Laajaa-Ahuti (Offering of parched grains)
Standing, facing east, the bride’s hand is palm upwards into the palm of the groom.
The bride’s brother (or mother, if the brother is unavailable) puts some of the parched grains into the bride’s palm.
The bride and groom (hands together) make three offerings with these mantras:
ओमर्यमणं देवं कन्या अग्निमयक्षत।
स नो अर्यमा देवः प्रेतो मुञ्चतु मा पते स्वाहा ॥
इदमर्यम्णे अग्नये इदन्न मम ॥
Om aryamaṇam deva kanyaa agnim-ayakshata.
Sa no aryamaa devaah preto muṇ̇chatu maa pateh svaahaa.1
Idam aryamṇe idanna mama.
O Lord, please protect and bless us. May we provide companionship to each other and may death and disease stay far away from us and our home.
अर्यमन् companion, sun, medicinal plant देवम् of God कन्या bride अग्नि God, energy अयक्ष health स for नो us अर्यमा companion देवः God प्रति to मुञ्चतु bestow, release, set free मा not पते husband
ओमियं नार्युपब्रूते लाजानावपन्तिका।
आयुष्मानस्तु मे पतिरेधन्तां ज्ञातयो मम स्वाहा ॥
इदमग्नये इदन्न मम ॥
Om-iyam naaree-apabrute
Laajaanaa-vapantikaa
Aayuṣhmaan-astu me pati-redantaam
gyaatayo mama svaahaa.2
Idam agnaye idanna mama.
By these offerings of parched grains, this honorable wife entreats you O Lord to grant us long life together in our marriage. May my husband be blessed with ever-increasing health. May we continue to support and know each other.
इयम् this नारी lady, wife उपब्रूते entreat, speak to, persuade लाजानावपन्तिका scattering or offering of these parched grains आयुष्मान long life अस्तु be it so म me पति husband एधन्तां increased ज्ञातयो known, understood मम for me
ओमिमाँल्लाजानावपाम्यग्नौ समृद्धिकरणं तव ।
मम तुभ्य च संवननं तदग्निरनुमन्यतामियं स्वाहा॥
इदं इदन्न मम ॥
Om imaam-laajaan-aavapaam-yagnau
samriddhi-karaṇam tava.
Mama tubhya cha samvana-nam tadagnir-
anumanyataam-iyam svaahaa.3
O lord, these oblations of roasted grains are made for our prosperity and progress. May there always be great affection between us. May we be blessed with healthy children.
इमाम् this लाजान grains अवपाम् mixture अग्न God समृद्धिकरणं securing projeny, ensuring getting children तव your मम me तुभ्यम् to you च and संवननं gaining acquiring तत् that अग्नि God अनुमन्य allow, grant तामि for us
Exchange of Rings
Groom places ring on Bride’s finger. Bride then places ring on Groom’s finger. See note 6
They both say:
Please accept this ring as a mark of my undying love. With this ring, I give you my companionship and love4
- Ashvalayan Grihyasutra 1.7.13
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 1.6.1-2
- Paaraskaara Grihyasootra 1.6.1-2
- The exchange of rings has become a tradition of every wedding. It captures the Pradakshina (circumambulation of the fire) in the exchange of vows.
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