VIVÄHAPRAÇNA
(Solicitation
for Marriage)
Närada
Puräëa
2nd Pada Chapter 56.394b-414
394b-395a. Ascertainment of auspicious time: O great Brahmin! Of all the stages of life, that of the householder is the most exalted. There too, happiness depends on the wife being of good character.
395b-396a. Her acquiring commendable character depends upon the beneficent lagna (at the time of wedlock). Hence I shall set out below the ascertainment of the purity of the lagna, taking into cognisance what has been stated on the subject by Brahmä.
396b-397. On an auspicious day, (the enquirer) taking with him betel leaves, fruits, flowers etc., shall approach with folded hands, a well qualified astrologer, who is comfortably seated and is having a clear mind (at the moment), and consult him, with attention, as if to a deity. He should then convey to the astrologer the birth sign, birth asterism etc., of the proposed couple.
398. If at any time of the enquiry, the planet in the lagna is cruel and there is Mars in the 7th House therefrom, the death of the couple should be predicted within eight years.
399. If the Moon occupies the lagna and Mars is in the 7th House, the wise should anticipate the death of the husband within eight years.
400. If there be a malefic planet in the 5th House from the lagna, aspected by an enemy planet and is in debilitation, the girl will, without doubt, have her son still-born or will turn unchaste.
401. The Moon occupying the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th (äya) or 10th (karma) house from the lagna, if aspected by Jupiter, will bring about the union of the proposed couple.
402. If the sections in the lagna relating to Libra, Taurus and Cancer are occupied or aspected by Venus or Moon, then the people who solicit for the bride will get her.
403. If the drekkäëa or naväàça is female and the lagna even (even rasi) and aspected by the Moon and Venus, then also the bride who is solicited for, will be obtained.
404. In the same manner, the bride will secure the solicited bridegroom if the lagna or navämçaka of the solicitor (at the time on enquiry) is male or is aspected by male planets. (Sun, Mars and Jupiter are male planets).
405. If the query is made in the dark fortnight, when the Moon occupies an even sign from the lagna or is aspected by an evil planet or is in the 8th house (randhra), the marriage solicited will not take place.
406. If, at the time of enquiry, auspicious indications and omens are seen, they tend to the welfare of the couple, and if these be inauspicious, they tend to undesirable consequences.
407-409a. Kanyävaraëa, solicitation for the bride. On a day which is pure in respect of the five constituents of the païca-aìga¹1 endowed with the strength of the Moon and the nakshatras, at the rise of the marital nakshatra, the solicitation for the bride (Kanyä-varaëa) should be made with the utterance of the praëava (syllable Om), by the bridegroom, through his elders, at the bride’s house, to which place he should go with flowers, betel leaves, fruits, fragrant unguents and sanctified grain (akñata) an dwhite garments, the procession being accompanied by music, musical instruments and words of benediction, warding off obstacles.
409b. The bride’s father should then offer him the bride with pleasure.
410. To the bridegroom endowed with family status, character and youth, handsomeness, wealth and learning, should be offered the bride, beautiful and young.
411-413. The bride should then worship Goddess Çacé, who is the source of all good qualities, the most beautiful in the three worlds, is adorned with divinely fragrant unguents, garlands and garlands, is endowed with all the auspicious marks, wears all ornaments and illuminates all the directions by means of her superior gem-set chains, is attended day and night, by thousands of beauteous maids, and pray to the Goddess thus.
414. “O Goddess Indräëi, the dear consort of God Indra! Bestow on me, at my marriage, fortune, health and male off-spring.
1Païca-aìga: The five constituents of a Day, on the basis of which the nature of the day is determined in Vedic Astrology are: Nakshatra, thithi, (lunar day in the bright or dark fortnight), vära (week day), yoga and karaëa. Since Indian almanacs mention these five constituents for every day of the year, these almanacs are, by extension, called Païcaìgas.
compiled by Swee Chan
