Vivaha: Hindu Marriage Ceremony
मंगल्यं तन्तुनानेन मम जीवन हेतुना। कंठे बध्नामि सुभगे त्वं जीव शरदां शतम् ॥
Purpose:
- Union of Two Souls: To unite two individuals in a sacred, emotional, and physical bond.
- Family and Social Bonding: To bring together families and communities in celebration.
- Spiritual Growth: To seek divine blessings for a harmonious and prosperous married life.
Procedure-
Varagamana, Vandana, madhuparka, kanyadana, akshataropana and Mangalyadharana, saptapadi, vivah Homa, okuli, samaropana, Vadhu Pravesha, Grihasthashram Vidhi
Introduction-
ब्राम्हो दैवस्तथा आर्ष: प्रजापत्यस्तथासुर:।
गान्धर्वो राक्षसश्चैव पैशाचस्तवष्टमोऽधम:॥
The Smrtis have recognized eight methods through which it was done. These are Brahma, Daiva, Arya, Prajapatya, Asura, Gandharva, Raksasa and Paishacha.
The Smṛtis have divided the eight methods into two groups, Prasasta or approved and Aprasasta or disapproved. The first four are Prasasta, the rest are Aprašasta. The first four methods were regarded praiseworthy, among which the first was the best, the fifth and the sixth were tolerated and the last two were forbidden.