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> Marriage ceremony - 10 Jul 2006 - Ashram, Bangalore
Marriage ceremony - 10 Jul 2006
- Ashram, Bangalore
10 July '06 witnessed a historical event in the history of Dhyanapeetam and in the world - a marriage ceremony conducted by a Master himself.
Swamiji conducted the first ever marriage ceremony at the ashram. He matched the couple based on the nature of energy flow in the two of them. Surrendering to the Master without a question, Ma Nithya Jyotirmayananda and Sri Nithya Jyotirmayananda (the bride and bridegroom who were ordained with these new spiritual names the following Guru Poornima day) and their respective parents went through the marriage ceremony most joyfully.
Swamiji explained how two people were put on the path of marriage by Masters in yester years after observing their evolution until the age of 21. He said that after initiation through the Master at the age of 7, at the age of 14, the mind steadies, tuned to either marriage or sannyas. They are then put to read either Kama Sutra - the science of a married life or Brahma sutra - the science of sannyas.
Having said this, Swamiji explained how beautifully the ancient Vedic tradition has laid out the steps in a marriage ceremony and how it has been diluted out of ignorance, undue desires and fear by man through the years.
Following are pictures taken during this wonderful marriage ceremony that was performed step by step by Swamiji himself, as a beautiful guided meditation, packed with great truths.
Swamiji leads the couple to the sacred banyan tree early in the morning amidst great joy and excitement.
The couple bow down to Lord Anandeshwar (The Dakshinamurthy deity) under the banyan tree.
The couple offer arati (an offering of fire) to Lord Anandeshwar.
After obeisance to Lord Anandeshwar, Swamiji is seen leading the couple to the Ananda Sabha where the marriage is to be conducted.
The traditional ceremony starts as Swamiji chants the invocation mantra to the Guru.
Pooja to Shiva Meru (The 3-dimensional cosmic representation of the Cosmos)
In the following two pictures, the couple perform Pada Pooja (an offering to the feet) to both their parents. Swamiji explained, 'After the age of 14, there are bound to be differences of opinion between a child and his parents by virtue of the parents crossing their boundaries into the child's freedom and independent thinking. But all this apart, it is the duty of every child to pay his deep gratitude to his parents who gave him his body through which he enjoys what he enjoys. This is the significance of the pada pooja to them. The parents in turn need to take this wonderful offering with the right undertanding that they are respected for having given the body to the child and understanding their boundaries with respect to the child. If both the child and the parents understand their boundaries and live their lives, it becomes a very sweet relationship and a wonderful tradition of offering pada pooja to one's parents.'
The parents bless the couple after the pada pooja.
Pada pooja to the Master (Guru) who is the one who helps every individual understand and experience the wonderful system of life laid out by ancient seers.
