Wednesday, January 7, 2009

iyer Weddings...

Iyer weddings are the occasions which prolong for days in the early days.Iyers' weddings with lots of Vedic chantings,lovely songs on Lords,various rituals etc. etc. wow total ambience is worth experiencing.But these days wid cross culture marriages at the peak the ancient culture of conduction of week long mariages have been cut short to a span of few hours.
The Marriage function initiates with the Mappillai Ayaippu somewhere in the evening hours wherein the groom is welcomed by the bride's side.next day the rituals start off with Udagashanti mantrams resonating n also many important suktams.The Groom also performs some pranks like he isnt interested in marriage n walks off as if he gonna go for Kashi yatra n the bride's side requests the groom n makes him understand.too kool all the plays look.
The traditional look always keep glowing on both groom n bride.The kanchevarams on almost all ladies just add on to the occasion.the silk dhotis on gents also gives the brahmanas' look.
marriage function continues with Taaravaaku wherein the brides father gives his daugther to the groom,and this moment wherein the groom ties 3knots.The knots also have its own significance.Each knot signifies n signals certain things.the chanting of 4 vedas with ghanams by the pundits n ganapatigals are done.
"Srinivas Gadyam" a lovely rendition covering all carnatic ragas,instrments,holy places,holy rivers etc. are chanted in a very beautiful way n its actually chanted in Tirupathi for Lord Venkatesha on Thursdays when the Lord's eyes are washed i.e when the Namam is fully removed...for bathing the Lord with holy water.Its said that the mantram has so much power that its chanted n the prasadams are kept in front of the Lord while removing the Namam.This is done to pacify Lord as the Lord's eyes are too powerful n can burn things to ash.The prasadams are kept so that when Lord's eyes take a sight of the same n all germs bacterias n micro organisms are killed n the prasadams r made pure filled with the Divine blessing.... The Gadyam is really beautiful n gives supreme peace to the listeners
Then the 7 pheras signifying that for next 7 janmas the couple will continue to remain as couples, ammmi stamping,Finding out the Arundathi nakshatra stating that each wife shud be like the Rishi Patni "Arundathi" very pure.
Then we have our Oonjal wherein the newly wed couple is given milk n bananas by the ladies.The songs are sung by the blessers present in the function.
The lunch is however the essential part of the function with payasams n various delicacies n dishes.
The evening again is kool when the bride n groom sit n play pranky games with coconuts,papads,comb,lipstick,nail polish.Basically the family members rag the couple.The audience present songs.
The main songs in the occasion are "Malai maatinaal","Seeta kalyana","Ponn Oongal" etc....
Iyers' marriages are indeed very traditional with hundreds of iyer mamis n iyer mamas flocking in traditinal outfits.Wow!!

3 comments:

  1. Yennada?? wats ur plan???
    shaadi ke liye dhoondnewale hai kya??:P

    ReplyDelete
  2. surely subhashini i am planning for a marriage but not now.dont worry u will b invited

    ReplyDelete
  3. dei ennada... ippo laam vaadhyaarey (not pointing to all)paadhi mantrangalai muzlugiduraar... athai patti evan eludhvan?

    ReplyDelete