by Shrila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami
Vivaha Karma (marriage)
The groom should sit on an asana facing East saying:
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
gayatri chandah
virad vishnuh devata
upavishad arhaniya jape viniyogah
om idam-aham-imam padyam virajam annadyayadhi tishthami
“I preside over this far reaching step for sustenance.”
The father should take twenty five leaves of kusha wound two and a half times in counter clockwise direction in the palms of this hands with tips pointing North and say:
om vishtaro vishtaro vishtarah prati grihyatam
“Please receive this kusha grass.”
The groom should reply:
om vishtaram pratigrihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
anushtup chandah
aushadhyo vishnuh devata
vishtarasya asanadane viniyogah
om ya oshadhih soma rajnih vahvi shata-vicakshanah
ta mahyam-asmin asane acchidrah sharma yacchata
“I receive it. The great herb, the queen of Soma, being plentiful, faultless, and a hundred times wise, bestow blessings on me as I sit upon you for an asana.”
He should place the tips pointing North and sit on it.
The father should offer kusha again:
vishtaro vishtaro vishtarah pratighriyatam
The groom says:
om vishtaram prati grihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
anushtup chandah
aushadhyo vishnuh devata
vishtarasya padayoradhasta dane viniyogah
om ya oshadih soma rajnih vishthitah prithivim anu
ta mahyam-asmin padayoh acchidrah sharma yacchata
“Great herb, queen of Soma, growing wherever there is earth, faultless, please bestow blessings on me at my two feet.”
He should place the kusha beneath his feet with tips facing North.
The father should offer water for his feet:
om padyah padyah padyah pratigrihyantam
The groom should reply:
om padyah pratigrihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
virad gayatri chandah
apo vishnuh devata
pada prakshalanarthodakavikshane viniyogah
om yato devih pratipashyamy- apas tato ma riddhir agacchatu
“May prosperity come to me, oh water, from looking at you.”
The groom should receive the water from the father, place it on the earth, gaze at it, then pour water on the left foot, then right foot, then both feet with the following mantras:
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
virad gayatri chandah
apo vishnuh devata
savya-pada prakshane viniyogah
om savyam padam avanenije asmin rashtre shriyam dadhe
“I wash the left foot and bestow wealth in this domain.”
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
virad gayatri chandah
apo vishnuh devata
dakshina-pada prakshane viniyogah
om dakshinam padam avanenije asmin rashtre shriyamaveshayami
“I wash the right foot and take possession of wealth in this domain.”
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
virad gayatri chandah
apo vishnuh devata
ubhaya-pada prakshane viniyogah
om purvam anyam param anyam
ubhaya padau avanenije
rashtrasardhya abhayasyavaruddhyai
“I wash one foot then the other. By prosperity of this domain may I attain fearlessness.”
The father should take durva, white rice, etc in a conch and offer arghya, saying:
om arghyam arghyam arghyam pratigrihyatam
The groom should say:
om arghya pratigrihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
arghya-rupo vishnuh devata
arghya-pratigrahne viniyogah
om annasya rashtrir-asi
rashtris-te bhuyasam
“You are the ruler of food. May I become your master.”
The father should offer acamaniyam:
om acamaniyam acamaniyam acamaniyam pratigrihyatam
The groom should reply:
om acamaniyam pratigrihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
acamaniyam vishnuh devata
acamaniyacamane viniyogah
om yasho ‘si yasho mayi dhehi
“You are fame. Give fame to me.”
He should sip the water facing North.
The father should take a pot of madhuparka and offer:
om madhuparko madhuparko madhuparkah pratigrihyatam
The groom should take the madhuparka, and place the container on the earth saying:
om madhuparkam pratigrihnami
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
madhuparko vishnuh devata
aharniya madhhuparkam grahane viniyogah
om yashaso yasho ‘si
“You are fame incarnate.”
He should drink three times saying:
om prajapatih vishnu rishih
madhuparko vishnuh devata
aharniya madhuparka prashane viniyogah
om yashaso bhaksho ‘si
mahaso bhaksho ‘si
shrir bhaksho ‘si
shriyam mayi dhehi
“You are the food of fame, the food of greatness. You are the food of virtues. Give me all virtues.”
He should drink once silently.
