Weddings are all things sacred - starting from the decision to live a life together, all the way to the jewellery adorned and artefacts used in the rituals, the Ashtamangalyam set is one such relic that represents prosperity, good fortune and is considered auspicious during such events. Predominant in almost every Kerala household, it is used during special occasions and festivals alike. The Kerala Nair community is known to use the Ashtamangalyam set extensively.
\n\nThe Ashtamangalyam and its Contents
\nThe word Ashtamangalyam can be broken into two syllables. ‘Ashta’ means the number eight, while ‘Mangalyam’ translates to a marriage or holy event. It is understood from the word that the set traditionally has eight contents carried on a large brass plate that is considered unmissable during a holy event like a wedding. The Ashtamangalyam items have varied over time but generally represent the eight good things one can see as part of a good omen that include the following:
Ashtamangalyam at Kerala Nair weddings
\nMost Nair ceremonies bring this auspicious set as part of the tradition. Hence it finds an important place in Nair weddings as well. Apart from being used at weddings, it is also used when the bride enters the groom's house for the first time. Since the Ashtamangalyam set for marriage directly symbolises Mangalyam, this plate is considered ideal during weddings. These days the commercial Ashtamangalyam sets include the agarbathi stand and the pooja bell.
History Insights
\nIn the Nair culture, in the yesteryears weddings were conducted at the bride’s house. At those times these eight items used to be placed on the floor of the west-facing room of the house as this direction was considered apt for a bedroom. The old Nair houses had doors on all four sides of the house. The groom used to enter the room through the eastern door accompanied by his groomsmen, while the bride entered through the Padinjatte (western door) with an aunt or an elderly woman. Both parties stood on either side of the Ashtamangalya set on the floor, facing the East (considered an auspicious direction as the Sun rises in this direction). The groomsman then handed over a Pudava or New saree to the groom who in turn handed it over to the bride. In return, the accompanying Aunt would sprinkle rice over the bride and groom’s head as a form of showering them with blessings. The bridegroom then gifted betel leaves and nuts to all the elders of the family.
Ashtamangalyam sets are not just restricted to weddings. Instead, they are used and owned by Kerala Nairs for its symbolic representation of abundance.
","summary":""},"path":{"alias":"/wedding-rituals/malayalam/nair/ashtamangalyam-its-significance-kerala-nair-weddings"},"field_image":{"alt":"Ashtamangalyam Set used in a Kerala Nair Wedding"},"relationships":{"field_tags":[{"id":"009f6d28-62b4-5015-956c-8afa36a0f6b6","name":"Nair","weight":2},{"id":"4f593216-00eb-587f-bd70-71e360e169ff","name":"Malayalam","weight":3},{"id":"f7342040-b19d-5fff-a235-4e49be5a6db6","name":"Wedding Rituals","weight":34}],"field_image":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAUABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAABAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMCBAX/xAAXAQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIE/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAH3ZznnrrROb5GaCP/EABoQAAIDAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARAQIQEjH/2gAIAQEAAQUCOoy/pVoUZ//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECIP/aAAgBAwEBPwELH//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECESD/2gAIAQIBAT8BLTH/xAAYEAACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIQAgMf/aAAgBAQAGPwKMOmD/xAAeEAACAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREQQWEhMVFxkf/aAAgBAQABPyHs0lJSxNNSieCw1yW+2aRWeU//2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEEfXAP/EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERABD/2gAIAQMBAT8QBLkj3//EABgRAQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAEDEh/9oACAECAQE/EMQQ7DK//8QAHRABAAICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARIVEQMUFx4f/aAAgBAQABPxDAWg9wOtBmshACWPTKC0oZa+w6zEdsJIQ8IQSks0wdYbsHH//Z","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/9dc27/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg","srcSet":"/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/25b50/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 75w,\n/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/aabdf/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 150w,\n/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/9dc27/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 300w,\n/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/32fd5/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 450w,\n/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/4fe8c/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 600w,\n/static/53a3c4e3cb54af68eac2e64d9bcd963f/ed853/Kerela%2520nair%2520ashtamangalyam.jpg 1042w","sizes":"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"}}}}}},{"id":"3cc9717d-ac4c-5c23-b500-c05ef4a20728","drupal_id":"ae8c698a-407a-4895-9c2d-f624078907fb","title":"Kerala Nair Sadhya - The Wedding Feast","created":"2020-10-22T01:31:27+00:00","body":{"processed":"An authentic Kerala wedding feast otherwise known as Kerala Sadhya will be ready after the Kerala Nair wedding. This grand feast has around 28 dishes, along with sweet porridge or the traditional sadhya. These 28 dishes have a fair mix of all tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty varieties. It is specifically prepared this way to denote that married life is a combination of all and the couple must accept that.
