Arya Samaj Wedding (Vivah Sanskar)
In India, the Marriage rituals and customs in any family are mainly based on the religion or community that the family follows. The community only decides the kind of wedding ceremony that a couple would have. There are many people in India who don't believe in these specific and staunch rituals or grand and elaborate celebrations of the Hindu wedding function.
The Arya Samaj Marriage (wedding) ceremony is performed with the fire(yagya) and other elements as the witnesses since arya samaj don't believe in idol worshipping. In an Arya Samaj wedding, the mantras, which are chanted, are translated into a language that the couple can understand so that the couple can relate themselves to the meaning and significance of the wedding mantras. This wedding is different from the traditional Hindu wedding in the sense that it does not involves elaborate rituals and the ceremony is not extended over a long period of time. The wedding ceremony lasts for an hour and the wedding expense is very low compared to the normal traditional Hindu wedding.
- The main rituals of the wedding are as follows:
Swagat & Introduction (Welcome)
Welcome and greetings are extended to the bridegroom, bride, family and friends.
Welcome and greetings are extended to the bridegroom, bride, family and friends.
Kanya Agaman (Arrival of the Bride)
The bridesmaids and the father escort the bride to the Mandap (nuptial canopy).
The bridesmaids and the father escort the bride to the Mandap (nuptial canopy).
Jai Mala (Exchange of Garlands)
The priest guides the couple to the Mandap (nuptial canopy). Bride welcomes Groom with a floral garland and Groom garlands Bride. This exchange symbolizes formal acceptance and respect.
The priest guides the couple to the Mandap (nuptial canopy). Bride welcomes Groom with a floral garland and Groom garlands Bride. This exchange symbolizes formal acceptance and respect.
Prarthna Mantra (Prayer)
Chanting of the great Gayatri mantra to invoke the blessings of the supreme Lord.
Chanting of the great Gayatri mantra to invoke the blessings of the supreme Lord.
Madhupark (Offerings)
Bride offers the mixture of honey and yogurt to the groom. Honey symbolizes the sweetness of eternal love and yogurt for the sake of his eternal good health and nutrition.
Bride offers the mixture of honey and yogurt to the groom. Honey symbolizes the sweetness of eternal love and yogurt for the sake of his eternal good health and nutrition.
Kanya Daan (Giving hand of bride)
The prime wealth of a Hindu household is the daughter (Kanya), who symbolizes the Hindu Goddess of Wealth (Lakshmi). Bride’s parents will place her hands into Groom’s and pour holy water over them to finalize the gesture of gift giving (transfer of wealth). Bride’s father requests Groom to accept his daughter as an equal partner in all walks of life. It is noted in Vedic scriptures that there is no "Daana" (gift) greater than Kanya Daan (giving a daughters hand in marriage). Groom promises to accept Bride as his equal life partner.
The prime wealth of a Hindu household is the daughter (Kanya), who symbolizes the Hindu Goddess of Wealth (Lakshmi). Bride’s parents will place her hands into Groom’s and pour holy water over them to finalize the gesture of gift giving (transfer of wealth). Bride’s father requests Groom to accept his daughter as an equal partner in all walks of life. It is noted in Vedic scriptures that there is no "Daana" (gift) greater than Kanya Daan (giving a daughters hand in marriage). Groom promises to accept Bride as his equal life partner.
Paani-Grahan (Accepting the Hand)
The bridegroom holds the hand of the bride and both of them solemnly pledge before God that they have become one and will forever love each other and remain mutually devoted for the remainder of their lives.
Mangal Phera
Bride’s brother puts rice in the hands of Bride & Groom to offer to Agni (the Lord of Fire) who dispels darkness and ignorance while leading into light and knowledge. The couple then walks around the sacred fire. Each round represents the four basic goals of human life:
Bride’s brother puts rice in the hands of Bride & Groom to offer to Agni (the Lord of Fire) who dispels darkness and ignorance while leading into light and knowledge. The couple then walks around the sacred fire. Each round represents the four basic goals of human life:
Dharma: Moral sense to lead a good life
Artha: Financial prosperity
Kama: Blessing for strong, virtuous children and to share the responsibilities of home
Moksha : Self restraint and eternal physical, mental and spiritual strength Together the four goals symbolize the couple's commitment to each other, the community and the cosmos. During the first three rounds Bride leads Groom and during the last round Groom leads.
Shila Rohan
A rock is placed in the north east comer of the Mandap. While Bride places her right foot on the piece of rock, Groom recites a hymn the Ashma Bhava. The statement is to encourage his wife to be as strong as the rock, to be firm towards any difficulties of life they may face together. Rice and flowers are sprinkled on the couple by her parents, relatives and friends.
A rock is placed in the north east comer of the Mandap. While Bride places her right foot on the piece of rock, Groom recites a hymn the Ashma Bhava. The statement is to encourage his wife to be as strong as the rock, to be firm towards any difficulties of life they may face together. Rice and flowers are sprinkled on the couple by her parents, relatives and friends.
Saptapadi (Seven steps)
The bride and groom take seven steps forward together, symbolizing the beginning of their journey through life. These steps signify the guiding principles of life.
The bride and groom take seven steps forward together, symbolizing the beginning of their journey through life. These steps signify the guiding principles of life.
Each of these steps represents the vows made by the couple:
1. Together we will love, cherish and respect one another from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health ... forever.
2. Together we will create a home full of joy and laughter, where we find serenity and strength.
3. Together we will share a steadily deepening love, which grows in understanding and unselfishness.
4. Together we will embrace each other's family as well as our own yet to come. Let us have a measure of patience and forgive with grace.
5. Together we will develop a sense of value that we may care for people more than possessions, for honor more than honors, and for the dimensions of a home more than the details of a house.
6. Let us forever be best friends and partners, share each other's ideas and ideals. The couple is now united and will pray for the blessings from God. The father-in-law offers the bride a sacred necklace.
Sindhoor Daan
The bridegroom puts Sindhoor (Red Powder) in the parting of the bride's hair and welcomes her into his life as his eternal partner. The newly wedded couple touches the feet and takes blessings from the parents of both families..
The bridegroom puts Sindhoor (Red Powder) in the parting of the bride's hair and welcomes her into his life as his eternal partner. The newly wedded couple touches the feet and takes blessings from the parents of both families..
Aashirvaad
All guests and relatives recite a hymn with the priest to wish the couple good luck, prosperity and a long, happy married life together.
All guests and relatives recite a hymn with the priest to wish the couple good luck, prosperity and a long, happy married life together.
Aacharya Brahm Dev Vedalankar
Purohit ,Arya Samaj Mandir
Vivek Vihar,Delhi
Mob:09350894633
Note:There are some Arya Samaj temple which provide facility of marriage registeration also.If you have documents like age proof and residence proof and few other documents also then your marriage can be registered in arya samaj Mandir and you will be provided with registered marriage certificate.The marriage certificate is very useful if you want to apply for visa or court marriage or any other process which require to show this certificate.Arya samaj marriage certificate is legal and valid through many Indian laws such as Hindu marriage act,sharda marriage act of 1955 etc.If any arya samaj provide facility of marrikage registeration then it is completely the duty of concerned arya samaj mandir to provide certificate and maintain a record of all marriage or certificate issues.The certificate is signed by Arya samaj mandir authority(may be president,secretary etc) and Priest (Purohit of arya samaj mandir).If any certificate is not signed by these authorities then it is not legally valid.The Arya Samaj temple should also be registered under Govt.
