Bride and the Brahmin priest
[I also posted the Tamil version of this article as some Tamil proverbs cannot be translated properly in English]
I received the above YouTube video forwarded by one person in which Sri Sirpi Rajan talks on the topic (in Tamil) ‘Do you know the meaning of the mantras which the Brahmins utter’? The gist of the message is that the Brahmins are cheating the naïve people who do not know Sanskrit to earn a living without doing any hard work. He gives various histories for this even giving the meaning of few Sanskrit words to expose the cunnings of the Brahmins. But he begins it by saying that in the marriage ritual the mantras which the Brahmins chant is very derogative and if the ladies know the meaning they will beat them thoroughly. Then he says in a particular Vedic mantra beginning with Soma that the officiating Brahmin priest says to the bridegroom that after Soma, Gandarva and Agni ‘RAPPED’ her, I also give her to you who are a ‘SHUDRA’ as your wife after I also ‘RAPPED’ her. The word ‘RAPE’ is the exact word which he is using.
The following is my response to him:
My aim is to share some truth in this message shared by Sri Rajan and not to oppose his effort to reform (Tamil) society. If he had shared the entire mantra with proper meaning for each word that it would enhanced his message more. But unlike him I as I don’t know Sanskrit, I cannot share that mantra which he also didn’t share. But still I cannot understand in which mantra it is mentioned that ‘I offer her after rapping her to you as her fourth husband’?
First let us see what the scholars say about this mantra in which it is mentioned that Soma, Gandarva and Agni were the first three husbands to the bride before she was given in marriage to a human bridegroom as her fourth husband:
Some of the Grihya–Sutrtas include another mantra, also taken from the Vedic text, which says that the bride is given over to many by three gods who were her first three husbands, viz., Soma, Gandharva and Agni; the mantra recited before the nuptial fire is: “Soma had acquired thee first as his wife; after him the Gandharva acquired thee, thy third lord was Agni; and, the fourth is thy human husband. Soma has given thee to the Gandharva, the Gandharva gave thee to Agni. Besides thee, O wife, Agni has (as good as) given wealth and children to me”. Yajnavalkya is perhaps interpreting this very Rigvedic mantra when he says that the God Soma conferred purity (saucham) upon the woman, Gandharva bestowed upon her a sweet tongue (subhaam giraam), while (p.168) Pavaka (i.e. Agni) bestowed upon her perfect purity (sarvame dhyatvam). {Yaj. i.71}.— Pandharinath H. Prabhu, Hindu Social Organization: A Study in Socio-Psychological and Indeological Foundations, Bombay, Popular Prakashan, [1940], Reprint 2004, pp. 168-69
RV X.85.40: Soma possessed (you) first; a Gandharva possessed (you) next. Agni was your third husband; your fourth is human-born.— Stephanie W. Jamison, Sacrificed Wife; Sacrificer’s Wife: Women, Ritual, and Hospitality in Ancient India. Delhi, Oxford, 1996p. 140
On the day of marriage the bride was bathed in water consecrated with Vedic verses and a yoke was held over her head [Atharva Veda. xiv.1.40]. She was then dressed with the recital of verses…. Then the actual wedding rite began. The bride was made to stand on a stone, to represent “the lap of earth. The bride-groom took her hand muttering appropriate verses and promised to cherish her…. The bride was first the wife of Soma, then of Gandharva, then of Agni who lastly bestowed her on her human husband [Atharva Veda xiv.2.2-11]….— Rajbali Pandey, Hindu Samskaras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, (Second Revised Edition, 1969), Reprint, 1987 p.201
All the three scholars nowhere say that the officiating priest offer the bride after rapping her to the bridegroom as her fourth husband. It is Agni who ‘bestow her on her human husband’ after having Soma as her first husband, and Gandarva as second, now he as her third husband offers her to the bridegroom who is her fourth husband.
