The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s6.6

c7.s6.6

We shall now briefly survey the marriage ritual in so far as it is necessary to understand its aims and ideals. When the hands of the two parties were being united in wedlock, they were informed that the union was being brought about at the behest of the god Sun. In the marriage sacrifice oblations were offered unto Pūshan, Bhaga and Aryaman, because they were the presiding deities over prosperity, good luck and conjugal fidelity respectively. These were sought to be ensured for the new couple by the nuptial sacrifice. The parties then touched each other’s heart ; they may be two in person, but henceforward they ought to be one in heart. Then they ascended a stone, and the prayer was offered that their mutual love should be as firm and steadfast as the stone they were treading upon. At night they were shown the Polar Star and Arundhatī ; the bridegroom was to be as steadfast in love as the former and the bride was to be as chaste as the latter. In the important ritual of *saptapadī*, the bride and the bridegroom took seven steps together, and it was hoped and prayed that their future life should be full of love, brilliance, opportunities, prosperity, bliss, progeny and holiness. Finally, the husband and wife took mutual vows that each would further and fulfil the hopes, desires and ambitions of the other in the spheres of religion, love and worldly prosperity. A prayer was offered at the end that the affectionate union of the couple should never be dissolved.¹