ABSTRACT
A marriage ceremony is in progress. A purohit (Brhmin priest) conducts the marriage ceremony according to the Vedic tradition. Seated cross-legged in a lotus position, he instructs the parents of the bride to place a ower garland on a copper pot lled with water. Several green magnolia leaves are layered around the mouth of the water pot.1 A coconut sits rmly on the wide mouth of the water pot, which, in turn, sits on the bed of rice spread in a large metal tray. Vermillion paste, a sacred thread, a piece of red cloth and ower petals adorn the coconut. The tray contains various accoutrements, such as betel nuts, coins and sacred threads. Light glows from the oil lamp and aromatic smoke wafts from the incense sticks standing nearby. Chanting Sanskrit mantras from the Yajur Veda, the purohit rings a ghai (small bell) as he offers ower petals to a small statue of Gaea, the elephant-headed God of Beginning. The priest pours a little water to the deity from an achmani (small spoon-like utensil) and performs a ritual called pj, asking the deity to remove obstacles during the ceremony of holy matrimony. Gaea also is the remover of obstacles, and hence his blessings are considered redemptive for during a long wedding many things can go wrong.
