Hindu Marriage and importance of Saptapadi.
Marriage, a legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between a man and a woman, that is regulated by laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the rights and duties of the partners and accords status to their offspring. It is the process by which two people make their relationship public, official, and permanent. It is the joining of two people in a bond that putatively lasts until death. The definition of marriage varies between cultures and religions. Marriage is one of the oldest sacraments in the society.
Under Hindu Dharma, marriage (Vivaha) is one of the most important samaskaras. Hindu marriages are solemnized according to the customary rites and ceremonies of either of the couple’s custom. One of the rites and ceremonies include the saptapadi where the bridegroom and the bride take seven steps before the sacred fire. The marriage is bound and completed when the seventh step is taken. Hindu marriage is considered to be a religious sacrament because marriage becomes valid only when rituals and ceremonies are performed. The wife is also called as Ardhangini which is known as half of man. As per shastras man alone is only half until or unless he marries. Manussmriti mentions that once a man and woman gets united by marriage, there soul is considered to be one and there is no difference between them . Marriage is not only performed to get sexual pleasure but also to attain certain goals. Under Vedic Hindu traditions, marriage is viewed as one of the saṁskāras, which are lifelong commitments of one wife and one husband. In India, marriage has been looked upon as having been designed by the cosmos and considered as a “sacred oneness witnessed by fire itself.”
Section 7 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 contain provisions relating to solemnization of marriage. Under Hindu system a marriage may be perform with all the ceremonies by both or either one party of the marriage. A marriage is concerned with saptapadi which means seven rounds. In saptapadi both bride and groom take seven rounds of fire and after which marriage become binding.
What is the importance of SAPTAPADI (seven rounds) and seven vows in marriage? Saptapadi means seven steps in Sanskrit. Sapta means ‘seven’ and Padi means ‘steps’. This refers to the seven steps a couple takes together during their marriage ceremony. In the presence of agni, the holy fire, bearing witness to the seven vows of marriage that these steps symbolize.Seven rounds (Saptapadi) are an important event at the time of marriage in Hinduism. The seven rounds are completed by circumambulating (प्रदक्षिणा) seven times with seven sacred mantras and words for the married couple. It is traditionally recognized in marriage ceremonies and has the following significance:
1. Pratham Phera (Prayer and Resolution Round): In the first round, the married couple prays to the Gods and Goddesses and takes the vow of their marriage. In this, married couples take religious vows and make vows with each other.
2. Dwitya Phera (Phera of Prosperity and Wealth): In this Phera, the married couple seeks prosperity, financial happiness, and wealth. The married couple take a vow to each other for economic and social upliftment.
3. Tritiya Phera (Phera of good fortune and children): In Tritiya Phera, the married couple is wished for fortune and children. In this, the couple is wished for a son-daughter and a promise is taken that the children born by them will always be happy and prosperous.
4. Chaturth Phera (The round of love and harmony): In the fourth round, the married couple take vows of love, harmony, and cooperation towards each other. It depicts the importance of self-control, understanding, and love between a married couple.
5. Pancham Phera (Phera of Dharma and Fame): In the Pancham Phera, the married couple takes an oath of commitment to religious values, ethics, and social duties. In this round, the married couple has to take a pledge to follow all the duties related to their religion.
6. Shashtha Phera (The round of friendship and harmony): In the Shashtha Phera, the married couple take vows of friendship, relation and harmony to each other. In this round, importance is given to supporting each other as life partner and mutual interaction.
7. Saptam Phera (Fair of companionship and truthfulness): In the seventh round, the married couple takes a vow of truthfulness and companionship with each other. In this round, both husband and wife are accepted as partners and helpers of each other.
The Saptapadi (seven rounds) symbolize a relationship between a married couple, which
signifies ( प्रेम, समृद्धि, सौभाग्य, संयम, धार्मिकता, मित्रता, साथीत्व और सात्विकता)
Love, prosperity, good luck, temperance, righteousness, friendship, companionship and truthfulness. These rounds strengthen the bond between the married couple and are a sign of unwavering faith and devotion with each other. We can say that Saptapadi vows, acknowledge and embrace all expectations and ambitions of couples. Marriage in Hinduism, therefore, is not just a mutual contract between two individuals or a relationship of convenience, but a social and moral expediency, in which the couple agree to live together and share their lives, doing their respective duties, to keep the divine order, dharma and the institution of family intact.
Rahul Kilam
