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The Hindu (Vedic) Marriage Ceremony has been performed in all its essentials for the last thousands of  years. The symbolism invokes the forces of nature– fire (agniअग्नि), sun (suryaसूर्य) Wind (vayuवायु), water (jalजल), rocks (shilaपत्थर/prithaviभूमि), north star (dhruvaध्रुव), Arundhatiअरुन्धति.

-*- to bless the couple and to bear witness to the ceremonies. The priest

recite the mantras in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, as the ceremony proceeds.

I. Welcoming the Baraat & Milni: बारात-स्वागत

Bride's parents and relatives greet and welcome the Baraat, consisting of Groom's  parents and relatives., Milni is the official greeting with a garland and an embrace of respective family members. Milni, greetings could be exchanged between fathers, mothers, uncles, Brothers and Sisters.

II. Jai Mala: जय-माला

Groom is greeted and welcomed by Bride at the entrance to the ceremonial enclosure (Vediवेदी) with a garland, called Jai Malaजय-माला.  Groom greets Bride with a garland. Both take their seats at the Vediवेदी/मंडप, along with the priest, the parents and the participating relatives.

The Wedding Ceremony 

The ceremony begins with the reciting of the Vedic Hymnsवेद-मन्त्र, offering Seat and Drinking Water following sipping of the water three times to sanctify the body and the mind and the intellect.

III Madhu Parka: मधुपर्क विधि

Bride  offers Groom Madhu Parka, which is a mixture of honeyशहद, मधु and yogurtदही . Before he tastes it, groom sprinkles it in six directions, including above and below with his ring finger, to invoke the Prana energy of all the directions. He recites Mantra, which translates:

“God’s creation is filled with honey. Night is sweet and so is dawn. Sun is sweet and so is Moon. I will always cultivate within me the sweetness of Madhu Parka in all my dealings.”
 

IV. Giving a Cow or Ring ceremony: गौ-दान

Used to, one cow was a tradition to give newly wedded couple, to have basic dairy product at home, nowadays modern living, owning a cow is a challenge. The rings are exchanged as a symbol of everlasting love.

V. Kanya Pratigrahan: कन्या-प्रतिग्रहण 

(Accepting responsibility for the bride) Bride's parents place her right hand in Groom’s and declare to the gathering that they freely consent to the union.

Groom holds her hand within his, thereby accepting responsibility for Bride's well being for the rest of his life.

“O Bride, you attain the invincible maturity with the resplendency of the household life, acquire wealth and wisdom. O well dressed, may we live a hundred autumns together”.

“I (groom/bride) hold your hand for the prosperity of house-hold life. You are my wife/husband in the letter and spirit of ‘dharmaधर्म’ and I am your husband/wife accordingly”.

“He is Vishnu the preserver, she is shri goddess of prosperity. She is language he is the thought. She is prudence he is low. He is reason she is sense. She is duty he is right. He is author she is work. He is patience she is peace. He is will she is wish. He is piety she is gift. He is chant she is note. He is fuel she is fire. She is glory he is sun. She is orb he is space. She is moth he is wind. He is ocean she is shore. He is day she is night. He is lamp she is light. He is owner she is wealth. He is battle she is might. He is tree she is vine. He is music she is rhyme. He is justice she is truth. He is channel she is stream. He is flagstaff she is flag. She is beauty he is strength”.

“VI. Havan: हवन

(Holy fire) The ritual part begins after the priest ignites the Agni (holy fire), and recites the appropriate mantras. 

Bride and Groom make offerings of Gheeघी (purified butter) and Samagri सामग्री (a mixture of herbs, crushed sandal wood, and twigs) into the fire. Three specific sets of Mantras are recited, for the ideals of Patriotism, Nature and Will Power to be Success, respectively.

The prayers, which are from the Vedas, in Sanskrit language, begin with the word “OM” (O’ Lord) and end with “SWAHA” (let there be happiness for all).

“We pray to Brahmaब्रह्मा, the creator of the universe, the regulator of night and day, the Moon and the Sun, the waters and the wind. May all these elements be the source of nourishment for us and the society. May we honor and protect these forces of nature”
 

“May the holy fire sharpen our intellects, May the Sun strengthen our back, front and the whole body. May Prajapati’, the master of all creation bestow success in all our endeavors”.

VII. Pani Grahan: पाणि-ग्रहण

(Marriage Vows and Declaration) Holding the holy fire as witness, Groom holds Bride's hand and both clasp their hand firmly. In this ceremony they vow to be responsible for each other and declare together:

“Let all persons present here know that we are accepting each other voluntarily and pleasantly, our hearts are concordant and united like water.”

“We hold each other’s hand for success in our house-hold life. We are partners in the letter and spirit of ‘Dharma’ of Husband of Wife accordingly”.

VIII. Shilarohan Vidhi: शिलारोहण-विधि

(ascending the rock) Bride places her foot on a piece of rock. The rock embodies the ideals of strength and firmness of character.

“O bride, ascend this rock. Assume the steadfastness of the rock.
Resist adversities with strength and, together with your husband, overcome challenges together”.

