Jain Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Program
1. Arrival of the Jan (groom's party) 2. Ponkhna Ceremony 3. Ganesh Pu a an! "angal#haran $. Antarpata (#urtain %et&een the %ri!e an! groom) '. (anya Agamana (arrival of the %ri!e) ). "anglastak (message of goo!ness as #urtain is remove! an! garlan!s e*#hange!) +. "angal ,ilak -. .ishi "antra /. A%hisheka 10. (anya 1aan (giving a&ay of the %ri!e) 11. Chhe!a%an!han (tying of the knot) 12. 2asta "elap ( oining of the han!s) 13. "angalphera 1$. 3aptapa!i (seven sa#re! steps &alke! together) 1'. "angalsutra4 .ings4 an! 3in!oor (&e!!ing ne#kla#e4 rings4 an! holy re! po&!er) 1). (ansar Ceremony (holy foo! offering) 1+. 3hanti "antra (pea#e #hant) 1-. Akhan! 3au%hagyavati 5hava (&hispere! %lessings for the %ri!e) 1/. Ashir&a! (final %lessings) 20. 5i!!ai (fare&ell to the %ri!e)

Wedding Ceremony
"arriage is the sa#re! union of t&o in!ivi!uals #oming together an! marks entry into the househol!er stage of life. ,he marriage sa#rament impresses upon a person that the earthly life shoul! %e #ons#iously an! fully a##epte! an! elevate! to the level of spiritual e*perien#e4 gro&th4 an! #on6uest of ego an! self. 7t is a fello&ship %et&een a man an! &oman &ho seek to love un#on!itionally4 live #reatively4 an! gro& pea#efully in a loving an! lasting partnership as they move through the four stages of life. 7n the presen#e of auspi#ious %eings4 past4 present4 an! future4 sa#re! vo&s of marriage &ill %e e*#hange! to signify the harmonious merging of t&o %o!ies an! t&o souls. 8e &el#ome you to the &e!!ing #eremony of (%ri!e name) an! (groom name).

Arrival of the Groom's Party

Groom an! his party arrive at the venue of the marriage in a pro#ession. ,hey are re#eive! %y %ri!e's family an! groom is le! to an ar#h&ay imme!iately outsi!e the &e!!ing hall. 2e is aske! to stan! on a lo& platform #alle! a %a oth. ,he 9avkar "antra (Jain prayer) is re#ite! to mark the %eginning of the auspi#ious o##asion. ,he 9avkar "antra is the most sa#re! an! primary of Jain verses4 invoking the pan#ha (five) Parmeshtis : the Arihant (enlightene!4 perfe#t souls)4 the 3i!!ha (the li%erate! souls; those free of all karma)4 the <#h=rya (the hea!s of #ongregations)4 the >p=!hy=y (the as#eti# tea#hers)4 an! the 3a!hus (the as#eti# aspirants).

navakra mantra namo arihanta namo siddha namo yariya namo uvajjhya namo lo savva sha so pacha namukkro savva pvappasao magala cha savvsi pahama hava magala
2. Ponkhna Ceremony
Assiste! %y the priest4 %ri!e's mom performs the Ponkhna4 or the &el#oming #eremony in &hi#h %a! omens are !ispelle! %efore groom?s enters the &e!!ing hall. At the en! of this #eremony4 the priest asks the groom to step on t&o earthen&are sau#ers an! to #rush them. ,he groom is then le! insi!e the &e!!ing hall to the man!apah %y his %est men. ,hey take a seat4 follo&e! %y the %ri!e's parents.

, , , , , , , , , , ,

r saraya vivstra nirajana nirmama ni!kalaka sa va "hagavna ntim karotu t#!$im karotu pu!$im karotu #ddhim karotu v#ddhim karotu sukham karotu saukhyam karotu riyam karotu lak!mm karotu om arhama
3. Ganesh Puja and Mangal haran
,he &e!!ing Ceremony %egins &ith a prayer invo#ating the lor! Ganesh4 &hose !ivine gra#e !ispels all evil an! promotes the su##essful an! pea#eful #ompletion of to!ay's o##asion.

