Jain Marriage :

Usually a Jain marriage is a very simple Ceremony. The ritual of marriage is largely governed by the traditional practices that may vary for different Jain communities. There are different ceremonies which are performed before and after the marriage.

Wedding Rituals :

Vagdana
A typical Jain Marriage initiates with "Vagdana" - where the parents of the bride and the groom announce the marriage. After this "Pradana" takes place where the bride is presented with ornaments and gifts.


Laghana Lekhan
The laghana, also known as the mahurat, is determined by the priest. This ritual consists of fixing the date and time for the marriage. Usually the date and time are fixed according to the horoscopes by a priest. On this occasion, pooja is held at the girl's house where relatives and friends are invited. Then the Patrika bearing the time or Muhurta is sent to the groom's house with sweets.

Lagna Patrika Vachan
This is the reading of the Laghana Patrika at the groom's house by the priest.

Engagement
The Engagement or sagai ceremony is held at the groom's house where the relatives and friends are invited. The groom wears the traditional Jain Headgear and performs the Vinayakyantra pooja. The bride's brother applies tilak on the groom's forehead and presents him various gifts. The groom is then presented the lagna patrika. The priest reads out the patrika and the groom seeks the blessings of the elders.

Matruka Sthapan
Heavenly goddesses are invoked by sacred prayers and called upon to take up temporary residence in the bride's home. This ensures the happiness and fertility of the couple.

Mandapa-Vedi Pratishtha
Jain marriages are performed under a mandap. In the days before the wedding, this structure and a vedi (altar for the sacred fire) are made.

Ghudhchadi
This ritual takes place at the grooms house before leaving for the bride's place. The groom is given a headgear and, beginning with his mother, all the relatives apply tika on his forehead.

Baraat
The groom rides the horse and the baraat consisting of the grooms friends and family proceeds towards the wedding venue. The baraat is welcomed by the brides family and friends. The groom then enters the mandap. As the procession comes to the marriage hall, the Jain Priest who is conducting the wedding chants a mantra for the arriving groom.

Varmala
In this ceremony the bride and the groom exchange garlands.

Kanyavaran
This is the presenting of the girl to the groom by the bride's parents. This occasion is marked with the priest pouring water on the hands of the bride and groom chanting the mantra three times.

Kanyadaan

A sacred fire is lit in a small vessel on the vedi (altar). A prayer accompanies this ritual action, called Agni Sthapan is performed by the priest where he recides various vows and the couple circles the sacred fire four times. Before the fourth round, kanyadaan is performed. In this ritual, the father of the bride offers his daughter to the groom.

After all the rituals have been performed the priest declares the bride and the groom as a married couple. The newly wed takes blessings from their elders and their friends and relatives congratulate them.


Reception :

A wedding feast is arranged for the guests after the marriage.

Sva Graha Aagamana
The bride is welcomed at her new house by the grooms family and friends.