Hindu culture envisages the observance of many samskaras (rites of passage) in one’s life. The Vivaah Samskar (Marriage ceremony) is a transition from the first stage of life to the second one. The first stage of life is dedicated to education, learning, and equipping oneself with knowledge to stand firm and good later on in life. The second stage is that of building a household and raising children to carry on your generation. This is the most important stage in a Hindu’s life. They have a duty towards their family as well as the society. Marriage envisages a sacred union between the bride and the groom culminating in the oneness of soul and spirit.
There are eight different ways to get married as per the Hindu culture. The highest form of marriage is the “Brahma Vivaah.” This method requires the full consent and active participation of family members from both sides. This is a way of integrating the lives of two separate individuals across two families and many generations, both horizontal as well as vertical.Our Hindu Priest in Greece is Brahma Vivaah expert.
The Hindu wedding ceremony takes its cue from the mythological wedding of Surya (daughter of the Sun God) with Ashwini Kumar (Source: Rig-Veda). The Sun God organizes a chariot race with a stipulation that he will hand over his daughter in marriage to the winner of the race. After Ashwini Kumar wins the race, the Sun God gives away his daughter in marriage to him in a splendid ceremony. Hindus follow the same rituals even today. The rituals involve chanting of sacred mantras from the Rig-Veda. Each mantra has a specific meaning. You can find the explanation and significance of these mantras in Grihya Sutras (Vedic domestic ritual texts).Our Hindu Priest in Italy is the expert on the Grihya Sutras .
According to the Grihya sutras, the Hindus should follow the under mentioned seven key steps of the marriage ceremony. These steps are common in all parts of India (North or South, with a few extra rituals here and there). They are