5lessings for the %ri!e4 groom4 an! all present are aske! for. @or! Ganesh is a sym%ol of pea#e4 truth4 frien!ship4 an! happiness. 7n a!!ition to asking lor! Ganesh for %lessings4 the 9avkar "antra is re#ite! again %efore the priest asks the %ri!e to enter the man!apah.

namo arihanta namo siddha namo yariya namo uvajjhya namo lo savva sha so pacha namukkro savva pvappasao magala cha savvsi pahama hava magala
!

arhanto "hagavanta indramahit siddhcha siddhisthit cry jinasanonnatikar pjy updhyyak% r siddhnta&sup$hak munivar ratnatrayrdhak pachait param!$hina pratidina kurvuntu vo magalam%

'( hr arham r gautamasvmin nama '( hr arham r gautamasvmin nama '( hr arham r gautamasvmin nama
". Antar#ata $Curtain %et&een the %ride and groom'
5efore the %ri!e enters the &e!!ing hall4 her %rothers raise a &hite #urtain in front of the groom so that the groom #an see her enter the man!ap. 3ome say this #reates suspense for the groom4 %ut the tra!itional reason is that the %ri!e an! groom are still separate at this point4 an! &hen the #urtain is remove! they %egin to oin as one.

(. )anya Agamana $arrival of the %ride'

,he priest #alls for the %ri!e an! her atten!ants to enter the &e!!ing hall an! the man!ap (stage). ,he %ri!e is le! to the man!ap %y her maternal un#le &ho %lesses the #ouple. 3he is also greete! %y the mother of the groom. 7n!ian %ri!es tra!itionally &ear a re! an! &hite sari as the &hite signifies purity an! re! signifies a%un!an#e an! fertility. >pon her arrival4 the groom is aske! to stan! an! to fa#e the %ri!e &hile still %ehin! the #urtain separating them.

*. Mangalashtaks $ urtain removal + garland e, hange'

3eparate! %y the &hite #urtain4 the %ri!e an! groom are aske! to fa#e ea#h other hol!ing garlan!s. ,he priest re#ites "angalashtaks (spe#ial prayers) to invite the !ivine to &itness the marriage an! to %less the %ri!e an! groom. ,he &hite #urtain %et&een the %ri!e an! groom is remove!4 sym%oli#ally removing all feelings of separateness. ,his moment marks the oining of t&o as one. ,he %ri!e an! groom pla#e garlan!s aroun! ea#h other as this sym%oliAes their a##eptan#e an! love for ea#h other.

! ,

'( param!$hinamaskra sdara navapadtmaka% tmarak!kara vajra&pajar"ha smarmyaha %%)%% '( namo arihanta iraska irasi sthita% '( namo siddha mukh mukhapa$a vara %%*%%
, ,

'( namo yariya agarak!tiyin% '( namo uvajjhya yudha hastaryord#ha %%+%%
, ,

'( namo lo savvasha mochak pdayo u"h% so pacha namukkro il vajramay tal %%,%%
, , , ,

savvapvappasao vapro vajramayo "ahi% magala cha savvsi khdirgra khtik %%-%% svhnta cha pada jya pahama hava magala% vapropari vajramaya pidhna dharak!a %%.%%
, ,

mahpra"hv rak!ya rudropadravanin% param!$hipadod"ht kathitprvasri"hi %%/%%

yavva karut rak! param!$hipadai sad% tasya na syd "haya vydhi&rdhi vpi kadchana %%0%%
-. Mangal .ilak
,he priest makes a saffron4 san!al&oo!4 or kanku mark on the forehea!s of the %ri!e4 groom4 an! the %ri!e's parents an! on himself. A .akshapotli (sa#re! re! threa! spe#ially prepare! an! %lesse! prior to the &e!!ing !ay for prote#tion) is tie! aroun! the &rists of the %ri!e4 groom4 an! their parents as an offering of pea#eful &ishes.