IX. Gath Bandhan: ग्रंथि-बंधन (tying the knot) 

The sacred union of Bride and Groom is symbolized by tying the corner of her Chunniचुन्नी (headcover) to his scarf by groom’s sister and or Bride’s Bhabhiभाभी (sister-in-law). This is in preparation for the next step, the Mangal Phere.

X. Mangal Phere or Lavan:मंगल-फेरे, लाजा-आहुति (walking around the holy fire) 

Bride is handed puffed rice into her cupped hands by her brothers. She subsequently transfers the rice into Groom’s hands, and they collectively offer it to the Agni (fire). Symbolism of rice includes:
 

* Rice is considered a symbol of prosperity in Indian tradition since one seed can yield hundreds and thousands of grains.

* Rice always needs to be transplanted for the best crop, just as the bride and the groom are transplanted from their parents’ homes into a brand new family.
 

* Rice and other grains nourish the body and the mind and intellect which help generate wealth.
 

* Always keep smiling as you face adversities. See how the rice gets puffed even when it faces the fire. Cheerfully accept the challenges of life.

With each offering of the rice, Bride and Groom walk around the fire., as the family shower them with petals. The couple go around the fire Four Times, Bride leading in the first three rounds, and Groom leads in the last.

We are so used to hearing Seven Pherasसात-फेरा (seven circles around the holy fire). Actually in the scripture there are only Four Mangal Pheras. 

(Besides these four, there are three more(if you really want to count seven). One in the very beginning, as bride & groom walk into the Mandap, in respect of the Mandap. Another Phera is taken when both take oath in Panigrahan and the last is taken when both walk Seven Steps together at the very end which is next ritual. Thus the total is SEVEN.

XI. Sapta Padi: सप्त-पदी (Seven Steps) 

Bride and Groom take their first steps together as a couple. This is the most important part of the wedding, and no Hindu Ceremony is considered legally valid without it. The Mantras recited during each step have the following significance:

1. Ish (Nourishment): इश-एकपदी भव

a prayer for the nourishment of their household and for abundance of healthy food. and water.

2. Urja (Strength):  ऊर्जे द्विपदी भव

a prayer for lifelong physical strength in body, mind, intellect and the spirit.

3. Rayas Posha (Wealth): रायस्पोषाय त्रिपदी भव

a prayer for earning wealth through righteous means and for managing it intelligently.

4. Mayobhyah (Happiness): मयोभवाय चतुष्पदी भव

a prayer for attainment of harmony, knowledge and joy through love and trust.

5. Prajabhyah (Progeny): प्रजाभ्य पंचपदी भव

a prayer for strong, healthy and virtuous children.

6. Ritubhyah (Balance): ऋतुभ्य षटपदी भव

a prayer for harmonious and balanced lifestyle in society and in nature.

“ May we restrain and balance our appetites according to our capacities.”

7. Sakhe Saptapadi (Friendship): सखे सप्तपदी भव

Finally, a prayer to be the true companions and remain life long friends, through the vows of the union by this wedlock. And the blessings of our family and friends.

After the seven steps are completed, the husband and wife change seats, as she assumes a position to his left. This is considered the “married position”. This also places each of them in the company of the other family members, thereby symbolizing the union of the two families. 

XII. Hridayalambhan: (becoming sweethearts) हृदयालंभन विधि

The couple recites final Mantras for each other, from their heart, touching each-other’s heart.

“Let our hearts remain always united and full of love towards each other. Let us always bear in mind that God himself has brought about our union by His infinite grace. From today onward my heart is yours and your heart is mine. May we speak in one voice.”

XIII. Surya and Dhruva Darhsan: (visualizing the Sun and the Polestar) सूर्य, ध्रुव-दर्शन

“May we both see the sun together for a hundred autumns, May we live, hear, speak and enjoy full freedom of life and of the Nature. The Polestar is constant. May we cultivate constancy in all our dealings with each other and our families.”
 

XIV.  Arundhati Darshanam: अरुन्धति दर्शन

What is so special Arundhati star? It is not a single star, but a two-star constellation, consisting of a larger star (Vashista - Mizor) and a smaller star (Arundhati - Alcor). The specialty about Arundhati-Vashista constellation is that the two stars travel through the cosmos by revolving around each other instead of one being the dominant force and the other in orbit (like most star systems, like Sun/Earth). What is also impressive is that ancient Hindus already knew this fact through advanced astronomy. this also put both "husband and wife" in equal position.

XV. Mangal Sutra: (wedding necklace)  मंगल-सूत्र

Groom places the Mangal Sutra around Bride's neck as a symbol of their marriage. The Mangal Sutra is a status of a married woman, as well as a symbol of auspiciousness.
 

XVI. Jalsinchana: (sprinkling water) जल-सिंचन, आशीर्वाद

Groom’s  father and mother sprinkle the water on the new couple and bless them to be always cool, calm and pure like water.
 

XVII. Ashirwad: आशीर्वाद (blessing) 

The audience, family and friends offer their blessings and shower flowers upon the newly married couple.

“This Bride and the Groom are lucky to have found each other. We bless both of you for a long and happy life. May your love for each other grow every day. May you be blessed with virtuous children to serve the family, nation and the society.”