\n\nSignificance of The Grand Feast in Kerala Nair Weddings
\nThe Post-wedding Feast in Nair Weddings is served on the plantain leaf as per the norm in South Indian wedding meals. The items include a variety of pickles, pappad, banana chips desserts, rice, sambar, avvial, curries, the iconic 'Paladaaprathaman' which is a sweet dish made of rice and milk cooked for hours which tastes best at weddings. All the items served are vegetarian varieties and are specific to the native of the bride and groom. The main food sources such as rice, coconut, vegetables used to be homegrown and purely organic during the yesteryears.
The Sadhya is a contrast to Malayalam Nair wedding. The wedding is short and the rituals are minimal but the feast is grand. It has a huge variety of dishes where all these 28 varieties need to be part of the wedding platter. The dishes are multi-coloured and served on a green banana leaf.
\n\nServing Order of the Sadhya
\nThe top half of the leaf is dedicated for accompaniments and the bottom half for the mains. The dishes are served from left to right making it easy for us to eat. The serving order is as follows:
Top Portion of the Leaf - Starting from the left tip of the banana leaf Salt, Papadam, Chips, Puli Inji, Uppilittathu, Olan, Kalan, Erissery, Pulissery, Avial, Kootu curry, Thoran, Pachadi, Kichadi.
Centre Portion of the Leaf - Rice, Parrippu, Ghee, Sambhar, Rasam
Top Right Corner - All Pradhamans (Desserts)
The Kerala Nair Wedding Sadhya brings the wedding celebrations to a close as all near and dear are treated with this sumptuous banquet. These days in addition to the above mentioned being served during the feast, betel nut leaves and nuts are offered to the guests at the end.
","summary":""},"path":{"alias":"/wedding-rituals/malayalam/nair/kerala-nair-sadhya-wedding-feast"},"field_image":{"alt":"Wedding Sadhya in a Kerala Nair Wedding"},"relationships":{"field_tags":[{"id":"009f6d28-62b4-5015-956c-8afa36a0f6b6","name":"Nair","weight":2},{"id":"4f593216-00eb-587f-bd70-71e360e169ff","name":"Malayalam","weight":3},{"id":"f7342040-b19d-5fff-a235-4e49be5a6db6","name":"Wedding Rituals","weight":34}],"field_image":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAUABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAABAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBQT/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAB24c1EmsqUWgA/8QAHBAAAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIQEQATAxIh/9oACAEBAAEFAiazYkcyHYU8S+k//8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIP/aAAgBAwEBPwEf/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIg/9oACAECAQE/AWnH/8QAHRAAAQMFAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEREhAgITEykf/aAAgBAQAGPwI6pLLCNLwR92f/xAAdEAEBAAIBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhQRAgMVGB/9oACAEBAAE/IRRecSZHzpA2M43HPFWpv1canSN3s//aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQmABA/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAESD/2gAIAQMBAT8QY//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAEBH/2gAIAQIBAT8QAoEHb//EABwQAQACAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAESFBEDFxsf/aAAgBAQABPxAyaG2j2Ekqtdn5BqI6QEDQMY1qUIokLqjyPtZgFNmIPP8A/9k=","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/9dc27/The%2520feast.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/25b50/The%2520feast.jpg 75w,\n/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/aabdf/The%2520feast.jpg 150w,\n/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/9dc27/The%2520feast.jpg 300w,\n/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/32fd5/The%2520feast.jpg 450w,\n/static/4504d391fa6d4f628ba40abf7bb86aed/0f3a1/The%2520feast.jpg 500w","sizes":"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"}}}}}},{"id":"f03bc3ea-ba2b-5f20-9af2-cb1794441392","drupal_id":"44664d1c-1794-408f-9232-0f2a38f4b230","title":"Kerala Ezhava Wedding Rituals - Fixing An Auspicious Time for Muhurtham","created":"2020-10-22T01:58:02+00:00","body":{"processed":"Traditionally Malayalam Ezhava weddings are simple affairs. Unlike other South Indian weddings which may last for two to three days, an Ezhava wedding is carried out in a day. In fact, even within their state counterparts, Ezhava weddings are considered to be the shortest.
