Hindu weddings and mehendi

Mehendi, also called henna / heena / maruthani is usually the must for Indian marriages. No tattoo piercing is involved. Needle is not used. It is totally temporary.

• A Hindu wedding includes a number of religious rites before and during the nuptials.
• The reddish brown color of mehendi is considered to bring prosperity.
• The mehendi patterns used for weddings are much more intricate and time consuming. This helps the bride’s friends to give her useful advices.
• Mehendi has cooling property. It is believed that it soothes the nerves of the bride.
• It is believed that newly married woman, when gets dark color mehendi impression will get a loads of love and caring from her husband.
• It is also believed that the darker the color of the Mehendi on the bride’s palms and feet, the stronger and greater will be the love between her and her mother in-law.

Tree Marriage for rain

• On Saturday, 13 June 2009, villagers near Coimbatore of Tamilnadu, India organized a symbolic wedding of two trees to appease Rain God.

• Both the trees have been grown adjacent for about 35 years.

• One was margosa tree (Neem tree) and the other was Banyan tree.

• The special ceremony was organized as per Hindu traditions and was attended by hundreds of villagers.

• The priest performed the marriage with a large number of devotees.

• The villagers believed with confidence that by organizing such a wedding, they could get a good rainfall.

• After the marriage, devotees offered prayers.

• A special lunch was also arranged for the interested devotees.

Matching Of Horoscope (Astrology)

General method of Marriage (astrology) matching:

• The bride groom’s horoscope is taken and the bride’s horoscope is viewed for marriage matching.

• Similarly, the bride’s horoscope is taken and the bride groom’s horoscope is viewed for the matching.

• Although many methods are followed, a common matching method by ‘star’ (Nakshatram) is shown below.

Nakshatram is also called nakshtra.


Astrology Matching by Star for the Bride groom’s Horoscope

Groom’s Star Bride’s stars

Ashvini
Bharani, Mrigashirsha, Punarvasu, Purva Phalguni

Bharani
Rohini, Swati, Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4, Shravana, Ashvini

Krittika 1 Pada
Chitra 3, 4, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2

Krittika 2, 3, 4 Padas
Hasta, Chitra 1, 2, Jyeshtha, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4

Rohini
Mrigashirsha 1, 2, Uttara Phalguni, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada

Mrigashirsha 1, 2 Padas
Punarvasu 4, Hasta, Purva Bhadrapada, Revati, Rohini

Mrigashirsha 3, 4 Padas
Ardra, Punarvasu, Hasta, Swati, Purva Bhadrapada 4, Revati

Ardra
Pushya, Uttara Ashadha 1, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashirsha 3, 4

Punarvasu 1, 2, 3 Padas
Pushya, Swati, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati

Punarvasu 4 Pada
Pushya, Anuradha, Bharani, Rohini

Pushya
Uttara Phalguni, Ashvinī, Punarvasu 4

Ashlesha
Hasta, Anuradha, Pushya

Magha
Chitra, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4

Purva Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Uttara Ashadha 1, Shravana

Uttara Phalguni 1 Pada
Purva Ashadha, Rohini, Mrigashirsha, Purva Phalguni

Uttara Phalguni 2, 3, 4 Padas
Purva Ashadha, Shravana, Revati

Hasta
Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashirsha 3, 4

Chitra 1, 2 Padas
Vishakha 4, Shravana, Ashlesha

Chitra 3, 4 Padas
Vishakha, Shravana, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Ashlesha

Swati
Anuradha, Purva Bhadrapada 1, 2, 3, Punarvasu 4, Pushya

Vishakha 1, 2, 3 Padas
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Ashlesha

Vishakha 4 Pada
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)

Anuradha
Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4, Purva Bhadrapada, Revati, Uttara Phalguni

Jyeshtha
Shravana, Anuradha

Mula
Shravishtha (Dhanista), Krittika 1, Mrigashirsha 3, 4

Purva Ashadha
Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Ashvinī, Ardra, Swati, Uttara Phalguni 2-3-4, Hasta

Uttara Ashadha 1 Pada
Bharani, Mrigashirsha 3, 4, Hasta, Purva Ashadha

Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4 Padas
Bharani, Mrigashirsha 1, 2

