A Hindu wedding is called vivaha (Sanskrit:

[1]
) and the wedding ceremony is called vivaah
sanskar.
[2][3]
The Hindus attach a lot of importance to marriages, the ceremonies are very
colourful, and celebrations may extend for several days. The bride's and groom's home -
entrance, doors, wall, floor, roof - are sometimes decorated with colors, balloons and other
decorations.
[4]

The rituals and process in a Hindu wedding vary widely. Nevertheless, there are a few key rituals
common in Hindu weddings - Kanyadaan,Panigrahana, and Saptapadi, which are respectively,
giving away of daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hand near the fire to signify union, and
taking seven steps with each step includes a vow/promise to each other before fire.
[5]
The Hindu
wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna ritual. The primary witness of a Hindu
marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) Agni, in the presence of family and friends.
[6]
The
ceremony is traditionally conducted entirely, or at least partially in Sanskrit, considered
by Hindus as the language of holy ceremonies. The local language of the bride and groom is also
used.
The pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals and celebrations vary by region, preferences or the
resources of the groom, bride and their families. They can range from one day to multi-day
events. Pre-wedding ceremonies include engagement (involving vagdana or betrothal and lagna-
patrawritten declaration),
[3]
and arrival of the groom's party at the bride's residence, often in the
form of a formal procession with dancing and music. The post-wedding ceremonies may
include Abhishek, Anna Prashashan, Aashirvadah, and Grihapravesa - the welcoming of the
bride to her new home.
In India, where most Hindus live, by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is binding and complete
unless the ritual of seven steps and vows in presence of fire (Saptapadi) is completed by the
bride and the groom together.
[7]
This requirement is under debate.
[8]

A Hindu wedding is regionally called vivaha (Hindi: ), (Bengali : ), (Kannada:
(Maduve)), (Telugu: ).
Contents
[hide]
1 Eight types of marriage
2 Main rituals
o 2.1 Kanyadaan
o 2.2 Panigrahana
o 2.3 Saptapadi - Short Form
o 2.4 Saptapadi - Long Form
3 Additional rituals
o 3.1 Rituals in Nepal
4 Wedding and Married Life in Hinduism
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links
Eight types of marriage[edit]

The bride is ceremoniously decorated, in Hindu weddings, by her friends and family in regional dress, jewelry,
and body art called Mehndi. The body art is produced from a mixture of henna and turmeric, and it symbolizes
'awakening of inner light'.

A Hindu Marriage Ceremony
Ancient Hindu literature, such as Asvalayana Grhyasutra and Atharvaveda, identify eight forms of
marriages.
[3]
These are:
[5][9]

Brahma marriage - considered the religiously most appropriate marriage, where the father
found an educated man, proposes the marriage of his daughter to him. The groom, bride and
families willingly concur with the proposal. The two families and relatives meet, the girl is
ceremoniously decorated, the father gifts away his daughter in betrothal, and a vedic
marriage ceremony is conducted. This type of wedding is now most prevalent among Hindus
in modern India.
[5]

Daiva marriage - in this type of marriage, the father gives away his daughter along with
ornaments to a priest as a sacrificial fee. This form of marriage occurred in ancient times
when yajna sacrifices were prevalent.
Arsha marriage - in this type of marriage, the groom gives a cow and a bull to the father of
the bride and the father exchanges his daughter in marriage. The groom took a vow to fulfill
his obligations to the bride and family life (Grihasthashram).
Prajapatya marriage - in this type of marriage, a couple agree to get married by exchanging
some Sanskrit mantras (vows to each other). This form of marriage was akin to a civil
ceremony.
The above four types of marriages were considered prashasta marriages (proper, religiously
appropriate under Hinduism). The other four were
considered aprashasta (inappropriate).
[3][5]
Among inappropriate weddings, two acceptable forms
of marriages were:
Gandharva marriage - in this type of marriage, the couple simply lived together out of love,
by mutual consent, consensually consummated their relationship. This marriage was entered
into without religious ceremonies, and was akin to the Western concept ofCommon-law
marriage. Kama Sutra, as well as Rishi Kanva - the foster-father of Shakuntala - in
the Mahabharata, claimed this kind of marriage to be an ideal one.
[3][9]