Just for the sake of argument even if it is believed that she was literarily given as the wife to Soma, Gandarva and Agni, can we say that as rightful husbands they actually ‘rapped’ her? If this is true, then can we say that every husband is actually doing the same with their wife? Similarly just for an argument sake if the officiating priest, as Rajan claims says in Sanskrit that he also raped her and now give her as his wife, is it possible in real life? A further point that one needs to remember here is that if this mantra is chanted in marriage ritual, it is also used in a marriage where the bridegroom is also a Brahmin. Then how he is going to replace the word ‘Shudra’ to a Brahmin here?
If Sri Rajan directly says to the Tamil society not to engage these kinds of Brahmins priests who survive by making a living without toiling, nothing wrong in it. He is not the first one to say such reforming message as late Periyar has done it several times and also arranged several marriages without any ritual. But inducing some kind of hatred against a particular community is not correct.
The next point that we should know is that in most of the marriages performed for the non-Brahmins, in general they won’t use Vedic mantras but only Puranic mantras.1 Above all the Brahmins who learnt proper Veda won’t officiate any kind of rituals for any non-Brahmins and they will do rituals only to the Brahmins. And those Brahmins who do rituals for the non-Brahmins won’t be engaged in any religious rituals by Brahmins in their families.
But the common Vedic mantra which is used in all the marriage is this:
Mangalyam tandunaane
Mamajeevana hetunaa
Kande badmaami suupake
Tvama jeeva sarads-satam
Oh auspicious woman, giving the assurance that the family life which I begin today with you should be good one, I tie this mangalyam (wedding chain) in your neck.
Becoming my life partner (family partner), sharing in my joy and sorrow, let you live one hundred years with all kinds of prosperity.—Dinamalar (Tamil), supplementary Anmihamalar, October 23, 2010, p. 3
(a free translation by me).
It is important to note here that in general in most of the marriages performed for the non-Brahmins, only the officiating Brahmin alone will chant this mantra. That is, it is the Brahmin priest who says, ‘I tie this mangalya(m)’. But no Brahmin priest won’t demand, ‘as I alone said in the mantra that “I tie this mangalya(m) on your neck”, literarily I alone will do that.’ Similarly no bridegroom or anyone of his relatives or friends will say to the priest, ‘as you alone chanted the mantra by saying that “I am tying the mangalya(m)” you alone now should do it’! If anyone compels the priest to do then not even collecting his fee the priest will run away not even turning back. Already married wouldn’t he know the consequence of another marriage!!
In general when marriage ritual is performed in a Brahmin marriage, the priest should chant each word of the mantra which the Brahmin bridegroom has to listen and repeat. The reason for this is that it is expected that a bridegroom has to utter the Vedic mantra and tie the mangalya(m) on the neck of the bride. As the Shudras are not supposed to chant any Vedic mantra, generally it is only the priest chant the mantra on behalf of him. But this won’t be correct according to my understanding. Because there is also a prohibition that the Brahmins should not chant any Vedic mantras for any Shudra to hear. But in the modern time where all are hearing all kinds of mantras why not the Shudra bridegroom also should not repeat the marriage mantra? One reason could be that as the Brahmin bridegroom used to chant mantras from his childhood he could listen to the mantra and can repeat it without any mistakes. As the Shudra bridegroom has no such experience and also considering the time constraint, in general only the priest used to chant this mantra whereas the non-Brahmin bridegroom ties the mangalya(m).
The Brahmin priest who do most of the religious rituals for the non-Brahmins do it as part time job and they also toil a lot to earn proper income for their life. They also never undergo proper Vedic studies as the Vedic Brahmins do but learn basic mantras to perform various rituals.
Nothing wrong is spreading some message to reform the society. But targeting any one particular community and attacking them is not proper. Nothing wrong in pointing all the (past) mistakes done by the Brahmins. But when they accuse them, they also should prove where and how the Brahmins have done such wrongs. But just for the sake of propaganda to get cheap publicity producing these kinds of videos is not proper. And those who share this without checking whether those accusations are true or not and merely pass these kinds of videos and message is also not proper. This is not only against communal harmony but also against the very reformation which they want to bring in the society. That is why Thiruvalluvar rightly said:
எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு–குறள் 422
Though things diverse from divers sages’ lips we learn, ‘It is wisdom’s part, in each the true thing to discern.