Shravana
Uttara Bhadrapada, Ashvinī, Mrigashirsha 1, 2, Anuradha

Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2 Padas
Punarvasu 4, Ashlesha, Swati, Vishakha, Shravana

Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4 Padas
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Punarvasu 1, 2, 3, Vishakha 4

Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)
Krittika, Mrigashirsha, Magha, Vishakha 4, Anuradha, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4

Purva Bhadrapada 1, 2, 3 Padas
Uttara Bhadrapada, Rohini, Purva Phalguni, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha

Purva Bhadrapada 4 Pada
Uttara Bhadrapada, Purva Ashadha, Shravana, Rohini, Pushya

Uttara Bhadrapada
Revati, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni 2, 3, 4, Uttara Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada 4

Revati
Bharani, Pushya, Hasta, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada


Astrology Matching by Star for the Bride’s Horoscope


Bride’s star Bride groom’s stars

Ashvini
Bharani, Ardra, Pushya, Purva Ashadha, Shravana, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)

Bharani
Punarvasu, Uttara Ashadha, Revati, Ashvini

Krittika 1 Pada
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)

Krittika 2, 3, 4 Padas
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)

Rohini
Mrigashirsha 1, 2, Punarvasu 4, Uttara Phalguni 1, Purva Bhadrapada, Bharani

Mrigashirsha 1, 2 Padas
Uttara Phalguni 1, Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4,
Shravana, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka),
Ashvinī, Rohini

Mrigashirsha 3, 4 Padas
Ardra, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Mula, Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka),Bharani

Ardra
Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Bharani, Mrigashirsha 3, 4

Punarvasu 1, 2, 3 Padas
Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashirsha 3, 4

Punarvasu 4 Pada
Pushya, Swati, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashirsha

Pushya
Ashlesha, Hasta, Swati, Vishakha 1-2-3, Purva Bhadrapada 4, Revati, Ardra, Punarvasu

Ashlesha
Chitra, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2

Magha
Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)

Purva Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni 1, Purva Bhadrapada 1, 2, 3, Ashvinī

Uttara Phalguni 1 Pada
Swati, Anuradha, Bharani, Rohini, Pushya, Purva Phalguni

Uttara Phalguni 2, 3, 4 Padas
Anuradha, Purva Ashadha, Rohini, Pushya, Purva Phalguni

Hasta
Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha 1, Revati, Mrigashirsha, Purva Phalguni, Ashlesha,
Krittika 2, 3, 4

Chitra 1, 2 Padas
Krittika 2, 3, 4, Magha

Chitra 3, 4 Padas
Krittika 1, Magha

Swati
Purva Ashadha, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2, Bharani, Mrigashirsha 3, 4, Purva Phalguni,Punarvasu

Vishakha 1, 2, 3 Padas
Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2, Chitra 3, 4

Vishakha 4 Pada
Shravishtha (Dhanista), Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Chitra

Anuradha
Jyeshtha, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Purva Bhadrapada 1, 2, 3, Rohini, Punarvasu, Ashlesha, Hasta, Swati

Jyeshtha
Krittika 2, 3, 4

Mula
Uttara Bhadrapada, Purva Phalguni, Swati, Purva Ashadha

Purva Ashadha
Purva Bhadrapada, Punarvasu 1, 2, 3, Uttara Phalguni, Revati

Uttara Ashadha 1 Pada
Uttara Bhadrapada, Ardra, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Hasta, Swati

Uttara Ashadha 2, 3, 4 Padas
Uttara Bhadrapada, Bharani, Pushya, Hasta, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha

Shravana
Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2, Purva Bhadrapada 4, Bharani, Punarvasu 4, Uttara Phalguni 2, 3, 4,
Chitra, Jyeshtha, Purva Ashadha

Shravishtha (Dhanista) 1, 2 Padas
Krittika 1, Mula

Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4 Padas
Krittika, Shatabhisha (Shatataraka), Magha, Mula

Shatabhisha (Shatataraka)
Chitra 3, 4, Vishakha, Shravishtha (Dhanista) 3, 4

Purva Bhadrapada 1, 2, 3 Padas
Mrigashirsha 1, 2, Swati, Anuradha

Purva Bhadrapada 4 Pada
Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashirsha, Anuradha

Uttara Bhadrapada
Revati, Ardra, Rohini, Punarvasu 1, 2, 3, Hasta, Shravana, Purva Bhadrapada

Revati
Mrigashirsha, Punarvasu 1, 2, 3, Uttara Phalguni 2, 3, 4, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada
To view Tamil horoscope matching visit
http://tamiltip.blogspot.com/2009/10/tamil-horoscope-matching-for-hindu.html

A typical Vegetarian menu of Tamil marriages

There are large varieties of menus at different places. However a sample menu is highlighted here.