Asura marriage - in this type of marriage, the groom offered a dowry to the father of the bride
and the bride, both accepted the dowry out of free will, and he received the bride in
exchange. This was akin to marrying off a daughter for money. This marriage was
considered inappropriate by Hindu Smriti-writers because greed, not what is best for the girl,
can corrupt the selection process.
[3]

The last two marriages were not only inappropriate, but religiously forbidden (the children, if any,
from these forbidden types of consummation were considered legitimate, nevertheless).
Rakshasa marriage - where the groom forcibly abducted the girl against her and her family's
will. The word Rakshasa means devil.
Paishacha marriage - where the man forces himself on a woman when she is insentient, that
is drugged or drunken or unconscious.
James Lochtefeld finds that the last two forms of marriage were forbidden yet recognized in
ancient Hindu societies, not to encourage these acts, but to provide the woman and any children
with legal protection in the society.
[5]

Main rituals[edit]
Main article: Vivaah
There is no single standard Hindu marriage ceremony.
[5]
Regional variations and considerable
flexibility in the rituals are prevalent. The variations may be based on family traditions, local
traditions, resources of the marrying families, and other factors. Some of the key rituals are
performed in slightly different ways in different regions.
There are a few key rituals common in a Hindu wedding ceremony. These are
[5][10][11]

Kanyadaan - the giving away of daughter by the father
Panigrahana - a ritual in presence of fire, where the groom takes the bride's hand as a sign
of their union
Saptapadi - is the most important ritual. It is called the seven step ritual, where each step
corresponds to a vow groom makes to bride, and a vow the bride makes to groom. The vows
are pronounced in Sanskrit in long form, or short quicker form, sometimes also in the
language of the groom and bride. In many weddings, Saptapadi is performed near a fire; and
after each of the seven oaths to each other, the groom and bride perform the ritual
of agnipradakshinam - walk around the fire, with part of each other's clothing tied to each
other. The fire is a form of yajna - a vedic ritual where fire is the divine witness (to the
marriage).
[6]
After Saptapadi, the couple are considered husband and wife.
Kanyadaan[edit]

Kanyadaan - a key ritual where the father gifts away the daughter to the groom. In this picture, the father's hand
is on the left, the bride and groom are on the right.
The Kanyadaan ceremony is performed by the father.
[12]
If the father has died, a guardian of
bride's choosing performs this ritual. The father brings the daughter, then takes the bride's hand
and places it to the groom's. This marks the beginning of the ceremony of giving away the bride.
The groom accepts the bride's hand, while the kama-sukta (hymn to love) is pronounced, in the
presence of the father, the bride and the groom. The Kamasukta verse is:
[12]

Who offered this maiden?, to whom is she offered?
Kama (the god of love) gave her to me, that I may love her
Love is the giver, love is the acceptor
Enter thou, the bride, the ocean of love

With love then, I receive thee
May she remain thine, thine own, O god of love
Verily, thou art, prosperity itself
May the heaven bestow thee, may the earth receive thee
After this ritual recital, the father asks the groom to not fail the girl in his pursuit of dharma (moral
and lawful life), artha (wealth) and kama (love). The groom promises to the bride's father that he
shall never fail her in his pursuit of dharma, artha and kama. The groom repeats the promise
three times.
The groom's promises to bride's father marks the end of the kanyadaan ritual in Hindu wedding.
Panigrahana[edit]

A yagya during a Hindu wedding.
The ritual of Panigrahana comes after Kanyadana. Sometimes, this ritual is preceded by vivaha-
homa rite, wherein a symbolic fire is lit by the groom to mark the start of a new household.
[12][13]

