POST-WEDDING JAIN RITUALS

Jain Wedding Ceremonies are simple ceremonies. As the Jain Community regards the marriage much above the worldly affairs, they avoid any kind of pomp and show during the entire affair of marriage. They also hold the institution of marriage in high regard and that is why marriage is a compulsory affair for all the people of their community. 


A Jain marriage is simply solemnized through a series of various pre-wedding rituals, wedding rituals and post wedding rituals. Sagai marks the beginning of a relationship between the couple and after the Phere and Granthi Bhandhan, the couple is said to have been tied in the nuptial knot. After the wedding, a series of post wedding rituals take place in the Jain community, here is the list of those rituals�

Ashirvada Ceremony
Ashirvada Ceremony is the first ceremony after the solemnization of marriage. In this ceremony the elders of both the families bless the newly wed couple. This ceremony is meant to mark the beginning of the life of newly wed couple on an auspicious and happy note.

Sva Graha Aagamana
Sva Graha Aagamana is the first custom after the newly wed couple reaches their home. As the bride is considered auspicious for the family, she is welcomed by the groom's family with open heart.

Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana Tradition
Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana tradition is another important post wedding ritual. In this ritual, alms are given in the Jain temple to express gratitude for the successful solemnization of the ceremony. It is done by both the families.

Reception
Though, a reception party is not a traditional Jain ritual, it is performed in most of the Jain family. It is like formal introduction of the bride to the rest of the family and the relatives of the groom.

JAIN WEDDING RITUALS

Like other Indian Weddings, Jain weddings are also very ritualistic. They are followed through a series of pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. The Jain weddings are very simple and sanctified without any extravagance. 

A typical Jain wedding is solemnized after a series of rituals like Phere, Havan and Granthi Bandhan. If you are keen about knowing the entire rituals of a Jain Marriage ceremony, you can go through the article given below.

Kanyavaran
Kanyavaran is the official beginning of a Jain marriage ceremony. In the Kanyavaran or kanyapradan ceremony, the bride's parents or the uncle places a one rupee and twenty-five paise and rice on the bride's right hand. Then the bride is handed over to the bridegroom. The bride's father also makes a public proclamation of the marriage in front of the assembled guests. While chanting the mantras, the priest pours water on the hands of the bridegroom and bride thrice.

Granthi Bandhan
Kanyavaran is followed by the Granthi Bandhan ritual, in which a married woman ties the groom's shawl with one end of the bride's sari pallu. It is accompanied by the reciting of mantras. It is actually the custom of preparing the bride and groom for the next important ritual �phere� which they perform around the sacred fire, tied in this nuptial knot.

Phere 
In any Indian marriage, phere is considered to be the most important ritual, without which the marriage is incomplete. For the conduct of phere, an auspicious time is selected days before the ceremony. At the decided time, the couple takes four rounds around the sacred fire. The bride leads in the first round. Thereafter, they exchange their positions and take other three rounds around the havankund (sacred fire). The recitation of Mahaveerakshak stoot takes place in the background.

Mangal Geet 
During the Phere, the ladies sing Mangal geet and make merriment. After the phere, the couple takes seven vows. After taking the vows, the bride is seated on the left side of bridegroom. The bride is then called vamangi, which symbolizes that she has become the better half of her husband. It is followed by the exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom. The marriage is solemnized with the end of havan by Shanipath and Visarjan.

PRE WEDDING JAIN RITUALS

Jain Wedding is a simple yet ritualistic phenomenon. The Jain community believes in simple solemnization of the nuptial knot with the blessings of almighty and elders. Before the actual wedding takes place, a series of traditional pre-wedding rituals take place in a Jain Community to make the auspicious beginning of the new relationship.

 Rituals like Laghana Lekhan and Lagna Patrika Vachan are done in order to match the horoscopes and decide an auspicious time for marriage of the prospective couple. The Laghana Lekhan and Lagna Patrika Vachan are then followed by a formal engagement called Sagai. If you are keen about knowing the pre-wedding rituals of a typical Jain Marriage Ceremony, you can go through the systemized list of pre-wedding Jain rituals given below.

Laghana Lekhan 
In Laghana Lekhan, small puja is held in the prospective bride's house. Close relatives and friends are invited to attend the puja. It is during this puja that an auspicious time for marriage also known as lagna or mahurat is determined. It is usually done by the priest. In the end, the lagna patrika or letter indicating the wedding time is sent to the prospective groom's house.

Lagna Patrika Vachan
The Lagna Patrika Vachan is then read out at the boy's residence. This can be done either on the day of engagement or some other auspicious time. After the groom has done Vinayakyantra puja, the priest reads out the letter.

Sagai 
Sagai usually takes place in the groom's home. The groom wears the traditional Jain headgear, washes his hands properly and performs the Vinayakyantra. After the completion of Vinayakyantra puja, the bride's brother puts tilak on the forehead of the bridegroom. 

He also presents him a gold chain, a ring, clothes, coconut, sweets and money. Thereafter, the lagna patrika is given to the bridegroom. Usually, it is the priest, who reads out the lagna patrika. The groom then seeks the elders' blessings.

Mada Mandap
Mada Mandap is the next important pre wedding ceremony after Sagai. It usually takes place one or two days prior to wedding. It is held at the bride as well as groom's residence. All the religious rituals are performed by the priest.

Barati & Aarti
In the Barati ritual, the bridegroom's marriage procession is received by the bride's family. The bride's brother applies tika on the groom's forehead. Also, he presents coconut, money, sweet and clothes to the groom. The bridegroom also puts tika on the forehead of the bride's brother and gives him a coconut. Married ladies in the bride's house perform the traditional aarti. All the ladies get together and sing the Mangala Geet.