Panigrahanam - when..?

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*KOLAHALAM IN KALYANAM / VIVAHAM – HOLDING THE BRIDE'S HAND (PANIGRAHANAM)*

Namaskaram

In an attempt to bring back the proper ancient ritual of authentic Vivaham as recommended in Sutras by Rishis, in these series of eye-opening articles on our FB page 'Dharma Shastram', we try to point out the differences between the past and the present way of conducting marriage topic-wise. 

Today we speak about holding the bride's hand by the groom, which is an important step in marriage. But *when* to do that, is something we need to learn from this article

*What do we observe now?*

 The bride and groom are holding each other's hands for photoshoot before wedding, reception happens before marriage, rather many days before the wedding, the bride and groom go around together etc. Also, now it has become a fashion to escort the bride in Panigrahana style right from Oonjal ceremony into the marriage hall. These are all strictly prohibited in Shastras. 

*The FIRST TIME the groom holds the hand of the bride, with all his fingers enveloping the bride's right hand 5 fingers, IS AT THE TIME OF PANIGRAHANA ONLY, which happens after Mangalya dhaarana. Thus, holding the bride's hand with mantra is regarded highly important by Rishis, as it signifies the following:*

The groom chants the mantras which mean:

*I hold your hands forever for good progeny and to lead a long, healthy life with you till our old age together*

In our Dharma, every auspicious act has to be performed with mantras. Imagine that our Rishis have written mantras right from getting out of the bed in the morning, upto lying down on bed in night

So this is an very important part of the marriage which signifies that, *by holding hands in this specific way, my heart and your heart become one forever for achieving happiness in life and progeny*. Also here, Apastamba Rishi gives a rule of holding hands of the bride in his Sutra. If you hold only the thumb of the bride, only male child will be born. If you hold 4 fingers of the bride without the thumb, then female child will be born. *If you hold all the fingers of the bride together, Apastamba Rishi says that you will beget male as well as female children which is ideal*. That's why the groom holds all fingers of the bride. This is also the time when, after the Panigrahana, the bridegroom takes the bride towards the homa kundam where the *Pradaana Udvaha homam* is about to happen and gives his right side place for her to sit. 

*Veda Ghosham is thus trying to bring back each and every aspect of the 5-day marriage*, as recommended in Shastras. We also in the due course want to prepare a team of ritual experts to conduct this 5-day marriage, for those who are really interested in getting married as per Shastras.

www.vedaghosham.com

_Sri Umamaheshwarabhyam namaha !_

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