A wedding ceremony is a sacred and profound moment in the lives of two individuals who have found love and embark on a journey of life together. As couples plan their wedding day, one significant aspect is writing and reciting their wedding vows. While traditional vows are still popular, some couples choose to personalize their wedding vows and infuse spirituality into it. In this blog post, we explore some spiritual wedding vows that can add depth and meaning to your wedding ceremony.
Spiritual Wedding Vows
Vow of Unity
“I, (name), choose you, (name), to be my partner in life. I promise to walk by your side, to support and encourage you in all facets of life. Through every joy and hardship, I will stand with you, holding your hand as we face life together as one.”
This vow is a beautiful acknowlegment of the unity two individuals share as they merge their separate lives together to become one.
Vow of Committment
“I vow to be your committed partner, to love and cherish you for all eternity through joy and sorrow, comfort and challenge, health and sickness, wealth and poverty.”
This vow goes beyond loving someone on their best days only. It’s a vow to stand by your partner through all circumstances, no matter how hard they may be.
Vow of Faithfulness
“I promise to be faithful to you. I will always be the person you can count on, your comforter when you are down, your support in hardship, and your partner in celebrating all the joys of life.”
This vow is a commitment to being truthful, loyal, and steadfast in the relationship. It means remaining true to the promises made on the wedding day and living up to them throughout the marriage.
Vow of Service
“I vow to dedicate myself to your happiness and wholeness. I will support you, serve you, and honor you, through good times and bad, through the sunshine and rain. I will help you to be all that you are called to be and share in your dreams and aspirations.”
This vow emphasizes the attitude of service and selflessness, offering oneself up for the sake and happiness of the other.
Vow of Obedience
“I pledge obedience to you as we work together to build our marriage and life together. I will respect and honor your ideas, opinions, and beliefs, and always choose to listen and understand you.”
This vow is not about bowing down to the demands of the other but committing to listen to each other with an open heart and mind and building a partnership that supports and honors each other.
Conclusion
Incorporating spirituality in your wedding ceremony adds more significance and depth to the vows exchanged between two people. When writing your vows, it’s essential to reflect on your values, beliefs, and what matters to you as a couple. The vows are the foundation of your marriage, and it’s crucial to take the time to put thought into crafting these sacred words. Whether you use traditional vows or spiritual wedding vows, they represent the promises you are making and will shape the course of your marriage.
FAQ
What is 7 sacred vows?
The seven sacred vows, also known as Saptapadi, are an integral part of Hindu wedding ceremonies. In Hinduism, marriage is considered a sacred union of two individuals not only in this life but in their future lives as well. Therefore, the Saptapadi is an important ritual that is performed to bless the newlyweds and sanctify their union.
During this ritual, the bride and groom take seven steps together around a sacred fire while making seven vows to each other. These vows signify their lifelong commitment to each other and their promise to work together in harmony to build a strong and happy marriage.
The seven vows are as follows:
1. First Vow: The first vow is taken for food and nourishment. The bride and groom promise to provide each other with nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle.
2. Second Vow: The second vow is for strength and emotional stability. The couple promises to stand by each other through thick and thin, and to build a strong emotional bond.
3. Third Vow: The third vow is for prosperity and wealth. The couple promises to work hard together, support each other, and achieve financial prosperity.
4. Fourth Vow: The fourth vow is for happiness and enjoyment. The couple promises to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate life together.
5. Fifth Vow: The fifth vow is for children and family. The couple promises to support and care for their children and family, and to create a loving and nurturing home for them.
6. Sixth Vow: The sixth vow is for self-restraint and control. The couple promises to exercise self-control in difficult situations and to maintain inner peace and harmony.
7. Seventh Vow: The seventh vow is for a lifelong union. The couple promises to be faithful to each other, to respect and honor each other, and to love each other unconditionally for the rest of their lives.
The seven sacred vows are an essential part of Hindu wedding ceremonies that symbolize the lifelong commitment and promises made by the couple to each other. These vows are not only significant for the couple but also for their families, friends, and the entire community.
What mantras are used in marriage?
In Hindu culture, a wedding is not just seen as a physical union between two individuals but it is also considered as a sacred bond between two souls. The wedding ceremony is not just a celebration of the union, but it is also a Yoga of sorts because two individuals come together to become one entity.
There are several mantras used in Hindu marriages, but one of the most popular ones is the Katyayani Mantra. This mantra is used to invoke Goddess Katyayani, who is known to be the epitome of love and compassion. It is believed that reciting this mantra can help in eliminating any obstacles that may come in the way of a successful marriage.
The Katyayani mantras are chanted by the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony. The first mantra is “Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari. Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kuru te Namah” translated as “O Katyayani, who is the embodiment of greatness, the great yogini who is the supreme sovereign, daughter of Nanda and wife of Lord Shiva, I offer salutations to you.”
The second mantra is “Om Hring Katyaynyai Swaha, Hring Shring Katyaynyai Swaha.” This mantra is recited seven times by the bride and groom while offering a red sindoor powder to the goddess. It is believed that this ritual helps in ensuring a long, happy, and prosperous married life.
