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Vivaha Samskara in Grhya-Sutras of the Four Vedas

A Comparative Study of Marriage Ceremonies by: V.R. Anil Kumar

Of a rare kind, this book does comparative analyses — after studying seventeen Grhya-Sutras across four Vedas — of the number and type of rituals of marriage in each Grhya-Sutra and the order of performance of rituals. It also lists the mantras (with English translation) and their sources and talks about the differences in employing the mantras.

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Details

ISBN: 9788124607497
Year Of Publication: 2014
Edition: 1st
Pages : xvii, 476p.
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23
Weight: 700

Overview

Vivaha (marriage), in Hindu society, is one of the most important samskaras, out of the sixteen sacraments, which a person steps in with full understanding/consciousness. Marriage is a fascinating experience that stays alive in one’s mind throughout the life. The mantras and slokas of the Grhya-Sutras of the four Vedas, chanted in this ritual, are in Sanskrit and a vast majority is unaware of their meanings and just follows the instructions of the celebrant priest, purohita.
The author delves deep into the Grhya-Sutras of Vedas and brings forth the details of vivaha samskara — principles, philosophy, practices, rituals and so on. Grhya-Sutras — Asvalayana, Sankhayana and Kausitaki of Rigveda; Paraskara (Sukhla Yajurveda), Apastamba and Hiranyakesin (Krsna Yajurveda), Baudhayana, Varaha, Manava, Agnivesya, Bharadvaja, Kathaka and Vaikhanasa of Yajurveda; Gobhila, Khadira and Jaimini of Samaveda; and Kausika of Atharvaveda — are well explored and seriously analysed, having given the original mantras in Sanskrit with their English translation.
Of a rare kind, this book does comparative analyses of the number and type of rituals in each Grhya-Sutra and the order of performance of rituals.
This scholarly work creates a sudden seriousness and sanctity to vivaha samskara through the detailing of mantras and the rituals. Being in it, one is not far off the Vedic period, giving a new meaning and dimension to our understanding of Hindu vivaha samskara and its sanctity.

Contents

Preface
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
Samskaras
An Overview of Scriptures
Vedangas
Kalpashastra
Grihya-Sutras
Shodasa Samskaras
2. Vivaha Samskara
Forms of Marriage
Vivaha in the Vedas
3. Grihya-Sutras of Rigveda
Ashvalayana Grihya-Sutra
Shankhayana Grihya-Sutra
Kaushtaki Grihya-Sutra
4. Grihya-Sutras of Yajurveda Sukhla Yajurveda
Paraskara Grihya-Sutra
Krishna Yajurveda
Apastamba Grihya-Sutra
Hiranyakesi Grihya-Sutra
Baudhayana Grihya-Sutra
Varaha Grihya-Sutra
Manava Grihya-Sutra
Agniveshya Grihya-Sutra
Bharadvaja Grihya-Sutra
Kathaka Grihya-Sutra
Vaikhanasa Smarta Sutra
5. Grihya Sutras of Samaveda & Atharvaveda
Samaveda
Gobhila Grihya-Sutra
Khadira Grihya-Sutra
Jaimini Grihya-Sutra
Atharvaveda
Kaushika Grihya-Sutra
6. Types of Rituals
Negotiations
Vagdana
Madhuparka
Mandapakarana
Snapana, Paridhapana and Samnahana
Pratisara Bandhana
Paraspara Samiksana
Mekhala or Yoktra Bandhana
Kanyadana
Vivaha Homas
Panigrahana
Laja Homa
Agni Parinayana
Asmarohana
Saptapadi
Journey of the Bride to Husband’s Home
Griha-Pravesha
Dhruva-Arundhati Darshana
Triratra Vrata
Caturthi Karma
Expiation Homa
Aupasana Homa
7. Comparative Study
Number and Type of Rituals in Each Grihya-Sutra
Suitable Time for Marriage
Qualities of Bride and Groom
Forms of marriage
Vagdana or Vanniscaya
Kanyadana
Bathing and Dressing of the Bride
Panigrahana
Saptapadi
Asmarohana
Laja Homa
Agni Parinayana
Griha-Pravesha
Dhruva-Arundhati Darshana
Triratra Vrata
Caturthi Karma
Order of Vivaha Samskara Rituals in each Grihya-Sutra
8. Vivaha Mantras
Differences in Mantras
9. Summary
Other Sources for References on Vivaha
Importance of Commentaries
Further Evolution from Grihya-Sutras
Conclusion
Appendix A
Vivaha Mantras as Depicted in Gr-Sutras
Appendix B
Vivaha Mantras from Mantra-Patha of Apastambins (Winternitz)
Vivaha Mantras from Samaveda
Mantra Brahmana
Bibliography

Meet the Author
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Dr V.R. Anil Kumar is a graduate engineer and a businessman who set up and ran a small-scale industry dealing with the design, manufacture, supply and installation of Air Pollution Control systems and components in Chennai from 1970 to 2003. Getting interested in the origin of Hindu marriage rituals triggered by the questions of the parents of his American daughter-in-law, Dr Anil Kumar obtained a MA (Sanskrit) degree from the University of Madras in 2005. Having registered for a Ph.D. in 2006, he was conferred the doctorate in 2012 after five years of research and presentation of the dissertation entitled “Comparative Study of Vivaha Samskara in the Grhya-Sutras of the Four Vedas” in 2011.
Books of V.R. Anil Kumar