Exchange These Traditional Wedding Vows at Your Hindu Ceremony

The Hindu religion is rich in wedding traditions. A traditional Hindu wedding often includes vibrant wedding sarees, intricate henna designs, family parties and traditional vows known as the saptapadi or saat phere/ saat pheras in Sanskrit. Translated in English as "seven vows," these traditional sacred vows are promises recited by the couple during a Hindu marriage ceremony.

Hindu matrimony not only joins together couples but entire families as well. Hindu marriage ceremonies are also very sacred. During a traditional Hindu marriage ceremony, the purohit (or family priest) will lead the couple in prayers to the Hindu gods for well-being and togetherness in their married life, in addition to promises to one another.

It should be noted that a traditional Hindu wedding is usually a several-day affair. Even before the wedding, there are events including a sangeet (also known as a garba), which is a family party filled with singing and dancing. Prior to the wedding, the bride and her closest friends and family members will also join together for a mehndi ceremony, in which the bride receives henna designs on her hands and feet. For even more information on customary Hindu wedding traditions, take a peek at this in-depth guide.

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As you're planning your traditional Hindu wedding, you should collaborate with your officiant on the best way to incorporate your vows into your ceremony.

What to Include in Your Hindu Wedding Vows

When it's time for the wedding day ceremony, the couple is brought under a decorated altar called a mandap. In the center of the mandap is a holy fire, around which the couple will exchange vows. The ceremony typically begins with a prayer to the Hindu god Ganesha, after which the couple follows a traditional wedding ritual called the seven vows or seven steps.

Traditional Hindu Wedding Vows Template

The saptapadi (or seven vows) are the traditional vows exchanged during a Hindu marriage ceremony. During the wedding ceremony, these traditional vows are offered by the family priest (or purohit) and then chanted by the couple around a sacred fire. In addition to chanting, the couple also makes seven mangal pheras (or steps) around the fire. Sometimes the purohit prefaces the seven vows with another series of repeated vows or mantras and an oft-used blessing to the bride: "As Sachi to Indra, as Svaha to Agni, as Rohini to Chandra, as Damayanti to Nala, as Bhadra to Vivasyat, as Arundhati to Vashishth, as Lakshmi to Vishnu, may you be to your husband."

First Vow

Prayer for the groom to provide for the welfare and happiness of wife and family and that the wife would be responsible for managing the home and meals

Groom Promises: Om esha ekapadi bhava iti prathaman.

You will offer me food and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide welfare and happiness for you and our children.

Bride Promises: Dhanam dhanyam pade vadet.

I am responsible for the home and all household, food and finance responsibilities.

Second Vow

Prayer to protect home and family, for blessings of mental, physical, and spiritual health and for loyalty.

Groom Promises: Om oorje jara dastayaha.

Together we will protect our house and children.

Bride Promises: Kutumbum rakshayishyammi sa aravindharam.

I will be by your side as your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me solely.

Third Vow

Prayer for wealth and prosperity.

Groom Promises: Om rayas santu joradastayaha.

May we grow wealthy and prosperous and strive for the education of our children and may our children live long.

Bride Promises: Rava bhakti as vadedvachacha.

I will love you solely for the rest of my life, as you are my husband. Every other man in my life will be secondary. I vow to remain chaste.

Fourth Vow

Prayer for strong and happy family; obedient children.

Groom Promises: Om mayo bhavyas jaradastaya ha.

You have brought sacredness into my life, and have completed me. May we be blessed with noble and obedient children.

Bride Promises: Lalayami cha pade vadet.

I will shower you with joy, from head to toe. I will strive to please you in every way I can.

Fifth Vow

Prayer for love, that the couple would cherish and honor each other.

Groom Promises: Om prajabhyaha santu jaradastayaha.

You are my best friend, and staunchest well-wisher. You have come into my life, enriching it. God bless you.

Bride Promises: Arte arba sapade vadet.

I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I live. Your happiness is my happiness, and your sorrow is my sorrow. I will trust and honor you, and will strive to fulfill all your wishes.

Sixth Vow

Prayer for health and peace.

Groom Promises: Rutubhyah shat padi bhava.

Now that you have taken six steps with me, you have filled my heart with immense happiness. Will you do the kindness of filling my heart with happiness like this for all times?

Bride Promises: Yajna hom shashthe vacho vadet.

I will always be by your side.

Seventh Vow

Prayer for love and friendship forever.

Groom Promises: Om sakhi jaradastayahga.

We are now husband and wife, and are one. You are mine and I am yours for eternity.

Bride Promises: Attramshe sakshino vadet pade.

As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honor and cherish each other forever.

Personalizing Hindu Wedding Vows

Couples hosting a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony will not typically go off-script. In the Hindu religion, marriage is a sacred institution with specific marriage vows that must be exchanged in a certain way.