rituals in iyengar and iyer marriages

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Kanaka Vasudevan :

 

I will take a guess on the reasons behind

the colorful and ancient ceremonies associated

with our Marriage ceremonies of the kind listed by

you. They are now woven deeply into the stages of

marriage leading to the Vedic -sanctioned steps

described by GodhA Piratti in her VaraNamAyiram

paasurams .

 

The observances that you referred to in

the south Indian marriages are an evolution of

centuries of hand -me-down type of observances.

They have no Vedic Significance , except that they

recognize and salute pancha bhuthams , Ashta Dig devatAs

and seek auspiciousness for the couple to be united thru

the Vedic ceremonies. Dhrushti Dhosham and non-offense to

"Sillarai daivams " appear to be the reasons for it for

Sumangalis to make the Vilakku PrathakshiNam .BHotha Suddhi

of a special kind is also implied inn these observances.The

color of the Urundais have close connection to some of

the Dig PaalakAs. Like Mantra Kavacham gives dig Bhandhanam,

these offerings "appease " the appropriate Dig paalakAs

to ward off any untoward happenings during the ceremonies.

 

The carrying of the bride and bride groom by the uncles

is a practise , which originated at the time , when the

children were betrothed at an early age ( 6-12 years )

and the elders enjoyed the fun of carrying these

"dolls " on their shoulders and exchanging garlands

from the back of the respective uncles . Inview of

the advancement of the marriage years these days reaching into the

twenties and thirties , the practise of carrying

(1) heavy and (2 ) adults with "modern views "

on the back of "fragile " and unwilling uncles

is not observed often for understandable reasons.

 

In PerumAL ThirukkalyANams in Oppiliappan Koil ,

the two Archakars representing the bride ( Sri Bhumi Devi )

and bridegroom ( Sri Oppiliappan ) exchange garlands

on their behalf.Godha Piraati 's exchange of Garlands

with Sri Ranganatha has been celebrated by Swami Desikan

in one of the verses of GodhA Sthuthi .

 

There are a lot of marriage songs that used to be

sung during the different stages of wedding of four days

in old times . My grand mother was a great storehouse of

such songs and she was very much in demand with others to

add gaitey to the occasion.They are more or less lost now.

 

The sounding of MangaLa Vaadhyams , the invocation to

the Gods at every level to ward off dhrushti Dhosham ,

the pronouncement of Vedic manthrams to obtain the blessings

of happy married life with progeny and prosperity

to fulfill the obligations of GrahasthAsrama DharmA

and confer happiness on the about-to-be married couple are

some of the reasons for these ceremonies .

 

I am sure htere are other members of the group,

who can add more insights .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

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DATE: 1/26/97 2:59 PM

 

RE: rituals in iyengar and iyer marriages

 

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rituals in iyengar and iyer marriages

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Dear bhakthi members,

 

I had been to india to attend two marriages , one was my husband's niece

and the other was of my nephew.The elders of my family made me do a lot

of things , the day before and also on the day of marriage like [ pudi

sutthal , pal thoduthal etc I did . MY HUSBAND HAD TO CARRY HIS NIECE IN

HIS SHOULDER FOR MALAI MATTHAL AND UNJAL ETC. Mr. Sadagopan wrote about

the meanings of the kalyana manthram which i have saved . could you

please write about the whole marriage ceremony and every step of it with

their meanings. It would be very useful if we want to perform the

marriages here in the temples or even at home. why should one throw the

color rice urundai first on the right side , what are the meanings of

going round the couple with vilakku in a pathram, pouring water

alternatively and when should these rituals be done in the order, etc etc

I am sure many of the members would have some meaning to all of this .

Icould not get any explanations from my parents . They said

'JUST DO IT ' Could somebody shed some light on it ?

thanks, kanaka vasudevan