Marriage in New Vrindaban
by Gaura Nataraja das
On Oct 1st we had 60 people attending a marriage. The marriage was conducted in the temple hall. The bride’s name was Chelsea (Champakalata Devi dasi) and Michael. Chelsea is a practicing Hare Krishna devotee and Michael is new to Krishna consciousness. He is however a vegetarian. All the relatives were non-devotees and were coming to the Hare Krishna temple for the first time.
Chelsea wore a traditional saree and Michael wore a suit. All the attendees were new to Vedic marriage and hence I explained everything step by step and everyone followed all the rituals. When the fire sacrifice began I explained that everyone should tell “svaha” every time I say “svaha”, everyone did so in one voice throughout. It was very purifying.
Then when the bride and bridegroom took the seven vows and steps together everyone was chanting “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Hare Hare” making the atmosphere very spiritual and blessing the couple. When the fire sacrifice was over I asked everyone to circumambulate chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra and everyone did so very nicely clapping their hands and tapping their feet.
After that we had arati of the Lord. That was the best part. First myself and my wife brought the couple to the middle of the temple and we started dancing chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra loudly. Soon all sixty guests joined and the circle almost as big as the temple hall. Everyone was dancing with great ecstasy and this went one for the next 30 minutes. It looked like the spiritual world where everyone simply chants and dances in great ecstasy. After the dance everybody was smiling for the rest of the ceremony.
When I was going back to my apartment I met a few couples who were leaving and stopped me and told me “ That was one of the best ceremonies I have witnessed. I really thank you. It was special”.
A few days later Chelsea called me up and told me she spoke to most people who attended and they mentioned the dancing as incredible and said it took them a few days to get the Hare Krishna Mahamantra off their heads ! We however know that its etched in their heart forever !
Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra Bhagavan Ki Jai !
Ys,
GND
