Gift to the Bride from Groom
Traditionally, the Groom’s brother – as well as the groom – would have brought a gift for the bride. This signifies the first gift, welcoming the bride to the new home.
Hridaya sparsha (Touching of heart)1
The groom initially places his right hand on the bride’s shoulder, and then the bride and groom place their hand at their partner’s heart region with this mantra.
I hold your heart, mind, and inner self in me
may our love for each other flow constantly
May God’s Grace keep us faithful to each other.
May we refrain from bad thoughts and words;
May God protect us from negative influences.
ओं मम व्रते ते हृदयं दधामि मम चित्तमनुचित्तं ते अस्तु।
मम वाचमेकमना जुषस्व प्रजापतिष्ठव नियुनक्तु मह्यम् ॥2
Om mama vrate te hridayam dadhaami
mama chittam-anu-chittam te astu.
Mama vaacham-ekam-anaa juṡhasva
prajaapatiṡhṭvaa niyunaktu mahayam.
I speak from my heart with the words of my vows. May our minds be concordant; may our hearts and emotions always synchronize. May we be focused on each other and hold and cherish each other always.
- The hridaya sparsha quite literally brings the heart into the vows. Here, the groom places his hand to the bride’s heart region, while chanting the mantra and maintaining the thought of the mantra; then the bride places her hand and does the same.
- Paar 1.8.8
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