Posted by Bansi Pandit on February 19, 1998 at 16:18:48:
In Reply to: Weddings posted by dr on February 17, 1998 at 20:37:57:
: Hindu weddings are well know for their beauty and ceremony!
: I am interested in the seven stages of a Hindu wedding and there signifigance.
: I am also interested in what it takes to set up a ceremony.
: I have heard that the weddings differ from area to area, so I am most interested
: in the weddings around Lucknow.
: Is is wrong for a non-hundu to be wed in this ceremony? Will it be recognized?
: There is precious little information on the web about this subject.
: Is that because it is a very private affair or just difficult to describe.
: Thank you
Response:
The seven steps (called Sapatpadi) taken around the nuptial fire symbolize the seven wedding vows made by the bride and groom to each other. For details about wedding ceremony and the significance of various rituals involved , please refer to Chapter 34 of The Hindu Mind (ISBN 0963479849). A wedding ceremony can be arranged by a Hindu priest. You may call any Hindu temple in your area and have the ceremony arranged by the temple. Hindu wedding is a religious sacrament, and not a social contract. As such, the religious aspect of the ceremony does not change from area to area. What may changes from place to place is the socializing aspect of the ceremony. Since Hindu wedding ceremony is a religious sacrament, a non-Hindu who wishes to be wed in this ceremony must of necessity embrace Hinduism and practice Hindu faith with sincerity, honesty, and open mind. Otherwise, It is futile and meaningless to be wed in such a ceremony, without understanding and appreciating the duties and responsibilities that become obligatory for a couple wedded through such a ceremony. A wedding performed according to Hindu ceremony by a recognized Hindu priest is a recognized marriage for Hindus. Hindu wedding ceremony is not a private affair. The reason too much information is not available on the Web is because it requires significant effort and expertise to translate the details of such ceremony from Sanskrit to English.