At 6:00 am:

• Coffee
  

At 7:30 am:
Breakfast:

• Halwa or Kesari, Pineapple Pudding, seeyum, Venpongal / Pongal, Idli, Ulundha Vadai, Sambar, Coconut Chutney (Thengai Thuvaiyal), Chili Chutney (Milagai / Milakai Thuvaiyal), Milakai Podi with Gingelly / Seasame Oil, Coffee or Tea.
• Served on a piece of plantain leaf (Banana leaf).
  
  

At 12:00 pm:
Lunch:

• Rice, paruppu with nei (Dal with ghee), Sambar, Vatral kulambu / Vaththa kuzhambu, Paruppu urundai kulambu, Biriyani, Mixed vegetable kuruma, Rasam (Mulligatwanny), Soup, Curd (Thayir / Dhahi), Buttermilk (Mor / Chaach), Pakoda, Pickle (Oorukai / Achar), Appalam (Papad), Amavadai (Masal Vada / Dal Vada / Paruppu Vadai), Payasam, Jilebi / Jangiri, Avial, Poriyal, Therakkal, Masiyal, Usili, Potato Masaal / Roast / Varuval, Curd / Thayir pachadi, Sweet Pachadi, Pumpkin / Parangikkai / Poosanikkai Koottu, Pan and Beeda.
• Served on a big size piece of plantain leaf (Vaalai ilai)
  
  

At 4:00 pm:

• Mysore pauk / Badusha, Roasted / Fried Groundnut, Mixture, Coffee or Tea.
  
  

At 7:30 pm:

• Puri / Poori / Chapathi / Roti / Purotta, Mixed Vegetable Kuruma, Pulav, Raitha, Idli / Idly, Sambar, chutney, Halwa, Masala milk, Ice cream.
  
  

Marriage matching

A lot of careful procedures are being followed in a traditional Hindu marriage.

• Gothram (gotra / gothra):
  Usually, bride’s gothra (gothram) and her mother’s gothra should not be the same that of groom’s and his mother’s. Dissimilar gotras (gothrams) are the requirement for an arranged marriage.
  
• Horoscope:
  For the traditional Hindu marriages, while selecting suitable bride or bride groom, all Nakshatras (stars) and Rashis are eligible. The bride’s Nakshatram (star) and Rashi are carefully analysed for suitability to be matched with those of the groom. Also their horoscopes are thoroughly studied.
  
• Gun (Gunam) milan:
  A minimum of 21gunas out of the total of 36 should match. Relaxations are found here and there.
  
• Nadi dosha:
  Both the bride and the groom should not have same nadi. It is believed that same nadi affects their health and that of their children.

Funny marriages (Marriages of minor girls with frogs)

• Two minor girls from a village in Villupuram district of Tamilnadu, India were married off to frogs in Jan 2009.
• The ceremony, an annual feature during the Pongal festival was conducted ‘to prevent the outbreak of mysterious diseases in the village’.
• The girls dressed up in traditional bridal finery -- gilded sarees and gold jewelry, married the frogs in separate ceremonies at two different temples in presence of villagers.
• The frogs were tied to long sticks decorated with garlands for the marriage ceremonies.
• The temple priests garlanded the brides and tied the magalsutras on behalf of the frogs saying the two as wives of the amphibians before the sacred fire at the auspicious hour.
• Villagers of the western part of the village acted as relatives of the brides. Eastern part villagers acted as relatives of the grooms.
• The ceremonies had all the usual elements of a traditional marriage including a sumptuous feast.
• Finally, after the ceremony, The frogs were thrown back into the temple ponds.