The Hindu marriages are the symbols of the rich and prosperous culture of Hindus, and the weddings are considered a most sacred bond not only between two people but also between two families. There are a lot of colorful and eventful ceremonies that happen in a Hindu wedding. And all of them include a lot of rituals, and each of them holds different meanings.
The marriage ceremonies start days before the actual wedding day. And the most important ceremony is considered to be the pheras, which includes taking the saat vachan for lifelong bonding.
The 7 vachan of Hindu marriage, with each step, represent distinct promises by both the bride and the groom individually and together. The seven steps, along with the saat vachan, are believed to be the heart of the Hindu wedding ceremony. Each step around the holy fire with 7 marriage vows is equal to a lifelong promise from both.
The Role of 7 Pheras in Hindu Marriage
The 7 vachan of Hindu marriage are recited by the priest, and the bride and groom repeat them while revolving around the pious fire lit for the wedding ceremony. The 7 marriage vows are the commitments from the bride and the groom to each other for the rest of their lives in every aspect of their lives.
The saptapadi (the seven steps), or Saat vachan, is believed to be the most pious ritual of the Hindu marriage and is considered to be the most important moment in a person’s life.
The saat vachan of marriage happens after the kanyadaan ceremony and before the sindoor ritual on the wedding day.
The priest recites the 7 vachan of Hindu marriage in Hindi, and the bride and groom repeat them and commit to stick to those vows for the rest of their lives.
In different parts of the country, the seven vows of marriage with pheras are done in different ways. Like in Northern India, the pheras are done around the fire, and in Southern India, the saat vachan are done just around the mandap.
According to Hindu tradition, marriage is considered to be done after completing seven wedding vows, and the bride and the groom are considered to be the wife and the husband.
The 7 vachan of Hindu marriage, along with their meanings, are written below in detail. You can also chat with astrologer to know more about the astrological meaning behind these 7 vachan of Hindu marriage.
The Seven Vachans and Their Meanings
The 7 vachan of Hindu marriage play an important role in every traditional marriage ceremony in Hindu tradition. The 7 wedding vows of a Hindu marriage include promises from the bride and groom to each other for the rest of their lives. Each promise from the saat vachan done in the ceremony holds a different and important meaning in the life of both the bride and groom.
1. The First Vachan—To Nourish Each Other
Teerthavratodyapan Yagyakarma Maya Sahaiva Priyavayam Kurya:
Vamangamayami tada tvadiyam braviti vakam pratham kumari!
As the ritual starts, from the 7 Hindu wedding vows, the first round includes the groom's lead and promise to guide and provide for the family, especially for his partner. The groom promises to nourish his partner in every aspect of life, while the bride promises to share duties and responsibilities with the groom and the family as well.
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2. The Second Vachan—To Grow With Each Other
Pujyo yatha svau pitraou mamapi tatheshabhakto nijakarma kuriya:
Vamangamayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachanam dwitiyam!!
The second vow from the seven wedding vows indicates that the bride and groom promise to each other to be each other’s strength for any upcoming challenge or situation in their entire life. They promise each other to stand for each other even if any storm tries to hit them. The groom promises his bride to protect her in any situation, and the bride pledges to be his strength.
3. The Third Vachan—To Safeguard Wealth and Prosperity
Jeevanam avashtraye cradlen kuryat
Vamanganyamitada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachanam tritiyam!!
The third vow from the 7 Hindu wedding vows, it signifies seeking blessings from Goddess Lakshmi for them and their families and asking for wealth, growth, and wisdom for everyone. They pledge to provide a comfortable life for each other. The groom commits to providing stability and a financially comfortable life, and the bride promises to nurture the family and future children.
4. The Fourth Vachan—To Divide Joys and Sorrows
Family maintenance, all work kartu pratigyaam agar katan kuriyah,
Vamangamayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachanam fourth:
In the fourth vachan from the saat vachan, the groom declares that his life is completed with the bride and promises to always stay loyal to her and respect her in every moment of life. They both pledge to divide the happiness or sorrows of their lives with each other for the rest of their lives. The 7 vows of Hindu marriage are meant to be followed by both of them for their whole lives.
5. The Fifth Vachan—To Care About Each Other’s Families
Vamangamayami tada tvadiyam brute vachh panchamatra kanya!!
From the 7 vachan of Hindu marriage, the fifth one indicates that the bride and the groom promise each other to care about each other’s families like their own. He hopes to get respect and love from the bride for his family and hopes for children to be obedient and noble. The bride promises the groom that she will do everything to please and nurture him and his family. From the saat vachan, in the fifth round, the couple promises each other to endorse family values and strengthen families.
6. The Sixth Vachan—To Stay Together for the Rest of Our Lives
Neither mepamanam savide sakhina dyutam nor durvyasanam bhanjshvet
Vamamgmayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachanam cha shastam!
In the sixth round, the groom asks the bride to promise him to fill their lives with love and happiness, and asks her to stay with him and his family for the rest of her life. To this, the bride promises to fulfill all his wishes and demands. Together, they vow to support each other and seek blessings from all the Gods to grant them all the peace and happiness in this new chapter of their lives.
7. The Seventh Vachan—To Live as Partner Forever
Vamangamayami tada tvadiyam brute vachah saptamantra kanya!!
As the last vow from the 7 vows of Hindu marriage ends, the bride and groom are now husband and wife and ask each other to stay together for eternity. The groom asks the bride to be his best friend and well-wisher for the rest of his life, and be there till the end. To which the bride promises the groom to give love and cherish her entire life,e and give her love and respect.
Importance of the 7 Vachan of Hindu Marriage
The 7 wedding vows in Hindu marriage are considered the promises of not only this lifetime but also the next seven lives. In the 7 vachan of Hindu marriage, the 7 denotes the next seven lives of both the bride and groom, which means the bond is for eternity. The bond made is not just between the bride and the groom but also between the families of the two.
The saat vachan are not just some poetic verses; they are the pillars and symbols for the lifelong union of not only the bride and groom but also their families as well.
The 7 vachan of Hindu marriage represent the promises between the bride and groom, which include sharing ailments and building strength together, inviting wealth and prosperity in both of our lives, nurturing a happy family, staying together irrespective of the challenges, and staying together with loyalty and honesty.
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Role of the Holy Fire
Ever wonder why wedding rituals are done around the fire specially lit for the ceremony?
The fire belongs to the 5 natural elements (Panchtatva), which hold a lot of significance in Hindu mythology. Agni is more than just a fire lit for any ceremony, but it is believed to be the divine messenger for the rituals for couples to promise in the presence of the Gods.
Walking around the fire while reciting the 7 vachan of Hindu marriage symbolizes walking through the journey of life with each other and staying the same in every challenge and hard time. The glow of fire represents the energy and the transformation. The fire becomes the eternal testimony of their bond in both the physical and the spiritual world.
The seven wedding vows of marriage in Hindu tradition hold very deep meaning. Hindu weddings sensationally blend tradition with individuality and remain the most meaningful ceremony in the entire wedding. Whether you have a simple traditional wedding or a grand destination wedding anywhere in the world, those saat vachan will hold the same purity, and they should be honored in the same way. Overall, the seven vows and all the other rituals and ceremonies have their sacred meaning and importance in a successful marriage.
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