Puja for Marriage

Puja for Marriage or Wedding Ceremony is one of the most important events in one’s life. It signifies the transitional state from Brahmacharayashram to Grihasthashramam. Performing vivah puja acts as an invitation to the many Gods and Goddesses by performing various rituals to come and bless the couple.

Hindu marriage is called Vivah and the wedding ceremony is called Vivaha samskar. In Hinduism a marriage is considered a samskara (sacrament) because in Vedic tradition it is an important turning point in the life of a householder and in the destiny of the souls that depend upon the marriage for their return to the earth.

A lot of importance is attached to marriages in Hinduism since it is considered an integral part of man’s obligatory duty upon earth to get married, procreate children, ensure the continuation of the family lineage, serve the ancestors and God in ensuring the order and regularity of the worlds.

MARRIAGE RITUALS

The rituals associated with Hindu marriages vary from region to region and caste to caste. However, there are a few rituals that are common to most marriages. The Hindu marriage rituals can be broadly classified into pre marriage rituals, marriage rituals and post marriage rituals. Marriage is the first sacrament in the life of a householder. It will be followed by others such as conception of a child, birth of a child, etc.

Pre marriage rituals include a formal get-together of the families on both sides, usually at the bride’s place, to facilitate a meeting between the bride and the groom. Once they give their mutual consent, parents proceed with other arrangement such as fixing the marriage date, writing a formal declaration of marriage called the lagna patrika, choosing the marriage hall (mandap), finalizing the guest lists, printing the invitation cards, exchanging gifts, and reaching a formal agreement about dowry and duties and responsibilities of both sides during the marriage function, etc.

RITUALS

There is no single standard Hindu marriage ceremony. Regional variations and considerable flexibility in the rituals are prevalent. The variations may be based on family traditions, local traditions, resources of the marrying families, and other factors. Some of the key rituals are performed in slightly different ways in different regions.

There are a few key rituals common in a Hindu wedding ceremony. These are:

1. Kanyadaan – the giving away of daughter by the father
2. Panigrahana – a ritual in presence of fire, where the groom takes the bride’s hand as a sign of their union
3. Saptapadi – is the most important ritual. It is called the seven step ritual, where each step corresponds to a vow groom makes to bride, and a vow the bride makes to groom. The vows are pronounced in Sanskrit in long form, or short quicker form, sometimes also in the language of the groom and bride. In many weddings, Saptapadi isperformed near a fire; and after each of the seven oaths to each other, the groom and bride perform the ritual of agnipradakshinam – walk around the fire, with the end of their garments tied together. The groom usually leads the bride in the walkThe fire is a form of yajna – a Vedic ritual where fire is the divine witness (to the marriage). After Saptapadi, the couple are considered husband and wife.

BENEFITS OF PUJA FOR MARRIAGE

1. Pleasant, harmonious and successful married life.
2. Remove obstacles
3. Boosts overall health
4. Beautify the beauty and the married life.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PUJA FOR MARRIAGE

1. Remove Obstacles that are delaying marriage
2. Regain your Positivity and helps maintain your existing relationship
3. Prevents arguments and fights in your relationship.
4. Protect you from evil energies and brings peace of mind.
5. Avoid marriage delays because of obstacles in love life