Why do the bride and groom go round the fire 7 times?

Hindu wedding rituals: During Saath Phere, the bride and the groom, circumambulate (walk around) the sacred fire seven times as they exchange their marital vows. This is because the bride and the groom exchange marital vows and collectively pray for a blissful married life.

What is the meaning of 7 rounds in Hindu marriage?

Saat Phere are seven vows taken collectively by the bride and the groom as they do the parikrama around Agni Dev by taking him as a witness to their marriage. This is called AgniSakhi. The groom leads his bride while doing the first four parikramas while the latter leads her man during the remaining three pheres.

What is the meaning of 7 phere?

Translated into English, Saat Phere means Seven Circumambulations we know it’s a mouthful so we will just use the word ‘phera’ which is much easier to read! The Saat Phere is basically seven vows that bind the bride and groom into husband and wife and each vow has a significant meaning.

What does the fire symbolize in Hindu weddings?

A Hindu marriage is a sacrament not a contract. To signify the viability of the ceremony, fire is kept as a witness, and offerings are made. The bride’s brother gives three fistfuls of puffed rice to the bride as a wish for his sister’s happy marriage. Each time, the bride offers the rice to the fire.

Why do Indians go around the fire?

Theemithi (also spelt Thimithi), or “firewalking”, is a Hindu religious practice where devotees walk across a fire pit in exchange for a wish or blessing granted by the goddess Draupadi. It is in fact the culmination of several religious rituals that re-enact important and auspicious events from the Mahabharata.

Why are there 7 steps in marriage?

Saptapadi (English: seven steps, saptapadī) is the most important rite (Sanskrit: rītī) of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means “Seven steps”. After tying the Mangalsutra, the newlywed couple take seven steps, that is called Saptapadi. After the seventh step, the couple legally become husband and wife.

Why is there only 4 Pheres in Hindu marriage?

One feature that is constant in Hindu weddings is the tradition of taking pheras (rounds) around the sacred fire. However, every Hindu wedding has at least four pheras. These pheras signify the four main aims of life: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Why do Indian grooms ride a horse?

Though the tradition of war no longer exists, but the historical convention of grooms riding horses to fetch the bride is still rampant. This also advocates the groom’s position among other males who would desire the same position. This apart, horses are even considered as the symbol of power and virtue.

Do Hindus see marriage as a lifetime commitment?

For most people in India, marriage is a one-time event in life, which sanctified and glorified with much social approval. Marriage is a social necessity; marrying children is the primary responsibility of parents in India.

What is the significance of fire in an Indian wedding?

Fire is considered a Hindu Devta (God), in an Indian wedding, the couple is made to walk around the fire seven times, this process is called taking the “saat phere”. During these pheras, the couple makes 7 promises to one another in the presence of God (Fire) and thereby pledge themselves to each other. In…

How many pheras are there in a Hindu wedding ceremony?

The ritual of 7 pheras is performed under the guidance of a priest, also called pandit in Hindi language. The priest (pandit) utters aloud the religious sayings (mantras), while the Hindu bride and the Hindu groom sit around the holy fire.

What is the 4th round of the wedding ceremony?

In the fourth round, the couple prays to God for the increase in love and respect for each other and their respective families. 5. In the fifth round, the bride and groom together pray for the beautiful, heroic and noble children from God in the fifth step.

Why does the bridegroom take the lead in Hindu pheras?

In first three pheras the bridegroom takes the lead is symbolic for in following the religion, in earning the wealth and in bed ,it’s his responsibility to take the lead While in the fourth and last phera bride takes the lead symbolic for whenever the death will come near to the couple , the bride will take he lead