Vivah Sanskar (Wedding)
Vivah Sanskar is one of the sixteen Sanskars whereby a person becomes eligible to enter into Grihastha Ashram, dovetailing one's attention towards the ultimate journey of life. A wedding brings two families together. It is a serious commitment between partners towards each other to be together in sickness and in health, always.

Introduction

Wedding is referred to as ‘Vivah’ in Sanskrit. Weddings are a very essential part of our Indian Culture. It not only brings two people together, it is a celebration in itself; and by far one of the biggest celebrations of one’s life. People take months and sometimes years to plan a wedding. The precision and perfection are the two biggest aims. But many are opting for low-key affairs or even plain simple registered marriages. But nothing can take away the charm of a Vedic wedding. It is a special moment in a person’s life, which is made more special by the Vedic rituals and ambience.

Importance and Significance of Vivah Puja (Wedding Puja)

Marriages have become a multi-day celebration. There are various pre-wedding functions. Pujas done in every function have some significance. Vivah is a very sacred union. Many Gods and Goddesses are invited through various rituals to come and bless the couple. Marriages are set in the cosmos but the union sanskaar is done through a Vivah Puja. The Fire is the sakshi or the witness to this Holy Union. The promises made during a Vivah Puja are lifelong commitments that the bride and the groom make to each other. A Vivah Puja is made of various rituals and each ritual is significant.

Benefits of Vivah Puja (Wedding Puja)

The multifarious rituals of a Wedding Puja bring with themselves the following benefits:

  • Blessings of all the Devs and Devis.
  • Blessings of our fore fathers and ancestors.
  • Participation of various family members in the Vidhi.
  • Unionization of two souls as per Vedic beliefs.
  • Unity between the bride and the groom.
  • Physical, Mental, Social, Legal and Spiritual connections between the bride and the groom.
  • Awareness of responsibilities towards each other and each other’s families.
  • Awareness of their duties in the social set up.
  • A chance to procreate with everyone’s blessings.
  • A chance to have janam janam ka saath with your partner.

History & Stories

Indian weddings, particularly, Arranged marriages have their roots in our Vedas. The way the weddings and various rituals are conducted now took shape during the Vedic period. The Hindu marriage rituals are derived from Dharmashastras i.e. the sacred texts. These Dharmashastras are a representation of the laws of the various Vedas. These scriptures have been scripted by male Aryan sages. Manu was known to be as the most influential interpreters of these scriptures and in 200 BC he wrote the Manu Samhita, which actually laid down the rules of marriage.

Occasions to do a Vivah Puja (Wedding Puja)

  • Although it sounds imperative that a Vivaah Puja happens during a couple’s Vivaah, there are a few other instances where the couple does the Vivah Puja. Many couples do a vivaah puja while buying a house together.
  • Additionally, a lot of couples like to renew their wedding vows on their wedding anniversary.
  • Moreover, quite a few couples who did a court/registered marriage, do a Vedic Vivah Puja and remarry each other on some special occasion in their life.

Vivah Puja (Wedding Puja) Vidhi or Procedure

  • The Vidhi actually changes from one community to another, but quite a few rituals are common.
  • When the groom’s procession arrives at the entrance of the venue, the bride’s side welcomes the groom and his near and dear ones by performing the Var Satkaar Ceremony.
  • After the bride joins the groom in the Mandap, the father gives away his daughter to the groom in a ceremony known as Kanyadaan.
  • The Vivah Hom begins by lighting the sacred fire. The Panighran ceremony follows the Hom Lighting; Panigrahan refers to the groom accepting the bride as his lawfully wedded wife.
  • The couple then circumvents the Agni Kund and takes the Mangal Pheras. Each Phera is a vow of commitment to each other.
  • After the Pheras, the Saptapadi ceremony begins. It is the ritual of taking seven steps on grains of rice.
  • Each step has its own significance. This is followed by the Sindoor and Mangalsutra ceremony.
  • The couple then seeks the Aashirwaad of all the elders followed by the Bidai (send-off / farewell) of the bride and her Griha Pravesh in her new home and family.

Vivah Puja (Wedding Puja) Muhurat

The mahurat of the wedding primarily depends on the positions and movements of the planets in the horoscope charts of the bride and the groom. Through that the Pandit provides various muhurats i.e. auspicious day, date and time on which the Vivah Puja shall yield the best results.

But there are a few dates in 2016 which are auspicious in general for a Marriage Puja. They are:

  • January: 15th, 16th, 20th, 26th, 28th and 29th
  • February: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 7th, 22nd, 24th, 27th and 28th
  • March: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th and 10th
  • April: 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, and 29th
  • November: 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th
  • December: 3rd, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, and 14th

Puja Samagri

  • Betel nuts (supari)
  • Kalash Vastram
  • Fowers
  • Dry fruits
  • Fruits
  • Ghee
  • Coconuts (nariyal)
  • Coconuts dry
  • Camphor (Kapoor)
  • Incenses sticks
  • Sandalwood Paste/Powder
  • Betel leaves
  • Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • Chini (sugar)
  • Chawal (Rice)
  • Moli
  • Roli


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