, / , .

magala "hagavna vro magala gautama pra"hu1 magala sthla"hadrdy jaina dharmostu magala%
, , ,

n"h dy jin sarv "haratdycha chakria% karvantu magala sarv vi!uva prativi!ava %% mardv trialdy vikhyta jinamtar% trijagat janit nand magalya "havantu m %%
, !

chakrvar siddhyik mukhy sanadvat% samyadar vighnahar rachayantu jayariyam %% "rhmchandana"ldy mahsatyo mahattar% akhaala&lly yacchantu mama magalam %%
0. 1ishi Mantra $Prayer to enlightened souls'
,he %ri!e an! groom make an offering of laving (#loves) ea#h time a verse of this prayer is re#ite! to honor the enlightene! souls in the universe. A total of 1' #love offerings are ma!e. (1) : the great %orn

2)3 '( satyajtya nama% 2*3 '( arhajjtya nama%

(2) - Arihantas (enlightened ones) (3) - those without material ties

2+3 '( nirgranthya nama% 2,3 '( vtargya nama%

(4) - those with no attachments (5) : those who have taken vows

(6) - those with control of body mind and s!eech

2-3 '( mahvratya nama%

2.3 '( triguptya nama%

(") - those who are yogis

2/3 '( mahyogya nama%

(#) - those who meditate

203 '( vividhayogya nama%

($) - those who make offerings

243 '( vividharddhay nama% 2)53 '( agadharya nama% 2))3 '( prvadharya nama% 2)*3 '( gaadharya nama%
(%3) - sages

(%&) - those !ossessing knowledge of anga scri!tures (%%) - those !ossessing knowledge of !urva scri!tures (%2) - disci!les of Arihantas

2)+3 '( paramar!i"hyo namonama% 2),3 '( anupama jtya namonama%

(%4) - those born in a virtuous family

(1') : those &ho have %een enlightene! %y the faith.

2)-3 '( samyagad#!$ samyag d#!$ "hpat "hpat

2. A%hisheka $%lessing from #riest'
,he priest takes holy &ater in the pointe! part of a %eetle leaf an! anoints the hea!s of the %ri!e an! groom. ,his offering sym%oliAes pea#e an! happiness. ,he prayer offere! %in!s the %ri!e an! groom together in an eternal %on!.

'( arham 6 idam sanam adhysno svadhysno sthitau susthitau tadastu v santana sagama% '( arham '( namorhat siddhcryopdhyya sarva sdhu"hya%
34. )anya 5aan $giving a&ay of the %ride'
,he %ri!e's parents perform the ritual of giving their !aughter to the #are of the groom through a sym%oli# gesture of holy &ater flo&ing from their han!s through the %ri!e's han!s an! into the groom's han!s. ,he %ri!e's parents ask the groom to treat their !aughter as a loving an! e6ual partner an! formally give their !aughter in marriage to the groom. ,he groom promises to love an! respe#t the %ri!e throughout their life. ,he %ri!e's parents pla#e the varmala (han!:&oven #or!)

aroun! the #ouple4 uniting them an! prote#ting them from all evil influen#es. ,he priest opens the %lesse! invitation an! s#roll an! rea!s the #ontentsB C,o!ay4 on the 20th !ay of D#to%er4 20014 **** (%ri!e name)4 !aughter of **** an! **** (%ri!e?s parent name)4 of **** (to&n name)4 **** (state name); an! **** (groom?s name)4 son of **** an! **** **** (groom?s parent names)4 of **** (to&n name)4 **** (state name) are oining in holy matrimony. "ay **** (%ri!e name) an! **** (groom name) %e grante! pea#e4 #ontentment4 prosperity4 an! &is!om throughout their lives together. Dm ArhumC