Panigrahana is the 'holding the hand' ritual
[5]
as a symbol of their impending marital union, and
the groom announcing his acceptance of responsibility to four deities: Bhaga signifying wealth,
Aryama signifying heavens/milky way, Savita signifying radiance/new beginning, and Purandhi
signifying wisdom. The groom faces west, while the bride sits in front of him with her face to the
east, he holds her hand while the following Rg vedic mantra is recited:
[3][12]

I take thy hand in mine, yearning for happiness
I ask thee, to live with me, as thy husband
Till both of us, with age, grow old

Know this, as I declare, that the Gods
Bhaga, Aryama, Savita and Purandhi, have bestowed thy person, upon me
that I may fulfill, my Dharmas of the householder, with thee

This I am, That art thou
The Sman I, the c thou
The Heavens I, the Earth thou
Saptapadi - Short Form[edit]
Main article: Saptapadi

A Hindu couple in post-marriage ceremonies, after Saptapadi. The tied clothing, represents lifelong bond formed
during the seven promises ritual with fire as witness.
The Saptapadi (Sanskrit for seven steps/feet), is the most important ritual of Vedic Hindu
weddings, and represents the legal part of Hindu marriage.
[2]
Sometimes called Saat Phere
(seven rounds),
[14]
couple conduct seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a
witness to the vows they make to each other.
[15]
In some regions, a piece of clothing or sashes
worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the
bride's right hand in his own right hand.
[15]
Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the
bride or the groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the groom in the
first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the
groom.
[16]
In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.
[15]
With each circuit, the
couple makes a specific vow to establish some aspect of a happy relationship and household for
each other.
In South Indian weddings, after each saying a mantra at each of the seven steps, the couple say
these words together:
"Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our
strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows
together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the
Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder together we shall live and beget children,
and other riches; come thou, O beautiful girl!"
[17][18][19][20][21]

In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following words after completing
the seven steps:
"We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become
partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without
me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am
sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us.
May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the
plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us
honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are
stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently
settled."
[22][23][24][25]

Saptapadi - Long Form[edit]

Hindu wedding, ceremonial offerings

Hindu wedding - the bride and groom are traditionally dressed
The long form of the key Hindu wedding ritual, Saptapadi, starts with preface announced
by the priest, and thereafter followed by a series of vows the groom and bride make to
each other.
[26]
They are as follows:
Priest's preface: The world of men and women, united in the bond of marriage by
Saptapadi, to further promote the joy of life, together listen with triumph

Step 1 Groom's vow: O!, you who feeds life-sustaining food, nourish my visitors,
friends, parents and offsprings with food and drinks. O! beautiful lady, I, as a
form of Vishnu, take this first step with you for food.
Step 1 Bride's vow: Yes, whatever food you earn with hard work, I will safeguard
it, prepare it to nourish you. I promise to respect your wishes, and nourish your
friends and family as well.

Step 2 Groom's vow: O!, thoughtful and beautiful lady, with a well managed
home, with purity of behavior and thought, you will enable us to be strong,
energetic and happy. O! beautiful lady, I, as Vishnu, take this second step with
you for the strength of body, character and being.
Step 2 Bride's vow: Yes, I will manage the home according to my ability and
reason. Together, I promise, to keep a home that is healthy, strength and energy
giving.

Step 3 Groom's vow: O!, skillful and beautiful lady, I promise to devote myself to
earning a livelihood by fair means, to discuss, and let you manage and preserve
our wealth. O! dear lady, I, as Vishnu form, cover this third step with you to thus
prosper in our wealth.
Step 3 Bride's vow: Yes, I join you in managing our income and expenses. I
promise to seek your consent, as I manage our wealth, fairly earned, so it grows
and sustains our family.

Step 4 Groom's vow: O!, dear lady, I promise to trust your decisions about the
household and your choices; I promise to dedicate myself to help our community
prosper, the matters outside the house. This shall bring us respect. O! my lady, I,
as Vishnu, take this fourth step with you to participate in our world.
Step 4 Bride's vow: Yes, I promise to strive to make the best home for us,
anticipate and provide necessary things for your worldly life, and for the
happiness of our family.