Apart from the Katyayani Mantra, there are several other mantras that are chanted during different stages of the wedding ceremony. The Ganesh Mantra is chanted at the beginning of the ceremony to remove any obstacles. The Saptapadi Mantra is recited during the phere, where the bride and groom take seven vows and circle the sacred fire. This mantra signifies the seven promises that the couple makes to each other during the wedding ceremony.
Mantras play an important role in Hindu weddings. It is believed that reciting these mantras with devotion and sincerity can help in inviting positive energies and blessings in the lives of the newlyweds. These mantras not only help in ensuring a happy and prosperous married life but also help in strengthening the spiritual bond between the couple.
Where are the marriage vows in the Bible?
The Bible is often used as a source of guidance and inspiration for weddings and marriages. It includes many verses that speak to the importance of love, commitment, and loyalty in a marital relationship. However, when it comes to specific marriage vows, the Bible does not contain any prescribed or formalized vows.
In the Christian tradition, wedding vows typically involve the couple making promises to each other based on their shared faith and values. These promises often draw on Biblical themes and teachings, such as the importance of love, honor, and fidelity.
While there are no specific vows prescribed in the Bible, there are several passages and verses that can be used to inspire and inform the language of vows. For example, the Apostle Paul’s famous description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 could inspire a couple to make promises to love each other unconditionally, to be patient and kind, and to always seek to put their partner’s needs ahead of their own.
Another popular passage for wedding vows comes from the Book of Ruth, in which Ruth pledges her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth’s words, “Where you go, I will go; where you stay, I will stay,” have become a popular vow for couples to use to express their own loyalty and commitment to each other.
In addition to these passages, the Bible also contains many verses that speak to the importance of marriage and the responsibilities that come with it. These verses can help couples reflect on their own responsibilities to each other and to God, and can inform their promises and commitments to each other.
The language and content of marriage vows will be up to each individual couple to decide. While the Bible does not provide specific vows, it does offer a rich source of inspiration and guidance for couples seeking to enter into a loving and committed marriage.
What do the 7 steps in a Hindu wedding mean?
A Hindu wedding is a complex ritual that has several important components that symbolize various traditions, values, and beliefs. One of the most significant aspects of a Hindu wedding is the Seven Steps or “Saptapadi” ritual. It involves the couple walking around the sacred fire seven times, each step signifying a promise to each other. The Seven Steps are considered to be a deeply spiritual, symbolic, and powerful aspect of Hindu weddings, with each step representing specific ideas and concepts.
The first step in the Seven Steps ritual signifies the promise of nourishment and sustenance. The bride and groom promise to work together towards building a strong, healthy, and prosperous family life. The second step symbolizes strength and spiritual growth, indicating that the couple will share in their spiritual journey, and support each other through life’s obstacles.
The third step represents the promise of prosperity and wealth. The bride and groom promise to work together towards achieving financial stability and security. The fourth step symbolizes the promise of knowledge and learning, indicating that the couple will support and guide each other’s intellectual and professional growth.
The fifth step stands for the promise of offspring or children, indicating the couple’s desire to have children and raise them in a loving and nurturing environment. The sixth step represents the promise of acceptance and support towards each other’s families. The couple promises to respect, honor, and care for their respective families.
The seventh and final step signifies the promise of eternal love and loyalty. The couple promises to cherish each other, support each other, stand by each other’s side, and remain loyal to each other for eternity.
The Seven Steps or “Saptapadi” ritual is viewed as the most important aspect of a Hindu wedding ceremony. It symbolizes the deep and sacred bond that the couple shares, acknowledging their responsibilities and commitments towards each other as partners in life. The Seven Steps are a beautiful and profound way for the couple to express their deep love, commitment, and devotion towards each other.
What is the meaning of 7 Janam?
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that every person has seven lives also known as “Saat Janam”. This concept is deeply rooted in the Hindu religion and culture and is passed down from generation to generation. It is said that after death, the soul continues its journey through seven lives, and the quality of each life depends on the deeds of the previous life.
The idea of “Saat Janam” is also closely related to the concept of reincarnation, which means that the soul is reborn in a different body after death until it reaches its ultimate destination of Moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The concept of “Saat Janam” is often associated with relationships and marriages. At the time of the marriage ceremony in Hindu culture, the bride and groom take “Saatvachan” or seven vows, which symbolizes that they will remain committed to each other through these seven lives. It is a promise that they make to each other to remain loyal, supportive, and respectful of each other, through thick and thin, and over numerous rebirths.
The meaning of “Saat Janam” in Hindu culture is a belief that every person has seven lives or seven opportunities to learn, grow, and evolve. It is also linked to the idea of reincarnation, where the soul takes birth in a new body after death until it aims to achieve Moksha. The concept of “Saat Janam” is also closely connected to marriage, where the bride and groom promise to remain committed to each other through seven lives.