What it means
Agni, the fire god, is invoked as the eternal witness to the vows. Offerings (ahuti) are made into the fire while mantras are chanted; the fire's presence makes the marriage binding and sacred in Vedic tradition.
What happens
- 1The pandit kindles the sacred fire in the mandap.
- 2The couple makes offerings of ghee, grains, and other items into the fire as mantras are recited.
- 3This fire is the witness around which the pheras are taken.
Applies to: North Indian Hindu, Gujarati Hindu, Punjabi Hindu, Marwari Hindu, South Indian Hindu
This explanation is under review by a religious authority — a companion to, not a replacement for, your pandit.