VIVAHAM

Namaskaram. In a attempt to bring back the proper ancient ritual of authentic Vivaham as recommended in Sutras by Rishis, these eye opening articles are trying to point out the differences between the past and the present way of conducting marriage topic wise.

Today we speak of holding the brides hand by the groom an important step in marriage. But when is something we need to learn from this article. What do we observe now? The bride and groom are holding hands for photo shoot before wedding, reception happens before marriage, rather many days before the bride and groom go around together etc. Also now it has become a fashion to escort the bride in panigrahana style right from Oonjal ceremony into the marriage hall. These are strictly prohibited in shastras. The first time the groom holds the hand of the bride, with all his fingers enveloping the brides right hand 5 fingers is at the time of Panigrahana only which happens after Mangalya dharana. Thus holding the hands with mantra is regarded highly important by Rishis as it signifies the following. The groom chants the mantras which mean:

“I hold you hands for good progeny and to lead a long healthy life with you till our old age”

In our Dharma every auspicious act has to be performed with mantras. Imagine our Rishis has written mantras from getting out of the bed in the morning upto lying down on bed in night. So this is an very important part of the marriage which signifies that by holding hands in this specific way my heart and your heart becomes one forever and to continue the Vamsha. Also here Apastamba Rishi gives a rule of holding hands of the bride. If you hold only the thumb of the bride only male child will be born. If you hold 4 fingers of the bride without the thumb they female child will be born. If you hold all fingers of the bride together you will get male as well as female children.

This is also the time when after the Panigrahana the bridegroom takes the bride towards the homa kundam where the pradana udvaha homam is about to happen and gives his right side place to her.

Veda Ghosham is thus trying to bring back each and every aspect of 5 days marriage recommended in Shastras. We also in the due course want to prepare a team of ritual experts to conduct this 5 days marriage for those who are really interested in getting married as per Shastras.