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually, fostering the family’s growth and development.

Is kissing okay in Hinduism?

Hindu greetings are typically accepted through handshakes or the Hindu Namaskar, which involves clasping palms together and holding them vertically near the chest. This form of greeting differs from the conventional practice of hugging or kissing the opposite sex.

What are the three main traditions of Hinduism?

Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination or tradition. However, four major traditions are used in scholarly studies: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. These denominations differ in the primary deity at the center of each tradition, but do not deny other concepts of the divine or deity. Hindu denominations are fuzzy, with individuals practicing more than one, leading to the term “Hindu polycentrism”. Despite having many denominations and philosophies, Hinduism is linked by shared concepts, rituals, cosmology, textual resources, pilgrimage to sacred sites, and the questioning of authority.

What is a Hindu ritual called?

Puja is a Hindu worship ritual that involves offering devotional homage and prayer to deities, hosting and honoring guests, or spiritually celebrating events. Puja is a loving offering of light, flowers, water, or food to the divine, and is the essential ritual of Hinduism. The divine is visible in the image, and the divinity sees the worshipper. The interaction between human and deity, or guru, is called a Darshanam.

Puja is performed on various occasions, frequencies, and settings, such as daily home pujas, occasional temple ceremonies, and annual festivals. It can also be held to mark lifetime events like births, house entering ceremonies, first rice-eating ceremonies, weddings, sacred thread ceremonies, or new ventures. The two main areas where puja is performed are in the home and at temples to mark certain stages of life, events, or festivals such as Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Janmashtami, and Lakshmi Puja.

Puja is not mandatory in Hinduism, and it may be a routine daily affair for some Hindus, a periodic ritual for some, or rare for other Hindus. In some temples, various pujas may be performed daily at various times of the day, while in other temples, they may be occasional.

What are the rules for Hindu wife?

Hindu texts advise marrying within one’s own community but prohibit marrying those from the same lineage or gotra. The bride should not be from the same gotra or born in the same lineage. Parents can choose from descendants of more than seven generations on the paternal side and five on the maternal side. The use of jatakam or janmakundali (natal and astrological chart at the time of birth) is common but not universal.

Parents also consult Brahmin astrologers called Jothidar in Tamil, Panthulu or Siddanthi in Telugu, and Kundali Milan in Hindi, who hold astrological data for those looking to get married. Some communities, like the Brahmins in Mithila, use genealogical records (“Panjikas”) maintained by specialists.

A jatakam or kundali chart is drawn based on the placement of stars and planets at the time of birth. Hindu astrology believes that the position of celestial objects and their benefic or malefic influence influence the auspicious compatibility between a bride and groom. If the astrological chart of the two individuals achieves the required threshold, further talks are considered for a prospective marriage. If both parties consent, an auspicious time is chosen for the wedding to take place.

What happens in the three days of a Hindu wedding?

The Ganesh Puja, also known as Mandap Muhurat or Pithi, is a significant event in a wedding ceremony. It is typically performed at home, with only the couple, bridal party, and close relatives present. The ceremony signals the start of the rest of the wedding rituals, and the family prays to Lord Ganesh for peace and harmony. The first or second day also includes a mehndi ceremony, where the bride and her female friends and family members draw intricate henna patterns on their hands and feet. The sangeet ceremony, which includes the introduction of the couple’s families, mingling, a meal, and dances, is held the following evening.

Can husband press wife legs in Hinduism?

A review of scriptural and traditional sources reveals no evidence that a husband is prohibited from touching his wife’s feet. This practice is not considered customary due to the traditional gender roles that have been established in many cultures.

What are the rituals of Hindu wedding?

The Hindu wedding ceremony is a Vedic yajna ritual, with three key rituals: Kanyadana, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi. These rituals are almost universal, with promises made at each step. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity Agni, in the presence of family and friends. The ceremony is traditionally conducted in Sanskrit, considered the language of holy ceremonies by Hindus. The rituals are prescribed in the Gruhya sutra, composed by various rishis such as Apastamba, Baudhayana, and Ashvalayana.

Pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals and celebrations vary by region, preference, and resources of the groom, bride, and their families. Pre-wedding ceremonies include engagement, which involves vagdana and Lagna-patra, and Varyatra, the arrival of the groom’s party at the bride’s residence. Post-wedding ceremonies may include Abhisheka, Anna Prashashana, Aashirvadah, and Grihapravesa, the welcoming of the bride to her new home. The wedding marks the start of the Grhastha (householder) stage of life for the new couple.

Can husband and wife sleep together during periods in Hinduism?

Manu Smriti, a Hindu text, emphasizes the importance of menstruation and its role in social hierarchy. It instructs Brahmin men to avoid sharing a bed with menstruating women, having sex with them, eating food touched by them, and holding conversations with them. The text also states that if a man touches an “untouchable”, “menstruating woman”, “anyone who has fallen from his caste”, “a woman who has just given birth”, “a corpse”, or anyone who has touched a corpse, he requires cleansing through a bath.

The text also links menstruation to the Vedic story that links menstruation, guilt, sexuality, and Brahmanicide. In this story, the god Indra commits Brahmanicide by killing Vicvarupa, a demon-like Brahmin. To absolve himself of this “sin”, Indra appeals to the earth, trees, and women to each take a third of his guilt, which they each do and receive a boon (blessing) in exchange. After the women take on Indra’s guilt, it becomes a woman with stained garments, and one should not converse with her, sit with her, or eat her food.

These practices fit within the instructions governing control of bodily substances and caste distinction recounted in Manu Smriti, but are intensified by the Vedic story associating moral negativity with menstruation. The text explains that the progeny of a woman who has intercourse during menstruation will be “accursed” and that a man should therefore not have intercourse with a menstruating woman. A later Dharma text addressing the specific duties of a Brahmin wife emphasizes this idea, asserting that a child resulting from intercourse during menstruation will be an “untouchable” or “cursed”.

In summary, menstruation is associated with impurity in Brahmanical Hinduism due to its position within codified systems governing bodily secretions and caste distinction, as well as its association with sin and guilt. Sangam literature, a precursor to the Brahmanical system, references ananku, a concept translated as a “sacred power” expressed through and filling women’s bodies at menarche, during menstruation, and following childbirth. Menstrual taboos and practices recognize the sacred power of the female and were instituted for reciprocal protection.

What are the rituals of Hinduism?

Hindus are expected to perform daily rituals as part of their household responsibilities, including morning rituals like bathing, offering prayers to the Sun God, and chanting the Gayatri mantra. Common rituals include puja, meditation, silent prayers, yoga, recitation of scriptures, reading religious books, participating in Satsang, performing charitable work, visiting temples, and chanting the name of their beloved God. These rituals, prayers, and sacred ceremonies are believed to help Hindus pay their reverence to God.

Prayers or Pooja are integral to a Hindu devotee’s life, performed under the guidance of Hindu priests or Brahmins. After every pooja, a sacred offering (Prasad) is made to God, without claiming reciprocal advantages. Hindus believe that performing these rituals helps in their spiritual betterment.

Hindu texts and holy scriptures outline various rituals that Hindu devotees must perform throughout their lifetime, with holy sites being of great importance as they are considered God’s abodes. Hindus pay homage to their ancestors at these sacred sites, and prayers are performed to bestow long-lasting peace and unite them with the Divine power.

Can husband and wife bath together in Hinduism?

It is not obligatory for a married couple to shower together; however, some couples elect to shower together on an occasional basis. The frequency and timing of shared showers are contingent upon the preferences of the couple in question and the individual preferences of both partners.