Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s2.18

c10.s2.18

In the Adhivāsa, which should be performed either at dusk on the previous day or in the morning on the day fixed for marriage, the twenty-six requisites (e.g. earth, scent, stone, paddy, vermilion, conch-shell, thread, etc.) should first be used, with the citation of relevant Vedic Mantras, to consecrate Viṣṇu; and then the bridegroom and the bride are to be touched with them separately and collectively. The use of the thread has the peculiarity that a Vaiṣṇava Brahman should tie a piece of it ninefold round the wrist of the bridegroom; and a Vaiṣṇava woman, whose husband is living, should do the same with respect to the bride. The bridegroom and the bride should be adored with the waving of four, five or seven lamps; no Nāndī-śrāddha should be performed, if Nāmāparādha is to be avoided; but for the satisfaction of the ancestors, Mahāprasāda should be offered to them, and the series of spiritual preceptors (Pūrva-gurus) should be worshipped; gifts should be made; and Cedi rāja, a great devotee of the Bhagavat, should be worshipped after drawing with Ghee five or seven lines (Vasu-dhārā) on the wall.