💍 Vivah (Wedding) Puja

(Sacred Ritual for the Union of Two Souls in Divine Matrimony)

🪔 Introduction:

Vivah Puja is a deeply sacred and joyous Vedic ceremony that solemnizes the union of two individuals not just at the physical and emotional level but at the spiritual level, binding them through dharma, karma, and divine blessings. In Hindu culture, marriage is considered a samskara—a rite of passage—and a lifelong commitment undertaken with reverence and sacred responsibility.

This puja invokes the blessings of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, along with Agni Dev (the Fire God) and the Navagrahas (nine planets), ensuring a harmonious, prosperous, and spiritually aligned married life.

🌟 Spiritual Significance:

  • Symbolizes the sacred bond of love, duty, and companionship
  • Aligns the couple’s life paths and karmas through sacred vows
  • Seeks divine blessings for prosperity, fertility, health, and unity
  • Represents the merging of two families, cultures, and destinies

🛕 Essential Deities Invoked:

  • Lord Ganesha – for obstacle removal
  • Goddess Lakshmi – for prosperity
  • Lord Vishnu (as protector) – for dharmic marital life
  • Agni Deva (Fire God) – sacred witness of the vows
  • Navagrahas – planetary blessings and compatibility
  • Kula Devata and Ancestors – for family lineage blessings

🎯 Purpose of Vivah Puja:

  • To sanctify the marriage and bind the couple through divine vows
  • To seek blessings for a joyful, dharmic, and prosperous life together
  • To remove astrological doshas, especially Manglik Dosha or Gana Dosh
  • To create a spiritually secure and blessed beginning for the new journey

🌼 Vivah Puja Vidhi (Wedding Ritual Overview)

🌄 1. Preparations:

  • The puja is performed during an auspicious muhurat (wedding timing) based on the bride and groom’s horoscopes.
  • A mandap (decorated altar) is set up with a sacred fire (Agni) in the center.
  • Items include kalash, turmeric, betel leaves, rice, sandalwood, kumkum, flowers, sweets, ghee lamps, sacred thread, garlands, and wedding clothes.

🙏 2. Ganesha Puja (Opening Invocation):

  • Performed at the beginning to remove any obstacles.
  • Mantra:
    “Om Gam Ganapataye Namah”

🧬 3. Kanya Daan (Giving Away the Bride):

  • The bride’s parents formally offer their daughter to the groom, entrusting him to care for her with love and integrity.

“I give you this sacred daughter with love, may you both live in dharma and harmony.”

🔥 4. Vivaah Sanskar Rituals:

a) Mangalashtak & Garland Exchange (Jaimala):

The couple exchanges flower garlands, symbolizing mutual acceptance.

b) Hast Milap (Joining of Hands):

The couple’s hands are tied with a sacred thread and cloth, signifying unity.

c) Mangal Pheras (Seven Sacred Rounds Around Fire):

The bride and groom walk around the fire seven times, each round symbolizing a vow:

  1. Nourishment and health
  2. Strength and support
  3. Wealth and prosperity
  4. Happiness and harmony
  5. Progeny and care
  6. Lifelong friendship
  7. Spiritual unity and moksha

d) Saptapadi (Seven Steps):

As they take seven steps together, they promise to walk life’s journey hand in hand.

e) Sindoor and Mangalsutra:

The groom applies vermillion (sindoor) in the bride’s hair parting and ties the sacred mangalsutra, symbolizing marital commitment.

🔯 5. Navagraha and Ancestor Blessings:

  • Prayers and offerings are made to the Navagrahas for planetary harmony.
  • Acknowledgement and invocation of Pitru Devatas (ancestors) to bless the union.

🪔 6. Final Aarti and Ashirwad:

  • Aarti is performed to bless the couple.
  • Elders bless the newlyweds for a happy, fruitful, and spiritually fulfilling life.

✨ Benefits of Vivah Puja:

  • Blessings of the Divine for a strong, love-filled marriage
  • Removal of doshas or negative planetary influences
  • Ensures loyalty, understanding, and harmony between the couple
  • Supports spiritual and emotional compatibility
  • Strengthens the bond of samskara, making the marriage dharmic and sacred

🕊️ Conclusion:

Vivah Puja is one of the most sacred rituals in Hindu dharma, going beyond worldly celebration to become a spiritual alliance of souls. It transforms the relationship into a divine partnership, upheld by vows, sustained by dharma, and blessed by the cosmic energies of the universe.

May every couple blessed through this puja be graced with joy, resilience, divine love, and everlasting togetherness.