Marriage also known as vivaha in Hindu tradition, is one of the most significant and sacred ceremonies in Hindu culture. Marriage is viewed as a sacred connection that unites two people for life, forming a partnership that extends from the physical to the spiritual. In order to receive divine blessings for this union, the Marriage Puja is conducted through various rituals. These ceremonies have their roots in ancient Vedic customs and are carried out to seek divine blessings, guaranteeing a successful and harmonious married life.
Significance of Marriage Puja
The Marriage Puja is performed for a variety of reasons during the Hindu wedding ceremony, including invoking divine blessings for the couple and ensuring their path together is filled with love, mutual respect, and understanding. The puja also signifies the purity of marriage by demonstrating the bride and groom’s devotion to fulfilling their vows and responsibilities to each other and their families.
According to Hindu scriptures, marriage is a samskara, a holy rite of passage that is crucial to a person’s spiritual development. One’s dharma toward family and society is said to be fulfilled through marriage, fostering an atmosphere conducive to family and personal development. Beginning with the Marriage Puja, two people enter a new stage of their lives in which they collaborate to shape their shared destiny in addition to being partners.
Rituals of Marriage Puja
Marriage pujas in Hindu culture vary significantly across different regions and communities, but the core rituals reamin same.
Ganesh Puja: The appointed pandit begins the marriage puja with a prayer to Lord Ganesha, by placing the Ganesh idol or picture at the altar with offerings such as flowers, sweets, and coconut. This ritual is performed to seek his blessings to ensure that the wedding ceremony proceeds smoothly without any hindrances.
Kalash Puja: After Ganesh puja, the pandit initiates kalash puja where the kalash filled with water, adorned with mango leaves and topped with a coconut is worshipped with mantras and prayers, invoking the presence of the Gods and purifying the space where the marriage is to be held.
Navagraha Puja: This ritual involves worshipping the Navagrahas to seek their blessings for a harmonious and prosperous married life. It is performed to remove any negative influences and to ensure favorable planetary alignments for the couple’s future.
Mandap Puja: The mandap of marriage is purified through the Mandap Puja, a ritual that makes the space into a sacred ground for the marriage rites. The pandit invokes various deities to bless the mandap, and offerings of flowers, rice, and turmeric are made to purify the space.
Kanyadaan: Next in the ritual is Kanyadaan which means the act of giving the responsibility of bride to the groom, performed by her father or guardian.
Vivah Homa: The Vivah Homa is a sacred fire ritual, where the couple sits before a fire regarded as a divine witness to the marriage vows. The fire is fed with offerings of ghee, rice, and herbs, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras.
Mangal Pheras: The Mangal Pheras are seven sacred rounds that the bride and groom take around the holy fire. Each circle signifies a specific vow which under the guidance of pandit is taken by the bride & groom.
Spiritual Importance Marriage puja provides the couple with a peaceful and spiritually gratifying relationship, encouraging mutual love, respect, and understanding.
Mythological significance: The puja seeks the blessings of deities like as Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, ensuring divine protection, prosperity, and a long-lasting union.
Astrological Importance: Marriage puja helps balance the couple’s planetary influences, assuring compatibility and lowering the possibility of astrological disputes in their lives together.
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