Under the Indian caste system, Brahmin is regarded as one of the highest castes. Brahmins are a prominent community spread across the whole of India and some of them are settled in various places of the world especially in U.S.A., UK, Canada & Gulf Countries. Marriage rituals differ in North & south Indian context. In the recent days as there is not enough time available to conduct all the rituals, so the wedding ceremonies in Brahmin community do happen in much shorter version. Though the rituals and customs differ in each marriage, the marriage function itself signifies the lifelong commitment to companionship. This article writen based on a typical Tamil(south Indian) Brahmin marriage ceremony, celebrated in the Vedic style, where importance is given to the traditions and rituals which have been passed on to new generations over centuries.The wedding itself used to last over 5 days in olden times, but these days, the rituals are packed into the time available, and most marriages are held in one or two days.
Marriages in brahmin communities are mostly arranged by the parents. Horoscope plays a vital role in deciding the compatibility of the groom and bride which indicate the planetary positions at the time of their birth, and are said to predict their character itself. Brahmin community is one of the first communities to start using the
online matrimony websites in selecting the right matches.
Once the match is found out,an engagement ceremony is held on an auspicious day in the grooms house and the two parties mutually agree on the proposal.This agreement is solemnized with exchange of Thamboolam (banana,coconut and betel leaf).
The important part of the wedding commences with the vradham which is performed separately by the bride and the groom, which is primarily to receive the blessings from thier family deities and ancestors. An yellow thread is tied around the wrist of both, the bride and the bride groom, during this function, which marks their oath, and reminds them of it.
The evening rituals start with Janavasam. A temple is chosen for this purpose since it is a sacred place to start the ceremonies. In the presence of the Lord, the brides brother is the very first to welcome the bride groom, giving him new clothes. The groom wears the brand new dresses and is taken in a procession to the venue.The bride is now given a new sari by the grooms sister.Once the bride and bride groom are seated, the formal engagement will takes place.
Kasi Yatra, is a very important part of the ceremony. Historically, this is to represent that the young boy after education heading to kasi to join the ranks of sanysis. On his way the brides father stops and advises him of the superiority of married life . He also promises to give his daughter as companion to face the troubles of life, assuring him of all comforts and happiness.
Malai mathal and Oonjal takes place following Kasi Yatra. During this ceremony, the bride and bride groom are lifted to the shoulders of their respective maternal uncles to express sibling support. Then,the marrying couple is seated on a swing, Oonjal. They rock forth and back, as women sing songs to praise the bride and groom. The bride and groom are given milk, sugar and bananas to eat. Before the couple get up from the swing, they are asked to join hands for the first time.
The key part of the wedding is Kanya Dhanam(Giving away the bride). The bride is made to sit on her fathers lap and is given away as a gift by him to the groom. The bride is then given a new sari, exclusive for the occasion, called the koorai is chosen. This sari is draped around the bride by the sisters of the bridegroom, signifying her welcome to the bride. The bride ties a string fastened to a piece of turmeric around the wrist of the bridegroom to bind themselves by a religious vow,called Kankana Dhaaranam. It is only after tying the kankanam that the bridegroom gets the right to touch the bride. A little later, the groom ties a kankanam to the brides wrist.
After a few more rituals, all of which involve invoking different deities for their blessings, the groom ties the Mangalsutra mounted on a yellow thread around the neck of the bride.To this three knots are tied. There are two such mangalsutras in a Tamil marriage one from the brides family, and one from the grooms family. Every family has its own pattern for the Mangalsutra, depending on which part of the state they hail from, and the Mangalsutra thus signifies the bond between the two families.Once the main rituals are completed, the elders in the families bless the couple by throwing yellow colored rice on them.
A crucial part of the wedding ceremony is the homage paid by the couple to Agni, the God of Fire. The couple goes around the fire, and feed it with ghee and twigs of nine types of holy trees as sacrificial fuel. Then,holding the brides left toe the bridegroom helps her to tread on a grindstone kept on the right side of a fire.
Historically, some parts of the Homam are conducted after sunset, just before the bride and groom retire for the night. As part of this, the bride and groom are taken outside and shown two stars one is the pole star and the second is Arundhati. The bride and groom are shown these stars as great personages they must try to emulate.
Since the marriage is held at the brides home or a venue chosen by the brides family, it is usually not possible for the bride groom to take his wife home the same day. Besides, there are loads of rituals yet to be completed. At the same time, it is believed that a new bride must enter her new house at an auspicious hour, and hence a ceremony representing her entry into her husbands house is performed at the venue itself. She is taken to the grooms home and is welcomed with all love and respect, the women giving her gifts and new saris. This is known as the Griha Pravesham.
Nalangu is full of games and songs conducted by the relatives of the bride and groom. This is conducted in the evening of the marriage day to relax and play. This helps not only bride and groom but also the relatives to get to know each other. These events bring out the qualities of the bride and the grooms kindness, co-operative nature thus bringing about better understanding and compatibility.
Shanti Muhurtham is arranged on the night for an auspicious time for a happy and ever-lasting married life that is full of understanding and care.
