The Arya Samaj Mandir Marriage – Rituals

Arya Samaj generally solemnizes love, arranged, inter-cast or inter-religion marriages between couples and Arya Samaj Marriage is applicable among Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. However, people of other cast like Muslim can convert to Hindu with their own will and consent and can solemnize the marriage in a traditional way.

There are numerous Arya Samaj organizations in India who arrange and solemnize such marriages and also help them register in the court.

Actually Arya Samaj marriage has no elaborate ritual but rich in significance as the Vedic Mantras are chanted during the process. Those who arrive here for arranged marriage can follow their pre-marriage and post-marriage rituals as per their culture and religion. The wedding is centered on fire worship same as followed in traditional Hindu wedding. The Mantras mark the transition of couple from Brahmacharya to Grihastashram.

The wedding rituals:

Rituals begin at the wedding site where Yagna Kund is made. Ceremony begins with the bride and groom exchanging garlands. But before that both bride and groom go through some rituals indicating their commitment for each other. Then the Yagna begins and fire is ignited, which symbolizes worshipping an element of nature – the fire. At the end, alms are given and both bride and groom seek their elders’ blessings.

Then the process of Kanyadaan takes place which means “giving away the girl” to the groom’s family.  Means the girl is all set to enter her husband’s family. Couple holds each other’s hand and the priest recite the mantras while one of the elder members of the girl’s family does the Kanya daan.

Then Pratigya mantra takes place and the couple walks around the fire at the end of this ceremony. Couple walks around the fire seven times – firstly, four times; secondly, three times. The bride and groom pray for each other for good health and happy relationship. The seven steps around the fire signify seven needs of their as a couple: nourishment (girl promise to take care of health of family), strength, wealth obtained through honest means for the family needs, good health, progeny, good luck and a loving relationship forever.

The older members of the family sprinkle water and flower on the couple and bless them to live happily always.

Now Sindoor Daan takes place and the groom fills the partition of hair on the bride’s head with Sindoor or vermilion. Rituals are done and now the newlywed couple seeks blessing of elders of the family. Reception and other post-marriage ceremonies can be organized as per the traditions of the groom’s family.