Explanation: To discern the truth in everything, by whomsoever spoken, is wisdom.
எண்பொருள வாகச் செலச்சொலித் தான்பிறவாய்
நுண்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு.–423
Wisdom hath use of lucid speech, words that, acceptance win. And subtle sense of other men’s discourse takes in.
Explanation; To speak so as that the meaning may easily enter the mind of the hearer, and to discern the subtlest thought which may lie hidden in the words of others, this is wisdom.
அறிவுடையார் எல்லாம் உடையார்
என்னுடைய ரேனும் இலர்.—430
The wise is rich, with every blessing blest. The fool is poor, of everything possessed.
Explanation: Those who possess wisdom, possess everything, those who have not wisdom, whatever they may possess, and have nothing.
[All Kural, explanation and translation are taken from some electronic copy]
Opposition to the Brahmins or Brahmanism is not a new thing in India. One can see this even from the time of ithihasa and purana. But in modern time most of the time the Brahmins are made mere ‘scapegoat’ in the caste struggles among the non-Brahmins about which we need to write separately.
Sri Rajan says that while the priest ties the ‘kankan’ (protecting string on the right hand of the bridegroom) he says ‘after raping the bride I give her to the bridegroom as the fourth husband. But already Soma, Gandarva and Agni were her three husbands. Now the priest gives him to the bridegroom as her fourth husband. Then where the priest in this? If he is included then she would have five husbands which is not found in the mantra? I think Sri Rajan who is well versed in Sanskrit is poor in max.
The person who forwarded this video to me, after reading my initial response wrote back, ‘the Brahmin priest even should not think in his mind about such thing (of rapping the bride). If he is innocent and honest why not he chants the mantra in Tamil’? To this my response was: The priest cannot decide what kind of ritual needs to be done in the marriage. It is left with those who arrange the marriage. If they want it done without Sanskrit mantra, they alone should arrange such marriage. For example in temples in Tamilnadu two kinds of ‘archanas’ (flowering offering before the deity) are available. One in Tamil and another in Sanskrit. The devotee has to buy the ticket accordingly. A priest cannot decide about it.
There is no compulsion for the non-Brahmins that they should perform the marriage by chanting only Vedic mantras. It is expected only for the Brahmins. Therefore they alone should come out from such superstition and blind faith. But why should they imitate the Brahmins in this? At the same time no Brahmin or Brahmin priest can oppose if any non-Brahmin, particularly any Shudra wants to arrange the marriage with Sanskrit mantras. A priest is just doing a profession and collecting the fee he is performing it.
But the contention here is not in which language the marriage mantra should be chanted. But WHERE IN THE MANTRA IT IS MENTIONED THAT BRAHIM PRIEST SAYS THAT AFTER RAPING THE BRIDE HE NOW GIVES HER TO THE BRIDEGROOM AS THE FOURTH HUSBAND? Sri Rajan Mestri should prove this. If it is there, then it is not only a mistake but also a crime. Then HE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH A COMPLAINT AND GO EVEN TO THE COURT BY FILING A PUBLIC INTEREST PETITION TO STOP SUCH MANTRAS AND MARRRIAGES. If he will do this the Brahmins will stand with him to support for such a noble cause. But giving such interpretation to a mantra is nothing but an act of hate crime against to a particular community. And those who aim for true reformation in society should never engage in such activity. Sri Rajan also claims that even the officiating Brahmin priest also does not know the meaning of this mantra. But if Rajan knows the meaning which a Brahmin priest does not know then he should give the meaning properly and also should give the reference for it. This is my only request to him.