33. Chheda 6andhan $.ying of the knot'

,he %ri!e's sister ties one en! of the groom's s#arf to one #orner of the %ri!e's sari signifying eternal togetherness. ,he &hite #loth is a sym%ol of purity an! unity. ,he threa!s of the &hite #loth are %elieve! to %in! the #ouple as eternal partners. 8hile a single threa! of ra& #otton is easily torn4 inter&oven stran!s of #otton form a strong %on!. 3imilarly4 the a%ilities an! virtues of the %ri!e an! groom are mu#h stronger &hen #om%ine! than separate!.

asmin janmay!a "andhoddhyorv km dharm v g#hasthatva "hji% yogo jta pacha dvgni sk! jy patyorachala granthi "andht%
32. 7asta Mela# $joining of the hands'
,his #eremony is the union of the t&o palms. 2ol!ing ea#h other's right han!4 the %ri!e an! groom vo& to &alk han! in han! throughout their life. ,his signifies that %ri!e an! groom are unite! as one an! &ill live as one in %o!y4 min!4 an! spirit. ,his is #onsi!ere! the most important part of the &e!!ing #eremony. ,he #ouple is remin!e! to remem%er the !ivine4 to look upon others &ith sympathy4 love4 an! #ompassion4 to %e strong an! to sho& goo! &ill an! affe#tion to&ar!s others.

, , ,

hridra pakamavalipya suvsin"hi% datta dvayo janakayo khalu tau g#htv %% dak!ikara nijasut "havamagrapim% limpd varasya cha karadvaya yojanrtha %% tadva lagna sudina tadva tr "alachandra "ala datva vidy"ala dva"ala tadva trthakarn smaraa u"hantu%

namo arihanta namo siddha namo yariya namo uvajjhya namo lo savvasham so pacha namukkro savvapvappasao magala cha savvsi pahama hava magala
8 , , , , , , , , , , , .

'( arham7 tmsi jvo8si samaklo8si samacitto8si samaryo8si samadho8si samasnho8si sama sama pramodo8si sama gamo8si samaviharo8si sama mok!o8si tadhi katva idnya% arham '( '( nti nti nti '( k!v k!v hasa svh% om arham
33. Mangal#hera
,his #eremony is a remin!er of the four stages of life &hi#h are 5rahma#harya (from %irth to the !ate of marriage)4 Gruhastha (marrie! life stage)4 E=naprasthya (learning4 self:stu!y an! preparation for the four stage)4 an! 3any=sa (renoun#ement of materialism to serve mankin!). 5oun! %y the knot 5ri!e an! Groom &alk aroun! the agni (fire) hol!ing han!s four times to remin! themselves of the %asi# prin#iples that shoul! govern their !aily a#tivities an! thought pro#esses. Groom lea!s the first three roun!s4 signifying his #ontri%ution in helping ea#h other attain !harma4 artha4 an! k=ma. ,he last roun! is le! %y 5ri!e signifying li%eration from this life. Fa#h &alk aroun! the Agni (fire) is initiate! %y the %ri!e's %rother filling the %ri!e's palms &ith ri#e signifying the follo&ing %lessings; goo! health4 happiness4 &ealth4 an! prosperity. ,he ri#e is then offere! %y the %ri!e to the fire. ,he four %asi# prin#iples areB

(1) 1harma : trust4 sin#erity4 honesty4 an! !is#ipline (philosophi#al or religious pursuits) (2) Artha : earning a livelihoo! %y truthful an! honest means (&ealth) (3) (=ma : happiness in family life (family an! #hil!ren) ($) "oksha : eternal %liss &hen one leaves all material thoughts4 %eliefs4 an! atta#hments %ehin! (rein#arnation or nirvana)

, , , , , , , . 8 8 8 8 8 8

agnisthpanno mantra '( hr namo agnay namo ananta tjas namo havyanya atra ku gaccha gaccha avatara avatara ti!$ha ti!$ha svh% '( arham7 andi viva7 andirtm7 andi kla7 andi karma7 andi sam"andha7 arham '(
33. Mangal#hera $ ontinued'

prathama magala sajjti sad g#hasthatva privrjya surndrat% smrjya paramrhantya nirva cti saptakam %%

