Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati found the renowned Arya Samaj in 1875 at Bombay, India. It was founded with the sole purpose of taking the Hindu Dharma away from all its ambiguities and go back to the teachings of Vedas. Arya Samaj is based on the basic principle of the eternal truths propounded in the ageless Vedas. It works with the singular aim and that is of "Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam" - Make This World Noble.
MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES
Arya Samaj has this unique feature of having anyone from any religion getting married in its rites. The ceremonies prior and after wedding vary with the religions the boy or the girl hail from. The actual marriage ceremony is simple with a series of prayers and Havan. The wedding is carried out according to Arya Marriage Validation Act XIX of 1937. As Arya Samaj doesn't believe in idolatry, no particular deity is worshipped. Vedas feature the Nirguna Brahman as the de facto God. So, just the fire and other elements become witnesses to the ceremony.
MATCH MAKING
Arya Samaj marriage is totally a different category altogether. It does not ordain any specific rule for match-making for the persons involved. It is based on the primordial Vedas, hence it is regarded as most perfect and well above all castes and creeds. So, it provides a firm platform for inter-caste marriages. Boys and girls coming for such kind of marriages are those who are in love and want to get tied in matrimonial alliances.
Rituals Before Marriage
Shuddhi
Shuddhi is an exceptional ritual, wherein the couple if hailing from a non-Hindu background, has to get converted into Hindus. Shuddhi means purification. This is mandatory as the founder of the religion, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati believed only in Hinduism as the original authentic religion. The other religions was thought to arise from conversions.
Mehendi
Mehendi ceremony has the girl being applied henna in designs in her hands. All other ladies also have the mehendi in their hands. Mehendi is associated with the married image of Indian girl. These days, it has become fashionable to have mehendi in different colors and as weird way as it can be. So, you can often come across mehendi with body glitters and shimmering powder.
Brahmbhoj
Brahmbhoj is an unique ritual of Arya Samaj wedding that has sixteen Brahmins being invited for a traditional lunch. The basic idea is to get their blessings. In the caste system, Brahmins are supposed to be the uppermost caste and associated with the performance of all the Vedic rituals. It is always considered good to get their blessings in such ceremonies as those marriage and the thread ceremony.
Phoolon Kaa Gehna is an amazing ceremony which is embellished with the fragrance, beauty and innocence of flowers. In this, the girl has to adorn herself with jewellery of flowers. It is not an indispensable feature of the Arya Samaj marriage and not everybody follows this ritual.
Choodha and Nath Ceremony
This ceremony would have the girl putting on twenty one ivory red bangles. The number twenty one is regarded to be auspicious and red is the bridal color. Nath is a conventional nose ring, gifted to her by her maternal uncle , in preparation to her new life she is about solemnize.
Marriage Rituals
Varmala ki kriya
Vramala ki Kriya is nothing else than the bride and the groom exchanging flower garlands as per the Indian custom and to demonstrate the public acceptance of each other.
Swagat Vidhi
Swagat Vidhi as the name suggests encompasses the welcome ritual. In this the groom is offered sacred water by his bride to wash his feet. Hindu marriage sees the groom in the image of god. There are several annotations to it. One is that a man and a woman when getting married are likened to the Shiv and Parvati. Shiv is the eternal purusha (soul) and Parvati, the reverent goddess is the prakriti (nature). Like Parvati had done penance to get Shiv and had worshipped him. Similarly, the bride (in Arya Samaj marriage) looks upon her husband and washes his feet.
Madhupark se Satkaar
Madhupark se Satkaar is a part of the aforesaid ritual. It has the bride offering a mixture of curd, gee and honey to the groom.Curd, ghee and honey, all are considered to be good for one's health. Besides, these edibles are believed to be auspicious and impart good effects to whatsoever associated with it.
Thread Ceremony
Thread ceremony is very common among Hindus. It is a rite where the groom is made to wear a sacred thread. The initiation ceremony of a boy from one of the top three varnas (classes) into the first of the traditional stages of life of the twice born Hindu.
Godan
Godan is a very common ritual where a calf is given away as alms to a Brahmin. Godan is regarded as a matter of gaining great return for your deed. It is one of the most sacred rites of the Hindus.
Vishesh Havana
Vishesh Havana is a special yagna (fire sacrifice) performed by the priest as per the Arya Samaj rites. Yagna is a must in majority of the Hindu marriages. The fire lit in yagna is in actuality the agni god who as a god and matter is meant to purify the couple and be an witness to the sacred ceremony of marriage. Fire is the purest of all elements of nature, hence a vow taken in front of the fire is always regarded as very strong and unbreakable.
Pratigya Mantra
Pratigya Mantra is a a ritual solemnizing the marriage. The husband makes six marital vows holding his wife's hands. These vows make the marriage strong and sacred.
Parikarma
The couple take four rounds of the fire one for each four ashrams in the vedic age . Rounds around fire is also an fundamental part of Hindu marriage. In fact, it is the most important feature after sindoor or mangalsutra.
Sindoor Daan
Arya Samaj incorporates the sindoor daan ceremony. It is a very common ritual wherein the groom applies sindoor or vermillion on the wife's hair parting by her husband.
Rituals After Marriage
Dhruv Darshan
Dhruv Darshan is an age-old custom, wherein a newly married couple have to look at the dhruv star once their marriage is completed. They do so as a means to gain direction (symbolic) from the star as they embark upon journey of newly married life.
Suryanamaskar
Suryanamaskar is an indigenous rite, in which people pray to the Sun with folded hands. Sun is the source of all living creation on earth. Hence, he is also regarded as god. The newly married couple pray for good health and prosperity for their conjugal life.
CELEBRATIONS
Music & Dance
"Ladies Sangeet" is an integral part of any Indian marriage as it incorporates the tradition of music and dance. It has the ladies of the family and the girl's friends dancing and making merry all night long.
Cuisine
The wedding menu could consist of the local dishes of the people involved. As Arya Samaj pertains to no particular region, it mostly depends upon the bride or groom's side whoever is throwing the party. Ideally, there are the North-Indian dishes such as the Dal Makhni, Nan, Pulao, Mixed-Vegetable and non-vegetarian dishes (if permissible among the couple involved) like Chicken and Mutton curry, etc.
SOME STRANGE CUSTOMS
Shilarohan
The brother of the bride puts her foot on a 'Shila' or the grinding stone. This is a rite exclusive to the Arya Samaj wedding.
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