| Marriage rituals are somewhat different from other | | | | there should be no waste of money or time. A priest is |
| Hindu religions. “Jain Samaj” as it is | | | | responsible for fixing a proper date and time for the |
| popularly called contains various books on the | | | | wedding. A pooja is performed at the girl’s |
| ‘jain vivah vidhi’ which are written by the | | | | house where relatives and friends are invited. In this |
| popular writers. Jain community practices various | | | | ceremony heavenly goddesses are invoked by sacred |
| traditions which are exclusively for the Jain people. | | | | prayers and called upon to take abode in the |
| The worldly practices are acceptable to the Janis. But | | | | bride’s house. It is done to ensure fertility and |
| they should not cause loss to samyakatva or | | | | happiness of the new couple. |
| corruption of the vratas. The samanaya dharma | | | | After this, the Patrika bearing the time or Muhurat is |
| applies to Janis and non Janis alike. Jainism does not | | | | sent to the boy’s house. It is usually |
| automatically reject worldly practices. Jainism | | | | accompanied with sweets. |
| advocates peaceful existence. It recognizes the | | | | Laghana Patrika is read at the groom’s house |
| dependence of two living organisms on one another. | | | | by the priest. The groom wears the traditional Jain |
| For Janis, marriage is largely a worldly event. It is | | | | headgear and performs the Vinayakyantra pooja. A |
| recommended to all Jain Shravakas unless they have | | | | tilak is applied on the groom’s forehead by the |
| taken a ‘vrata’ of Brahmacharrya. The | | | | bride’s brother. |
| children born of marriage will follow the dharma. The | | | | It is generally followed by the engagement or |
| ritual of marriage is largely governed by the traditional | | | | “Sagai”. The ceremony is held at the |
| practices that may vary for different Jain communities. | | | | groom’s house by the priest. |
| Marriage is a public declaration of the community | | | | Jain marriages are performed under a mandap. Many |
| support for the couple. Some of the rituals are | | | | days before the marriage, the structure is built and a |
| common to all Jain and Hindu marriages. | | | | ‘vedi’ which is altar of the sacred fire is |
| The Jain community generally marries in their own | | | | built. |
| communities so that children born out of this marriage | | | | Pheras are taken after this. An auspicious moment is |
| also become Jain. | | | | decided for the pheras. Bride and groom are taken to |
| The entire community condemned the practice of | | | | the mandap for conducting pheras and seated. Girl is |
| negotiating a dowry before marriage. | | | | seated on the right side of the groom. Generally, |
| Preferably Jain marriage should be conducted by a | | | | kanyapradhan ceremony is performed at the pheras. |
| Jain Pundit. Brahmins attached to the Jain community | | | | One rupee and twenty paisa are kept with rice on the |
| conduct marriages at some places. In any case, it | | | | right hand of the bride. Then father of the bride publicly |
| should be conducted by some respectable person. | | | | hands the girl to the groom. |
| The person should have proper knowledge of rites | | | | Seven vows are taken by the couple together. Havan |
| and protocols. | | | | is performed after this. The holy water is poured on |
| Marriage is something of far more significance than a | | | | the hands of the boy and girl together. |
| family vacation or a birthday or a graduation. It is once | | | | The priest enchants the mantras at this occasion to |
| in a lifetime occasion. | | | | bind the boy and girl in a sacred relationship. |
| About the expenses or duration of marriage, however, | | | | |