Vol. X, No. 9.] Marriage Customs of the Cochin Castes. 305 



[N.S.] 



at first sight, appear to be different, but on a closer examina- 

 tion, it may be seen that most of the customs of the Nam- 

 buthiri and Tamul Brahmans which do not vary in the shas- 

 traic details, are grafted on the Malayali and Tamul non- 

 Brahman communities; but the recitation of the vedic mar- 

 riage hymns are studiously avoided in the case of sudras and 

 other lower castes. The formal advent of the bridegroom 

 with his party after clue invitation to the house of the bride, 

 the waving of lamps and vessels of water round the heads of 

 the bride and bridegroom to avoid the potency of evil eye, 

 the gift of the bride to the bridegroom (Udakapurva Kanya- 

 kadanam) with the recitation of the appropriate Vedic hymns, 

 clasping of the bride's hand (Panigrahanam) . worship of the 

 sacred rire (homam) with oblations of ghee (clarified butter), 

 invocation of the blessings of gods, tying of the tali (marriage 

 badge) round the neck of the bride by the bridegroom, going 

 round the sacred fire (pradakshinam) , the bridegroom taking 

 in hand the right foot of the bride and placing it on a mill 

 stone (Saptapadi) which is the essential and binding portion of 

 the wedding ceremony, looking at the Ursa major are common 

 both to the Nambuthiris, the Tamul and other classes of 

 Brahmans. Among the former the tali-tying is done by the 

 father, while among the latter, by the bridegroom alone. 

 Consummation (sekam) takes place among the Nambuthiris 

 on the night of the fourth day; while that among Tamul 

 Brahmans, on an auspicious night after the bride comes of 

 age. A Nambuthiri returns to his illam (house), if it happens 

 to be near to that of his bride, on the same dav for adoration 

 of the sacred fire, while a Tamul Brahman youth, on an aus- 

 picious day after four days' feastings in the bride's house. 



The above rites are more or less being adopted by the 

 Tamul Sudras, Ambattans, Chakkans (oil-mongers), Devangas, 

 Kaikolans, Kudumichetties and Pandarams, for whom the 

 sacred fire is prepared by an inferior class of Brahman priests. 

 They are not directed to recite the vedic text, but are given 

 specific directions regarding the performance of each act in the 

 programme. The joining of the hands of the bride and bride- 

 groom, taking the bride by the hand, is an important function 

 in the programme. Sometimes the little finger of the right 

 hand of the bridegroom is joined to the left hand of the bride 

 Sometimes the bride and the bridegroom eat from the same 

 dishes. The bridegroom is accompanied by the best man, who 

 seems originally to have been the chief abettor of the bride- 

 groom in the act of capture. 



The religious ceremonies connected with marriage are not 

 limited to prayers, sacrifices and other means of pleasing the 

 gods. Efforts are made to ascertain their will beforehand. 

 Among the Hindu castes, astrologers are often consulted before- 

 hand as to their agreement of the horoscopes; auspicious 



