Jain Wedding Rituals

Like other Indian Weddings, Jain weddings are also very ritualistic. They are followed through a series of pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. The Jain weddings are very simple and sanctified without any extravagance. A typical Jain wedding is solemnized after a series of rituals like Phere, Havan and Granthi Bandhan. If you are keen about knowing the entire rituals of a Jain Marriage ceremony, you can go through the article given below.

Kanyavaran
Kanyavaran is the official beginning of a Jain marriage ceremony. In the Kanyavaran or kanyapradan ceremony, the bride's parents or the uncle places a one rupee and twenty-five paise and rice on the bride's right hand. Then the bride is handed over to the bridegroom. The bride's father also makes a public proclamation of the marriage in front of the assembled guests. While chanting the mantras, the priest pours water on the hands of the bridegroom and bride thrice.

Granthi Bandhan
Kanyavaran is followed by the Granthi Bandhan ritual, in which a married woman ties the groom's shawl with one end of the bride's sari pallu. It is accompanied by the reciting of mantras. It is actually the custom of preparing the bride and groom for the next important ritual �phere� which they perform around the sacred fire, tied in this nuptial knot.

Phere
In any Indian marriage, phere is considered to be the most important ritual, without which the marriage is incomplete. For the conduct of phere, an auspicious time is selected days before the ceremony. At the decided time, the couple takes four rounds around the sacred fire. The bride leads in the first round. Thereafter, they exchange their positions and take other three rounds around the havankund (sacred fire). The recitation of Mahaveerakshak stoot takes place in the background.

Mangal Geet
During the Phere, the ladies sing Mangal geet and make merriment. After the phere, the couple takes seven vows. After taking the vows, the bride is seated on the left side of bridegroom. The bride is then called vamangi, which symbolizes that she has become the better half of her husband. It is followed by the exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom. The marriage is solemnized with the end of havan by Shanipath and Visarjan.