Sai Muruga Matrimony-Wedding Ceremonies

Hindu marriages are generally conducted in accordance with the Vedic principles. The Vedas and the Kalpa Sutra (a corollary to the Vedas) specify the ceremonies and rituals of a Hindu wedding and their Spiritual significance.

The first and oldest of the Vedas, Rig Veda, specifies the mantras (hymns) to be chanted during the Wedding ceremony. The Grihya Sutra, a branch of the Kalpa Sutra, describes the conduct of the wedding, specifies suitable seasons and timings for the ceremony, and describes the qualification for compatibility of the bride and groom. The Grihya Sutra divides the wedding into various phases and allocates duties to everyone involved in the wedding (priests, the couple, their parents and close relatives). Each ceremony and its associated mantras are enumerated. It is the duty of the chief priest to supervise the wedding and ensure conformity to the traditions. Thus, the Hindu wedding is a vibrant synthesis of religious, moral, cultural, spiritual and social values. It also incorporates color, gaiety and entertainment, and becomes a very memorable event for the couple and their community.While the solemnizing rituals and the mantras retain their original character and essence, weddings have undergone many variations down the ages. As the Vedic culture Spread, its robust flexibility absorbed local Social customs and regional cultural influences into its frame, enriching its expansive mosaic. These variations added vitality to the traditions without altering their fundamentals. The objectives, principles, and ceremonies propounded by the Vedas and Grihya Sutra still retain authority and charm in their pristine form.The mantras solemnize the marriage and specify the responsibilities of the couple to each other and to humanity. The wedding has many ceremonies and prayers, each of which has a paramount and direct relevance to life. The mantras explain that marriage is the noblest path for the couple to establish their identity in unison to promote prosperity, stability and peace. Generally, the mantras enjoin the husband and wife to be inseparable companions of each other in the spheres of religion, philosophy, love and wealth. Fine progeny for continuation of the lineage is the prime objective for many prayers. Marriage is the highest religious sacrament rather than a secular contract. The prayers and the rites of the entire ceremony emphasize matrimony as a holy bond of divine continuity and ordainment. The Vedic mantras propound that marriage is a celestial institution - sacrosanct and eternal.

The Vedic tradition is traced to very ancient times. Scholarly speculations have not been able to trace the Vedic period accurately. In this circumstance, it would be reasonable to accept the common Indian belief that the Vedic period falls between 6000 to 8000 BC. Due credence must be given to this Indian concept, since every Indian continues to live through his civilization - an integral part of his life that preserves the past and formulates the future. The Vedas are his roots and his gift to humanity.

A SURVEY OF THE PRESENT

We describe the typical South Indian Brahmin Wedding, which is reasonably close to the original Vedic Customs. The old practice of the conducting the wedding at the bride's residence is gradually fading away. Nowadays, weddings are typically conducted at temples, hotels, and marriage halls (called Kalyana Mandapams). The marriage halls are specially constructed to supply all the requisites of wedding, easing the cumbersome logistics.

Address : No 8/2, Old no 80/2, Indira colony, 1 st Main Road,Ashok Nagar Chennai - 600 083.
Phone :+91 44 23712311,Mobile : 98840 33572 Email : saipanch@md4.vsnl.net.in
Timings : 10.00 A.M to 6.00 P.M
Tuesday Holiday