The person who forwarded this video also wrote that even this ‘gandarva marriage’ is also a kind of ‘rape’. Therefore what is wrong if Rajan uses the word ‘rape’ in this video? This shows how poor are common people in understanding certain terms. This mantra is not talking about ‘gandarva marriage’. Gandarva who is mentioned in this mantra also a deva like Soma and Agni. Whereas ‘gandarva marriage’ is one among the eight kinds of marriage which is not allowed for any Brahmins but only for the Kshatriyas where, in most cases a Kshatriya king (like Dushyant who married Sakuntala) marries a girl and consummate their relationship even before a proper marriage. Even in such scenario it is never considered as ‘rape’ but what now they call in modern time ‘sex with mutual consent’. In Tamil Sangam literature this is called ‘kalavu neri’, which is equal to ‘gandarva marriage’. Only in the ‘asura marriage’ a girl is kidnapped and then she was rapped’. Now almost in every society it is a crime and in India such person will be immediately arrested under the new law against such activities by anyone.
MY MAIN RESPONSE IS THAT NOT ONLY SRI RAJAN IS WRONG IN USING THE WORD ‘RAPE’ BUT NO WHERE IN THE MANTRA IT IS MENTIONED THAT THE OFFICIATING PRIEST DOES THIS AND THEN GIVES THE GIRL TO THE BRIDEGROOM AS HER FOURTH HUSBAND. BUT RAJAN ALONE SHOULD EXPLAIN THIS TO ALL AS HE KNOWS SANSKRIT WELL.
I would like to end my response with a lighter note. The following is only an imagination and my own creation as cook up lots of such stories.
It is important to note that it is only Agni who says to the bridegroom that after marrying the bride for the third time now he gives her to the bridegroom as her fourth husband. There is a story behind this in a purana which is lost. Extant
When god first created the first man, he noticed that that man roams freely not even remain thankful to god and worship him. Then god thought that this boy lives not even thinking about me. Now I should do something so that he will often remember me. Then he created a beautiful woman for him to give him as his companion. When other devas saw this, seeing the beauty of that girl out of jealousy they said to god that they won’t allow a human being to have her as his companion. But not knowing god’s intension, however he tried to explain it to them, they refuse to listen to god and remain adamant. Then god thought that let the devas also learn a lesson through her and allowed them to do whatever they want to do with her.
But there was a competition among the devas to marry the girl. That time Soma said, ‘unless I continue to supply ‘soma bana’ [intoxicating drinking or amrita] you cannot remain joyful. Therefore if she is not for me, from this day I will stop supplying it’. As there is no way, then the devas agree to give her to him. Then they called Agni, the prohit (priest) of devas and gave her in marriage to her. After marrying her in the morning other envying him, he left with her to his abode. But before the evening came, he run back with many tears requested other devas to rescue him from that human woman’. When they asked the reason for that, he said, ‘out of joy I drank too much of soma and was eagerly waiting for the evening to come. But all that she demanded made me to lose all the kick that I had with the excess drinking of soma-bana. Then I realized that I cannot continue to live with her. No one can fill her all that she demands.
Waiting only this opportunity Gandarva told with a smile, ‘none of you know how to do romance in which I am the master. I only know how to enchant a woman through romance. Therefore I alone eligible to marry her. Agreeing with him, then with the help of Agni they again gave her as his wife. As it was evening time, with much joy Gandarva took her to his abode. But none knows what happened. The next day morning Gandarva came with folded hand and tears to save him from her to Agni. Not agreeing with him, when Agni took the matter with other devas, they also hesitate to marry her. So when all the devas went to complaint about it to god, he said, ‘this is your problem. You alone solve it’.
Then Agni with much confidence said, ‘I am fire. None of her plan will work with me. Then I will burn her down. So he with the consent of his first wife ‘Svaha’2 {which means in Tamil ‘swallowing’} married the human girl. But when he took her to his abode, the human girl within day made Svaha a mad person. Then Svaha become upset and told Agni that, ‘without my help you cannot receive your portion in the yajna (fire sacrifice) as they offer anything in fire only uttering my name. So if this girl continues to remain with us, then I have to leave you. Better you decide who you want?’ When Agni heard this he was much afraid. Because without his wife’s co-operation he cannot receive anything which is offered in the fire for the deities which alone sustains them all?
