KANYADAAN (Giving the bride; public acceptance)
Traditionally, for the kanyadaan, dough is usually prepared1. The significance of these include:
– May an abundance of grains (food) always follow our daughter as we hand her over.
– Our daughter is our wealth, and we now entrust her to you.
– May both be blessed with wealth (which is at the center) and health (represented by the grains).
Bride’s father extends his palms (right palm on top of left palm),
Bride’s mother rests her palms lightly atop her husband’s hands,
The bride then places her hands on Mother’s hands.
The dough is placed on the bride’s right palm.
The Bride’s brother takes up his position at the opposite end and, with the following mantra, pours water over the dough.
The Gotra2 of the bride should be known.
While the water is poured, the mantra is recited by the Parents of the Bride:
– Pronounce the gotra of the bride in place of the word “amuk” in the phrase Amuk-gotra.
– Pronounce the name of the bride in place of the word अमुक “amuk” in the phrase अमुकनाम्नीम् “amuk-naamneem”
ओममुकगोत्रोत्पन्नामिमामुकनाम्नीम्
अलंकृतां कन्यां प्रतिगृह्णातु भवान्॥
Om amuk gotra utpan-naam-imaam
Amuk naamneem-alang-kritaam kanyaam
Prati-griha-naatu-bhavaan.
Our daughter was born in the noble tradition and is of a noble name. She is beautifully adorned and is ready to accept you as her husband. And, we also accept and approve you as her partner in life.
अमुकगोत्र this person of this lineage उत्पन्न being ready, being born नाम name इमम् this अलङ्कृत decorated, adorned, made ready कन्याम् unmarried girl प्रतिगृह्णातु grasp, hold, take, approve भवान् you
The Groom now extends his hands, palms facing up.
The parents (of the Bride) then pass the hand of the Bride (containing the dough) into the hands of the groom.
The groom says:
ओं प्रतिगृह्णामि
Om prati-grihṇaami
I accept
- The dough is prepared by the Bride’s family. The dough is specially prepared for this purpose. In its center are, supposedly placed, some precious metals (these may range from gold ornaments to coins)
- गोत्र is the lineageThe Gotra refers to the lineage of the family. This links back to the distinct lines of lineage of the rishis and their family/followings (For example, each Veda was mastered by a different sage – each ritualistic performance was therefore led by various experts from the different Vedas). Inter-gotra marriages are not permitted (same as incest). Typically, the name of the rishi is used as the gotra.
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