\n\nFixing a Muhurtham Time in Kerala Ezhava Wedding
\nMarriage is the most important event for the bride, groom and their families and one of the most critical things in this event is fixing an auspicious time for marriage which is also called the 'Muhurtham'. The family astrologer is consulted days before the Paranjoonu (engagement ceremony). He compares the horoscopes of both the bride and groom and selects an auspicious date and time for ‘Vivaham’(tying the knot) which is to be adhered to.
It is believed that getting married at an auspicious time that is suitable for both the bride and groom will ensure that they lead a happy married life together. The month, day, nakshatras, or the stars and yogas, are checked by the astrologer to fix the ideal muhurtham time for Vivaham. The muhurtham is usually fixed early in the morning on the day of marriage. The thali tying ritual is completed within this auspicious time and the couple is blessed by kith and kin.
\n\nThough the wedding ritual is simple, the Ezhava community likes to have people in large numbers for their weddings. In earlier days, the Kerala Ezhava wedding was conducted only at the residence of the bride. Today, marriage halls are chosen for convenience and ease of managing big crowds which may be difficult for both the families.
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\n\nThe Wedding Attire in Kerala Brahmin Iyer or Bhattar Weddings
Traditional Kasavu saree was made of Tissue cotton but with changing times the brides have started wearing the silk version. Even the colour has seen a change with many modern brides wearing light shades like leafy green, mellow-red, etc instead of all-white. Gold jewellery is also part of the wedding attire in India as it is considered as an auspicious metal. She is adorned in gold with layers of gold necklaces, bangles, anklets, earrings, waistband, and Maang Tikka. The Kasu Mala is a famous necklace style that most brides wear.
The Kerala Brahmin groom wears a traditional Mundu, he is mostly bare-chested with a Melmundu which is a small piece of cloth worn around the shoulder. Some grooms prefer to wear a shirt along with the Mundu but may have to remove it for a few rituals. The Mundu or the dhoti is made of tissue cotton or silk. The border of the Mundu is golden and is worn keeping in mind that gold is auspicious.
\n\nThe parents of the bride and groom also wear Kasavu and Mundu as their wedding attire. They also add a lot of gold ornaments which is also a status symbol for them and they take pride in showing it off. The women adorn their hair with Jasmine flowers and have oiled hair.
","summary":""},"path":{"alias":"/wedding-rituals/malayalam/brahmin-bhattars/wedding-attire-kerala-brahmin-iyer-or-bhattar-weddings"},"field_image":{"alt":"Wedding Attire in Kerala Brahmin Iyer or Bhattar Weddings"},"relationships":{"field_tags":[{"id":"aa3aa042-67ff-555b-ab15-640193f7949e","name":"Brahmin Bhattars","weight":0},{"id":"4f593216-00eb-587f-bd70-71e360e169ff","name":"Malayalam","weight":3},{"id":"f7342040-b19d-5fff-a235-4e49be5a6db6","name":"Wedding Rituals","weight":34}],"field_image":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/9dc27/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/25b50/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg 75w,\n/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/aabdf/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg 150w,\n/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/9dc27/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg 300w,\n/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/32fd5/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg 450w,\n/static/f96dfd290e915d1024f0225820693f22/0f3a1/Kerala%2520Brahmin%2520Wedding%2520Attire.jpg 500w","sizes":"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"}}}}}},{"id":"e26a34d2-360c-5d50-b6ac-f2fcc2eaea71","drupal_id":"4ac0eaf1-d2fa-44c6-a751-e86d5eda709e","title":"Pre Wedding Ritual In Kerala Ezhava Weddings - Paranjoonu Or Virunnu","created":"2020-10-22T01:51:31+00:00","body":{"processed":"The Paranjoonu or Virunnu (feast) ceremony is the official engagement ceremony in the Ezhava community. Here, ‘paraj’ means ‘to inform’ and ‘oonna’ means ‘to eat’. Typically this signifies that the elders in the family of the bride and the Ezhava Groom come together, announce the wedding date and enjoy a feast.