Therefore he called immediately the counsel of all the devas and they all with one mind told Agni to give her back to the human being for whom god created her. Then Agni approaching him said that she was created only for her. And if he marries her, he will a get a life in which he will always think about god. When the human said, ‘why should I think about god? And who is god? Now I am fine in every way.’ In response Agni told, ‘certain thing you won’t understand however I try to explain. Just do what I say. Then you will understand everything properly. Without having any previous experience in this area, innocently that man also agreed and gets married with that girl with the help of Agni. Then what happened is history about which I need not tell. But unfortunately that first man was a Brahmin.
So in order to take revenge on Agni who has done this atrocity to him, every time when he performs any yajna after kindling the fire by pouring lots of ghee, then when he offered anything in the fire as the portion of Agni, he took the name of his wife Svaha and dropped many thing together in the fire to create more smoke. When I asked the priest who told this story ‘even after knowing all this why still you continue to perform this kind of marriage’, he said, ‘if all remain like you then how can I or the devas can survive? That is why I keeping Agni as witness receiving my fee I do this ritual. Not knowing this that Rajan Sirpi tells that I gave the bride to the bridegroom only after marrying her as the fourth husband. Where to go and tell about this? Already one marriage is enough for me. Therefore at least you go and tell this truth to him. That is why I also narrate this purana story for the first time to all which nobody knows except me and the priest.
Notes
1 …Veda-Vyasa [I.17] prescribes that the samskaras…can be performed in the case of Shudras, but without Vedic mantras ….— Kane, Panduranga Vamana (1968). History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law in India). 5 vols. Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. II. Part. I. Ch. III. The samskaras of Sudras. p.159.
the Kalpataru and other works allowed the Shudra to read and repeat Purana mantras…It is however interesting to note that at least one ancient teacher [Badari] was found who advocated that [p.156] even Shudras could perform Vedic sacrifices. The Bharadvaja Srauta sutra [V.2.8] states the opinion of some that the Shudra can consecrate the three sacred Vedic fires. The Katyayanasrautasutra [I.4.5] prescribes that all can perform Vedic rites except those who are deficient in a limb, who are not learned in the Veda, who are impotent and Shudras;… –ibid, Vol. II. Part. I. Ch.III. Sudra not allowed to study Veda pp.155-57. {however Kane also gives other references in which a Sudra is allowed to do chant mantras—db}
According to Bharss. 5,2,8 “some” authorities were of the opinion that he could consecrate the sacred fires. Whereas he was entitled to perform the five daily sacrifices called mahaayajnas and perform the sraaddha, the rites performed for him should be without Vedic mantras (Manu 10,127)….— J. Gonda, Change and Continuity in Indian Religion, Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, (1965) 1985, pp. 419
2….Since fire is always present at all important ceremonies, Agni is revered as a divine witness. Thus, a Hindu wedding is fully consecrated when witnessed by fire (‘agnisakshi’) (p.1). All offerings are made to the fire in the name of Agni’s wife, Svaha. Legend has it that once Svaha asked Agni to ensure their continuous association. Agni declared that henceforth, all offerings made to the gods through fire would be made in her name. Therefore, after any oblation, the priests invoke her name, saying ‘Svaha’.—India Mystica, CD. pp. 1-2
But the later mythological stories about Agni are very interesting. He has a wife called ‘Svaha’. As she helped Agni to beget Skanda, he gave a boon to her that Svaha will always accompany her husband in every sacrifice. That is why when any oblation is poured on Agni, it is done in her name: ‘Svaha’. But in common usage, ‘Svaha’ is used satirically. At least in (Tamil) Brahmins house, if anyone cheated the other and used that person’s wealth or resource it is said, ‘avan svaha pannittan’ (அவன் ஸ்வாஹா பண்ணிட்டான்; He has ‘svahaed’ it viz., he swallowed or finished it).