"ju maga9a sajjti sadg#hasthatva privrjya surndrat% smrjya paramrhantya nirva cti saptakam %%
, , ,

trju maga9a sajjti sadg#hasthatva privrjya surndrat% smrjya paramrhantya nirva cti saptakam %% '( arham% sahajo8sti sva"hvo8sti sam"andho8sti prati"addho8sti tadasti ssarika sam"andha% arham '( sajjti sadg#hasthatna parivrjya surndrat %% smrjya paramrhantaya nirva cti saptakam %%

cothu maga9a nirva paramasthna jina"h!itamuttamam% pjyat saptavargi svargamok!asukhkaram %% '( hr nirva parama sthnya nama svh
3". 9a#ta#adi $seven sa red ste#s &alked together'
7t is sai! in 7n!ian philosophy that if t&o people &alk seven steps together4 then they &ill %e lifelong frien!s. ,he %ri!e an! groom take seven steps together an! &ith ea#h step they a##ept the vo&s re#ite! %y the priest. At the en! of ea#h stepG&alk4 the open palms of the %ri!e are fille! to overflo&ing &ith puffe! ri#e %y her %rother4 signifying a%un!an#e of &ealth an! prosperity. 8e shall al&ays remain together in happiness an! sorro&. 8e shall em%ra#e ea#h other's families as our o&n. 8e shall remain life partners H serve ea#h other &ith happiness an! love. 8e shall assist ea#h other in all #ir#umstan#es. 8e shall share our min!s4 hearts4 an! spirits. 8e strive to gro& our love an! spiritual an! philosophi#al 6uests. 8e agree to a life of e6ual rights an! &ill perform our !uties &ith mutual #ooperation an! respe#t. After taking the seven steps4 the #ouple takes the follo&ing vo&sB 8e have taken the first seven steps as life partners4 let us %e frien!s an! partners forever. @et us have a oint purpose an! !etermination. @et us love ea#h other an! shine together. @et us gro& together &hen possi%le an! to un!erstan! the other's gro&th &hen separate from our o&n. @et us not s&erve from the path of our love4 !evotion4 #ommitment4 an! frien!ship &ith ea#h other. @et us %e #omplimentary an! pea#eful in our thoughts4 spee#h4 a#tions4 an! feelings. ,he #ouple is no& offi#ially marrie! an! e*#hange rings an! the &e!!ing ne#kla#e.

3(. Mangalsutra, 1ings, and 9indoor $&edding ne kla e, rings, and holy red #o&der'
Groom pla#es sin!oor on 5ri!e's forehea! an! &el#omes her into his life as his eternal partner. 2e also pla#es a sa#re! ne#kla#e ma!e of %la#k %ea!s aroun! her ne#k as a sym%ol of his love4 integrity4 an! !evotion to&ar!s her. Iinally4 5ri!e an! Groom e*#hange &e!!ing %an!s to sho& that they are no& marrie!. ,he priest re6uests the au!ien#e to say the follo&ing &or!s alou! B

'( puyha puyha priyanta priyantam

(may there %e meritorious an! goo! !ee!s) At this time4 &itnesses of the &e!!ing sho&er ri#e on the #ouple to #onvey their %lessings for longevity an! prosperity.

3*. )ansar Ceremony $holy food offering'

9ourishing the relationship through holy foo! offerings4 the %ri!e's mother %rings the #ouple some 7n!ian s&eets. ,he %ri!e an! groom fee! ea#h other four mouthfuls of s&eets for the nourishment of the %one4 the mus#le4 the skin4 an! the soul. ,his signifies that she is his &ife an! that he is her hus%an! an! together they &ill provi!e for one another an! their families. ,he sharing of s&eets also signifies the ri#h an! s&eet life that a&aits them.

3-. 9hanti Mantra $#ea e #rayer'

As the en! of the #eremony approa#hes4 the priest re#eites a pea#e #hant asking for universal pea#e for all %eings. ,he priest also sprinkles v=saksepa (orange holy po&!er) on the hea!s of the #ouple an! gives them further goo! &ishes an! %lessings.