\n\nSignificance of the Kerala Ezhava Engagement Ceremony
\nThe Malayalam Ezhava engagement ceremony is a precursor to the wedding and happens to be one of the most important parts of the wedding celebrations. It is considered a ‘sacred beginning’ by the Ezhava community.
History Insights
\nIn the early days, the engagement announcement was done at the bride’s place where the elders of both the families got together and fixed an auspicious date for the wedding. The bride and bridegroom weren’t part of the ceremony as the elders decided for them. Being a caste-conscious group most Ezhava marriages happened between known families, references and groups.
What Happens During Kerala Ezhava Paranjoonu Ritual
\nThe Nilavillaku which is a bell metal lamp is lit in front of God along with other lamps usually made of silver or bell metal. An offering of puffed rice, coconut and tulsi leaves is done on a plantain leaf. The elders of both the bride and groom get together and fix an auspicious date in the near future based on the horoscope match. The matched horoscopes are then tied together.
Mothiram Maatal - The Engagement Ceremony
\nThe modern-day Ezhava engagement rituals include the ‘mothiram maatal’ (exchange of rings) where the bride and the groom are present for the ritual, unlike the earlier days. The couple exchange rings and this symbolises their engagement. Then gifts are exchanged between both the bride and the bridegroom families.
The Paranjoonu is an important occasion for the Ezhava bride and the groom as they decide to start a new life together. As an engagement treat, a grand feast is arranged for all the gathered guests to celebrate the alliance and the wedding.
","summary":""},"path":{"alias":"/wedding-rituals/malayalam/ezhava/pre-wedding-ritual-kerala-ezhava-weddings-paranjoonu-or-virunnu"},"field_image":{"alt":"Paranjoonu Or Virunnu in Kerala Ezhava Weddings"},"relationships":{"field_tags":[{"id":"e9b9d3dc-979e-5fe3-bc45-e1dd4a9b0162","name":"Ezhava","weight":1},{"id":"4f593216-00eb-587f-bd70-71e360e169ff","name":"Malayalam","weight":3},{"id":"f7342040-b19d-5fff-a235-4e49be5a6db6","name":"Wedding Rituals","weight":34}],"field_image":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/9dc27/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg","srcSet":"/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/25b50/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg 75w,\n/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/aabdf/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg 150w,\n/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/9dc27/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg 300w,\n/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/32fd5/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg 450w,\n/static/30b06c65ebff7c726d9d989fa28b6090/0f3a1/Kerala%2520Ezhava%2520Nischayam.jpg 500w","sizes":"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"}}}}}},{"id":"5b2a720d-c7c7-5a70-af2a-8dfbb7a3e95f","drupal_id":"fdc2d78f-b74f-4667-a4e5-7362bf7b395a","title":"Pradhana Homam Ritual In Kerala Brahmin Iyer or Bhattar Weddings","created":"2020-10-22T01:06:17+00:00","body":{"processed":"Another important ritual in a Brahmin marriage is the Pradana Homam. This is a ritual to offer respect to Agni, the God of Fire.
\n\nImportance of Pradhana Homam Ritual in Kerala Brahmin Iyer or Bhattar Weddings
\nAfter the Saptapadi ceremony, the couple is again asked to be seated on the plank on the western side and asked to perform the Pradhana (important) Homam. The bride puts her right hand on her husband's shoulder as a symbolic gesture of participation in the ritual. As many as 16 mantras are chanted as the groom pours ghee into the fire at the end of each mantra. The mantras chanted by the priests are to thank the Soma, Agni, Indra, Vayu, Gandharva, Viswa Devas, Varuna, Ashwini Devas, etc for blessing the successful conduction of marriage and also to bless them for a long and happy marriage. The newlywed couple circle around the fire by giving nine types of twigs and ghee as sacrificial fuel.
Agni who is considered as a sacred purifier and a great power will cleanse the bodies of the couple through the fumes generated by the Homam. The God of Fire is also considered as the witness to this marriage and hence the term 'Agni Sakshi' or witness by fire. It is also established that the fumes from the 'Homam' have many benefits, some of which are medicinal. They have cleansing and curative effects which can help the couple. Agni is also considered as a sacred purifier and hence is a part of most important events like housewarming, wedding ceremony, naming ceremony and much more.
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