Step 5 Groom's vow: O!, lady of skill and pure thoughts, I promise to consult with
you and engage you in the keep of our cows, our agriculture and our source of
income; I promise to contribute to our country. It shall win us future. O! my skilled
lady, I, as Vishnu form, take this fifth step with you to together grow our farms
and cattle.
Step 5 Bride's vow: Yes, I promise to participate and protect the cattle, our
agriculture and business. They are a source of yoghurt, milk, ghee and income,
all useful for our family, necessary for our happiness.

Step 6 Groom's vow: O!, lovely lady, I seek you and only you, to love, to have
children, to raise a family, to experience all the seasons of life. O! my lovely lady,
I, as Vishnu, take this sixth step with you to experience every season of life.
Step 6 Bride's vow: Feeling one with you, with your consent, I will be the means
of your enjoyment of all the senses. Through life's seasons, I will cherish you in
my heart. I will worship you and seek to complete you.

Step 7 Groom's vow: O friends!, allow us to cover the seventh step together, this
promise, our Saptapad-friendship. Please be my constant wife.
Step 7 Bride's vow: Yes, today, I gained you, I secured the highest kind of
friendship with you. I will remember the vows we just took and adore you forever
sincerely with all my heart.
After the seventh step, the two become man and wife.
Additional rituals[edit]


Two Indian baraat (wedding processions), in 1890s, before the age of automobiles. Painted by
American painter Edwin Weeks.]

Some Indian weddings abroad symbolically maintain some of the customs in India. Above is a
symbolic arrival of the groom on a horse (baraat), in Nottingham, England. In front is the band.
Many Hindu weddings start with the Milne (meeting) and Swagatam (welcome)
ceremony. This ritual is where the Baraat (groom's procession party) arrives at the
bride's home or the location where the bride is and marriage will be celebrated.
The Baraat typically includes dancing and joyous members of groom's family, relatives
and friends. On their arrival, there is a ritual where key persons from the groom's side
and bride's side are introduced to each other. The introduction is typically followed by Jai
mala (garland exchange between bride and groom) and a reception that serves food and
drinks.
[27][28]

Other rituals sometimes found in Hindu weddings include ceremonies such
as madhuparka, vivaha-homa, agni-parinayana, asmarohana,lajahoma, abhishek, anna-
prashashan, and aashir-vadah.
[3]
All these ceremonies are done at the wedding location,
typically at or near the bride's home.
[4]
These additional rituals include the participation of
the brothers, or sisters, or maternal/paternal relatives, guardians or friends of the bride.
Some rituals involve
[citation needed]
rice or other grains, such as Chortaan Ka Tel, Vaaynoovi,
Dholi, Sai Kai. In these ceremonies, rice is thrown at the bride, groom or they kick a
container containing the grain.
After the wedding is complete, the bride leaves for groom's home, where Hindu family
members of the groom welcome the newly wedded couple in a ritual known
as Grihapravesa (home coming/entry).
[12]
This ceremony typically requires participation of
the mother, father, brothers, and sisters, or other guardians of the groom.
Ancient literature
[29]
suggests the Hindu couple spent time with each other, but delayed
the consummation for at least three nights following the wedding. This rite, known
as chaturthikarma - literally, "the rite performed on the fourth day of marriage" - has been
claimed by some scholars
[30]
as a possible basis for the validity of a marriage. Other
scholars
[31]
suggest Saptapadi and regionally customary wedding rituals, not
consummation, defines legal validity of a Hindu marriage. The Hindu Marriage Act of
1955, Article 7, is consistent with the latter.
[7]
Chaturthikarma is not a common practice in
Hindu communities.
[32]

In modern Hindu families, the couple proceed to honeymoon after Grihapravesa.