The Vivaha Homa Mantras are a collection of Vedic verses chanted during the central fire ritual of a Hindu wedding. Their textual origin lies primarily in the Grihya Sutras, such as the Ashvalayana Grihya Sutra and the Paraskara Grihya Sutra, which prescribe the domestic rites for marriage. These mantras are also rooted in the Yajurveda, particularly the Taittiriya Samhita, which contains many of the formulas used in the homa. The primary deity invoked is Agni, the fire god, who acts as a witness and messenger to the gods. The mantras include specific beej-aksharas like 'Om' and 'Swaha', the latter being an invocation used when making offerings into the fire.
Phonetically, 'Swaha' is a feminine ending that signifies the offering is accepted by the deity. The traditional purpose of these mantras is to sanctify the marriage, seek blessings for the couple, and ensure the success of the union. They are chanted during the homa, where offerings of ghee, grains, and other items are made into the sacred fire. The recommended chanting context is during the wedding ceremony, typically at the auspicious time determined by the couple's horoscopes. The number of offerings varies, but often 108 or 21 oblations are made.
The ritual setting includes a fire altar (kunda) constructed for the occasion, with the couple seated to the west of the fire. Cautions include ensuring the mantras are pronounced correctly, as per the Grihya Sutras, and that the fire is maintained properly. The mantras are also found in the Rigveda (e.g., 10.85) in the context of the wedding hymn. According to the Mantra Mahodadhi, the Vivaha Homa purifies the couple and aligns them with cosmic harmony. The blessings of Agni are sought for progeny, prosperity, and long life together.
Om, to Agni, the offering is made.
The mantra contains the seed-sound 'svāhā', which is a feminine invocation used in fire offerings to signify acceptance by the deity. 'Oṁ' is the universal seed-sound.