VIVAHAM

We at Veda Ghosham are striving to bring the right swaroopam of our Samskara karmas as per Shastra and Sampradaya. This is the part 1 of the series of Kalyanam (Vivaham), we will be covering various steps as well as mis-steps of Vivaham one by one which is currently being followed due to poor knowledge of Dharma Shastras or Sampradayas.

Veda Ghosham is striving to educate the people on the original steps / anushtanams as per Shastras and long practiced Sampradayas as it existed in the ancient Vedic period. Today we will see the topic of Pachaipidi which is the typically seen in tamil brahmin marriages during the Oonjal ceremony (when the couple sit on the swing together) and coloured rice balls are being thrown around unfortunately.

Why is Pachaipidi done? It is to ward off the negative eye or evil energies which may affect the couple.

How is the Pachaipidi made? Rice is cooked and made into balls. We see two colour balls in pachaipidi generally yellow and red. The red balls are prepared by mixing chunnambu (chuna/lime powder) and pasu manjal (freshly ground turmeric). When you mix these 2 (chuna + turmeric) the red colour comes automatically. Chunnambu is essential because it is known is Shastras to ward of evil eye and negative energies. So please make doubly sure that your Samayakaran (cook) is making the red colour and then mixing it in rice to make the balls he is not using just some red colour chemical powder. The second set is yellow rice balls which are made with turmeric powder. Once again turmeric symbolises mangalya balam, remove all health related issues and keeps them away from negative energy.

Which directions should the pachaipidi balls be released ? The ladies who are doing pachaipidi should be dressed in madisar (as in madisar they are themselves ambal swaroopam, it signifies as ambal herself is warding off the evil from the beautiful couple who are sitting as a jodi in front of so many eyes (some may be jealous eyes)). Their hair should be tied not open and the such ladies (relatives) from the bride and bridegrooms side should take 1 ball each time and rotate 3 times in clockwise circular motion covering the couple sitting in the Oonjal and then roll it on the floor/ground, not throw it around like a cricket ball as we see in most marriages.

Throwing these balls leads either to these balls landing on someone else standing around (on their head or body) which is very inauspicious for the person on whom it lands or most times it breaks and people stamp on it and go carrying samples of the rice grains under their footwear / leg everywhere.The rule is these balls should be rolled out only in 3 directions. Thus it is “Urutal” (roll) not “Veesal”(throw).

First take one ball say red colour, rotate clockwise in front of couple thrice and roll it on the right diagonal direction from the corner of the swing stand. Second rolling of the balls is in the center of swing (below the swing between the couple), third is on the left side towards left end of the swing stand. So it is like a V with one 1 on either side of the swing diagonally and 1 in the centre.

3 has a great significance in our Shastra. After we finish any Shubha karma chanting mantras we say Shantih Shantih Shantihi 3 times only not 4 times, similarly this pachaipidi is not direction specific as it covers on 3 directions and not throwing it backwards etc. 3 balls x 3 rotations x 3 directions. 3x3 = 9 symbolises protection from Navagrahas. 3x3x3 = 27 signifyies protection from 27 nakshatras. Also there is no anti-clockwise pradakshinam with the balls which is so prevalent. We do not do apradakshina karpooram harati to even Devatas. These are newly wed couples so let them receive proper rituals and be happy. It should be done thrice only per colour clockwise for 3 directions. Each lady will thus use 3 red and 3 yellow rice balls one at a time per direction and mind you that the rice balls have to be rolled on ground not thrown around. Its not a game of who throws the best. It is a karma done with great shraddhai and bhakti for protection of the couples. These rice balls, the ones which have been strewn over the floor should be collected by any servant and dissolved in flowing river/pond/lake etc. The poor couple has no clue in this what exactly is happening.

At least with this articles all will know the true essence of our rituals. In further topics we will cover more things about our ancient Vedic practices and try to correct the wrong practices which are currently prevalent in Kalyanam / Vivaham and in future other Samskaras like Upanayanam etc. Share this message with all, like our FB page and help Sanatana Dharma grow.

Dharma Rakshati Rakshitah !