Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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that "She has gone to the garden for picking flowers," or that "She has gone to her brother's." When the match is arranged, a few members of the bridegroom's family go to the bride's house to have her final consent. When they ask her, "Are you willing to marry such and such person? She is not expected to reply at once. The question is repeated several times, and then finally she replies in the affirmative in a low voice.
The bridegroom sits on the right hand of the bride. The bridegroom and the bride take their seats facing the East. There are two stools on one side of each of the chairs. On these are placed two metallic trays full of rice, which is to be thrown by the officiating priests over the couple while reciting their marriage benedictions. On the stool by the side of the chair on which the bride is to take her seat, stands a small metallic pot containing ghee (clarified butter) and molasses. Ghee being a soft, slippery substance made out of milk, is considered to be a symbol of gentility, courtesy and obedience. Molasses being a sweet substance is a symbol of sweetness and good temper. So, these two substances are produced by the family of the bride as symbols of good omen, wishing gentleness, peace and contentment to the couple.
D. The Hathevaro Ritual
Before the benedictions are recited, the bridegroom and bride are seated on chairs facing each other. They are made to hold the right hand of each other in the form of a handshake, with grains of rice in the left hand. Two priests, parents/guardians, a witness for each of them and relatives stand around them. The witnesses hold a piece of cloth, passing between the bridegroom and the bride in such a way that they are not able to see each other. The piece of cloth serves as a veil between them. The rear border of the coat of the bridegroom and the sari of the bride are tied together in a knot.
The officiating priest recites 'Yatha ahu vairyo' prayer and ties the hands of the bridegroom and the bride with thread from a cotton thread ball. He then recites 'Yatha ahu vairyos' and passes the cotton thread from the right hand side of the bridegroom to the right hand side of the bride with the help of parents/guardians, witnesses and the other priest. The other priest also recites 'Yatha ahu vairyos'. Seven rounds of cotton thread are thus wound round and thereafter the thread is detached from the cotton thread ball. The bridegroom and the bride throw grains of rice on each other and the piece of cloth between them is removed.
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