Marriage in the Hindu tradition

This article treats ceremonies of marriage in India of the South and uses terms Tamoul S.

The Mariage in the Hindu tradition ( Kalyanam or Kalianon , Thirumanam or Tiroumanom ) is at the same time the union of a man and a woman, in the goal to train a family, and alliance between two families. As in many religions, the hindouism regulates this institution, as well in the ritual practices as in lived of the individuals. It constitutes a major religious ceremony which lasts one day and sometimes several days according to the areas. Thus, habits different according to the Caste S, the areas and the countries.

Practices of the Hindu marriage

Since always, " marriages arrangés" exist in the Hindu religion. The parents use their network of friends, family, or an intermediary to find the spouse (E) S. In this case, the family of the future wife must offer a Dot to the family of the husband. This dowry can be represented by a ground, a house ou/et more often of the money.

Nichayadartham

Nichayadartham is the meeting between the two families of the future grooms, a few weeks or a few months before the ceremony of marriage. It is at this time there that the two families put themselves in agreement on the dowry, consult the stars to check the compatibility of the couple and establish the day and the hour of the ceremony.

Thirumanam

Thirumanam is the ceremony of marriage which proceeds on several stages and can last one or two days.

The grooms carry traditional costumes which vary from an area to another. These costumes are especially manufactured for the occasion. The groom carries a white vetti with a white pullover and a hat of marriage. As for the woman, it wears a red sari and traditional jewels.

The brother of the future bride ( tholan ), with the members very close to the family, will seek the groom at his place. This last offers to the tholan a gold ring. Then the engaged couple arrives accompanied by the tholan on the place of the ceremony ( will manavarai ), both bearing each one a chain of flowers of white colors. These collars were formerly made by the priests but nowadays, they are brought by the preparers of the marriage. The priest begins a religious ritual which will last a few hours.

During this ritual, the future wife arrives with her family and the sister of the future groom ( tholi ). This first pleasing with it a chain of flowers which it will offer to her husband.

The priest seals the union between the two husbands by an oral blessing accompanied by throws of flowers ( Arimna and Poomanam Iduthal ).

The tholan and the tholi pass with the thâli among the guests so that they bless it. The thâli or taali is a yellow collar bought by the groom and decorated of two gold coins. The two parts are supposed to represent the inheritance of the two families.

Then the groom puts the thâli around the neck of his wife. At this time, the guests launch petals of flowers on the husbands. To mark the union, the husband marks the face of his wife of a red point ( poddu ) and offers toilet requisites to him, follow-up of an exchange of chain of flowers.

The latter turn seven times around a crowned fire ( saptapathy ).

With the first will phera (turn), the couple calls upon the gods in order to have a noble and respectful life.
With the second will phera, they claim the physical and moral force for carrying out their common life well.
the third will phera is devoted for the achievement of spiritual engagements. The gods are called upon to bless the couple.
With the fourth will phera, the couple requests for long and happy life.
the fifth will phera is a prayer for the good being of all the living beings of the universe.
With the sixth will phera, the couple requests for the seasons.
And finally, with the last will phera, they request for peace and fidelity.

Then, the groom passes the minji (rings) around the toe of married and this one made in the same way for her husband with the metti . As a recreation and according to the ancestral tradition, two rings are put in a seal of water and the husbands must find them while plunging their hands. The purpose of this practice is to create bonds between the two protagonists.

Two elderly, usually the grandmothers, make the arathi , which consists in entreating the evil eye around the couple. The grooms prosternent with the feet of the priest then parents in order to receive their blessings. The thiru pootuthal follows which is the blessing of each guest with rice. Then it is the Kalyana Vevu and the Mama Vevu where the grooms receive gifts of share and others of the two families.

To enclose the ceremony, a meal is been used for all the guests, it acts of the Kaichi Utrrudal .

Current habits

The grooms put initially the right foot when they penetrate, for the first time, in their common house. They must, after the ceremony of marriage, to go to the temple to request.

There does not exist list of marriage. Each guest offers what he wants with the grooms. Generally of the money, of the kitchen utensils and the jewels are offered to the grooms.

Once the celebrated marriage, the husbands are plain for eternity. If the husband dies, the woman must wear for the remainder of her life a white sari and does not carry any more a poddu. They are put at the variation at the time of religious holidays and a second marriage is very badly perceived, still today, by the entourage.

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