dicinal, curative and cleansing effects on the bodies of the couple. Agni, the mightiest power in the universe, the sacred purifier, the all-round benefactor is deemed as a witness to the sacred marriage. Treading on the Grindstone is the ritual where, the bridegroom holding the bride's left toe helps her to tread on a grindstone kept on the right side of a fire. This ritual is emblematic of the solid rock foundation for the union.
Arundhati and Dhruva Star is the rite symbolic of the fact that important virtues are to be emulated throughout marital life. Next the groom shows the bride the star Arundhati as also Dhruva or the pole star. Arundhati is the wife of the Vashishta Maharishi and thus thought to be the ideal wife. Laaja Homam ritual comprises the bride's own offering into the sacrificial fire. Reflecting the sibling support to her marriage her brother helps her. He gives her a handful of puffed rice grains, which she hands over to the bridegroom, who on her behalf, feeds it to the fire. Through this food offering, the bride seeks a long life for her husband and for circulation of her family. Participation of the bride's brother indicates the continuation of links between the two families even after marriage. The couple moves around the fire three times. The feeding of puffed rice to the fire is repeated thrice.
Invitees shower saffron on the couple as benediction, this is the ritual of Akshadai i.e. rice grains colored with turmeric. Akshadai Graha Pravesham enters the new home of her in-laws.
The Evening Functions
Nalangu is performed in the evening of the marriage day is the time to relax and play. The newly wed wife calls her husband for play, inviting him by singing a song. Much to the merriment of all the guests and then follows a series of playful games. The bride smearing the groom's feet with color paste, fanning him, showing him a mirror, breaking papads over each other's head are few of the games.
These events bring out the qualities of the bride and the groom's sporting spirit, kindness, co-operative nature thus surfacing the hidden traits for the other to note, thus bringing about better understanding and compatibility. The Night Time Homams are the functions performed on the evening of the wedding. Jayaathi Homam is performed to please and satisfy the Gandharvas and all other deities they believe in. The Gandharvas and other deities are the soft natured celestial beings generally associated with the finer sentiments of life, that are so necessary for a fulfilling married life.
Pravesa Homam is done to sanctify the bride's entry into the husband's home. The bride signifying that through her, new lives would be brought forth into this world brings along the sacrificial fire; same as the fact that fire brings forth new fires. Sesha Homam is the ritual of fire oblation with the residual ghee, a little of which is sprinkled on the bride's head four times. The leftover ghee is considered as the sacred, the whole of which was offered to Agni. 'Sesha' means leftover. The idea of sprinkling this residual ghee on the bride's head denotes strength to be drawn from the four vedas; which is left over from one yuga or era to another.
Thamboola Charvanam is the ritual where, the bride's brother gives the ceremonial first betel to the couple to chew. Betel leaf is usually posses several aphrodisiacal properties and to be eaten only after marriage. Other gifts are also given to bless the couple with long lives and children. Mangala Arathi is a solution of lime and turmeric powder that is prepared on a plate, circled around before the couple and thrown away to drive away evils. This is also done a number of times during the wedding ceremony. Shanthi is the ritual followed to the consummation of the marriage during the night fixed for an auspicious time for a happy, ever lasting married life that is full of understanding and affection. Two souls are united in a sacred act of fulfillment, to bring forth children as nature's best creation.
Thus the south Indian marriage rituals are vast and expansive, although each of t