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A Hindu couple in post-marriage ceremonies, after . The tied clothing, represents lifelong bond formed during the seven promises ritual with fire as witness.
The (Sanskrit for seven steps/feet), is the most important ritual of Vedic Hindu weddings, and represents the legal part of Hindu marriage.[2] Sometimes called Saat Phere (seven rounds),[14] couple conduct seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a witness to the vows they make to each other.[15] In some regions, a piece of clothing or sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the bride's right hand in his own right hand.[15] Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the bride or the groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the groom in the first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the groom.[16] In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.[15] With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow to establish some aspect of a happy relationship and household for each other.
In South Indian weddings, after each saying a mantra at each of the seven steps, the couple say these words together:
"Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder – together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O beautiful girl!"[17][18][19][20][21]
In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following words after completing the seven steps:
"We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled."[22][23][24][25] In Gujarati Weddings, Mangal-Fera (four circles around holy fire) precedes Saptpadi (7 vows in presence of holy fire). Many considers this to be the most important part of the ceremony. In the first three circles representing Dharma (righteousness), Aartha (Finance), Kama (Love) the groom leads the bride whereas in the last step called Moksha (liberation from world), the bride leads the groom (signifying that wife preceding husband in death is preferable). Kanyadaan, Hasta-Milap, Mangal-Fera and Saptpadi together constiture the core of the wedding ceremony (taking an hour to two hours)
A Hindu couple in post-marriage ceremonies, after . The tied clothing, represents lifelong bond formed during the seven promises ritual with fire as witness.
The (Sanskrit for seven steps/feet), is the most important ritual of Vedic Hindu weddings, and represents the legal part of Hindu marriage.[2] Sometimes called Saat Phere (seven rounds),[14] couple conduct seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a witness to the vows they make to each other.[15] In some regions, a piece of clothing or sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Elsewhere, the groom holds the bride's right hand in his own right hand.[15] Each circuit of the consecrated fire is led by either the bride or the groom, varying by community and region. Usually, the bride leads the groom in the first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the groom.[16] In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits.[15] With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow to establish some aspect of a happy relationship and household for each other.
In South Indian weddings, after each saying a mantra at each of the seven steps, the couple say these words together:
"Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder – together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O beautiful girl!"[17][18][19][20][21]
In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom say the following words after completing the seven steps:
"We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled."[22][23][24][25] In Gujarati Weddings, Mangal-Fera (four circles around holy fire) precedes Saptpadi (7 vows in presence of holy fire). Many considers this to be the most important part of the ceremony. In the first three circles representing Dharma (righteousness), Aartha (Finance), Kama (Love) the groom leads the bride whereas in the last step called Moksha (liberation from world), the bride leads the groom (signifying that wife preceding husband in death is preferable). Kanyadaan, Hasta-Milap, Mangal-Fera and Saptpadi together constiture the core of the wedding ceremony (taking an hour to two hours)
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