Originally posted by: Vibhishna
Great thread, Sam1903.
I had wondered that if it was just the case of two people coming together and living together why so many elaborate rituals and ceremonies are observed to join the two hands on marriage. But each and every ritual has a significance. I saw a scene in the Tamil movie 'Kandhan Karunai' where Devayani (or Devasena) Lord Skanda's wife asks him certain doubts regarding marriage rituals. The best of it was Lord Skanda explaining that Lord Brahma gave a place for Goddess Saraswati in his tongue, Lord Vishnu in his heart and Lord Shiva gave Parvati Devi half of himself. The significance of this is that a man first gives his wife the freedom of speech and when he sees her wisdom he gives her a place in his heart and after seeing her love and compassion, he makes her half of himself.Two people who were complete strangers have come together - it is up to them to benefit from them or not. They should share their lives but give space for each other so that they can have their own privacy. Sometimes, keeping a distacne will create a deeper bond and better understanding. The two of them should trust each other and be willing to accept the other as a part of (half of) their lives putting aside all other feelings of ego and pride. They must stand together and mandage so many things. If a person is able to share his life and bend down his/her pride and live together with his/her parter for long that person attains the maturity to handle difficult situations and guide the others away from their troubles. Also this experience is what that matters to give them the status of respectable ones and elders of the society. I think this is why the elders (especially the couples) are consulted for everything that happens in the house. Also, all the rituals and ceremonies to be performed are done with the parters. It is a way of telling the man or the wife that he/she is not complete without the other and they need their spouse to live complete life.I hope I did not make it boring đ