Pāṇigrahaṇa
Pāṇigrahaṇa · pāṇi-grahaṇa, “the taking of the hand”
Grammar: neuter noun; a compound of pāṇi (hand) and grahaṇa (taking, grasping): “the taking of the hand”.
Meaning: the taking of the bride’s hand by the bridegroom, the heart of the wedding rite; and so, marriage itself.
In the scriptures: Vasishṭha brought Tapatī, the daughter of Sūrya, to his āśrama for King Saṃvaraṇa, and told him, “Take the hand of this maiden Tapatī at once, according to vidhi (rule).” With great joy Saṃvaraṇa married her in the prescribed way (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 22).
The Saptarshis told Himavān that a holy tithi joined with jāmitra-guṇa (the right placing for a marriage) was coming: on the third day the moon would enter Uttarāphalgunī, the time called the maitra muhūrta, and on that tithi Śaṅkara would take his daughter’s hand with mantras. Then they took leave and blessed him (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 26).
At the wedding, Himavān placed his daughter’s hand in Hara’s hand and said aloud, “Deva! Accept her.” Bhagavān Śiva answered, “O king of mountains, I have no mother, no father, no kin and no home; I wander on the mountain peaks. Such as I am, I accept your daughter,” and he grasped Pārvatī‘s hand firmly. Then he partook of the madhuparka, offered lājas (puffed rice) with her on the vedi, and circled the fire with her three times (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 27).
When Indradyumna proposed four weddings at once and Ṛtadhvaja agreed, Gālava Muni served as ṛtvij and performed the wedding homas, while the gandharvas danced and sang auspicious songs. First Jābāli took the hand of Kandaramālī’s daughter; then in order Indradyumna took Vedavatī, Śakuni the yaksha’s daughter, and Suratha Citrāṅgadā (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 39).
Related terms: Vivāha · Madhuparka · Lāja · Kanyādāna · Muhūrta
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 22, 26, 27, 39