'( hr arha asi sya nama sarvanti kuru kuru svh

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

'( supratig#htstu ntirastu tu!$irastu pu!$irastu #ddhirastu v#ddhirastu ivamastu kalyamastu karmasiddhirastu drdhyurastu puya vardhat dharmo vardhat kulagautravardhatm svasti "hadra astu%

'( nti nti nti '( k!v k!v hasa svh%

, ,

sarva magala mgalya sarva kalya kraa pradhna sarva dharm jaina jayati sanam%

namo arihanta namo siddha namo yariya namo uvajjhya namo lo savvasha so pacha namukkro savvapvappasao magala cha savvsi pahama hava magala

30. Akhand 9au%hagyavati 6hava $&his#ered %lessings for the %ride'

A pre:arrange! num%er of female relatives from %oth si!es of the family are invite! to the man!ap (stage) to give their %lessings to the %ri!e an! groom. ,he female relatives &hisper se#rets into the %ri!e's ear to help her keep herself an! her hus%an! happy throughout their life. ,he &omen pla#e a re! !ot an! some ri#e on %oth the %ri!e an! groom's forehea!s. ,his sym%oliAes their &ishes to the #ouple for a long4 happy4 prosperous4 an! pea#eful life together.

32. Ashir&ad $%lessing %y the #riest and #arents'

,he priest an! family offer their final %lessings to the ne&ly marrie! #ouple an! sho&er them &ith ri#e an! flo&ers.

24. 6iddai $fare&ell to the 6ride'

Fither follo&ing the !inner re#eption or on the ne*t !ay4 there is a tou#hing an! emotional fare&ell %et&een the !aughter an! her parents an! e*ten!e! family as she leaves her life as a !aughter an! enters the role of &ife to her hus%an!.

Some Popular Mantras

Dm %hoor %huvah svah; tat savitur varaynyam; %hargo !ayvasya !heemahi; !hiyo yonah pra#ho!a:yat; Dm. (.ig Ee!a 3.)2.10 an! Ju ur Ee!a 3).3) Gurur 5rahma gurur Eishnuh4 gurur !evo "aheshvarah; gurussakshat param 5rahma4 tasmai shri gurave namah. (Guru Gita) Akhan!a:man!ala:karam4 uyaptam yena#hara:#haram; tat pa!am !arshitam yena4 tasmai shri gurave namah. (Guru Gita) 3arva:!harman paritya: aya4 maam ekam sharanam vra a. Aham tvaa sarva:paape%hyo4 moksha:yisyaami maa su#hah. (5G 1-.))) 3arva mangala mangalye4 shive sarva artha sa!hike. 3haranye trayam%ake gauri4 9arayani namostute. (1urgasaptasati or Chan!i 11.10) ,&ameva mata #ha pita t&ameva4 ,&ameva %an!hus#ha skha t&ameva. ,&ameva vi!ya !ravinam t&ameva4 t&ameva sarvam mama !eva:!eva. Dm sarve %havantu sukhinah4 sarve santu nira:maya:ah;

sarve %ha!rani pashyantu4 ma:kas#hit !ukha:%hak %havet. Dm shantih4 shantih4 shantih. Dm poornam:a!ah poornam:i!am4 Poor:nath poornam:u!a#hyate; Poor:nasya poornam:a!aya4 poornam:eva:vasishyate. (7savasya >panisha!) Dm sahanaav:avatu4 sahanaav %hunaktu. 3aha veeryam karavaa:vahai. ,e as&inaa:va!heetam:astu4 ma vi!vishavahai. Dm shantih4 shantih4 shantih. (,aittiriya >panisha! 77.1) Asato ma sa!:gamaya; tamaso ma yotir:gamaya; mrtyor:ma amrutam gamaya. Dm.shantih4 shantih4 shantih. (5riha!aranyaka >panisha! 1.3.2-)