Varmala

A varmala or jaimala is an Indian wedding garland symbolic of the popular marriage ceremony. Following regional traditions, the varmala might be made of rose flowers and/or other ceremonial stuff decorating it. The additives range from Rupee notes to other flowers to other family based traditions.

Example of varmala

This ritual of exchanging garlands has also been mentioned in Vedic literature books of ancient times. It can be otherwise named as Jaimala. Varmala means exchanging of garlands by the bride and the groom. It is made of fresh and pious flowers. In ancient times it was believed to be the acceptance ritual by the bride and the groom for the marriage.  Even in Gandharva Vivahs, the marriage of celestial beings, the marriage was sealed by the exchange of garlands.

Varmala of Sita and Rama

Origin: The ceremony mainly originates from the Vedas where it is believed that Hindu Gods and Goddesses performed the same ceremony at the time of their wedding. In the past, girls used to choose her groom by putting a garland around his neck in a ceremony called Swayamwar. A mention of this is made in many old scriptures and epics.

Arjuna taking aim for the Draupadi Swayambar Hoysalaswara Temple

In Ramayana, Sita had put a garland around Lord Ram’s neck after he breaks the bow which is a symbol of her accepting him as her husband. Rama was the prince of Ayodhya and son of king Dasharatha. Rama's guru took him to the palace of King Janak where he saw Sita. Rama and Sita are believed as rebirth of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. King Janak came to know what was happening between Rama and Sita and therefore announced that the brave heart who breaks the dhanush of Shiva will marry his daughter. According to Hindu religious scriptures, Lord Rama was married to Sita on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha, when he broke Dhanush of Shiva.

In Mahabharata, Draupadi chooses Arjuna to be her husband by garlanding him. Drupada intended to wed his daughter to Arjuna. Upon hearing of the Pandavas' supposed death at Varnavata, he set up a Swayamvara contest for Draupadi to choose her husband from the competitive contest.[1] At the Swayamvara, almost all the assorted monarchs were unable to complete the challenge. There are three primary variations regarding Karna's participation. The popular rendition shows Draupadi refusing to marry Karna on account of being a Suta, other versions describe him failing to string the bow by the "breadth of a hair", while some do not present his participation in the event clearly. The Critical Edition of Mahabharat[2] compiled by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute[3] has officially identified Draupadi's rejection of Karna as a later insertion and omitted it from the text.[4] It is ambiguous, however, whether Karna failed or didn't participate at all. In the end, Arjuna succeeds in the task, dressed as a Brahmin. As the other attendees, including the Kauravas, protest at a Brahmin winning the competition and attack, Arjuna and Bhima protect Draupadi and are able to retreat. When Draupadi arrives with the five Pandavas to meet Kunti, they inform her that Arjuna won alms, to which Kunti says, "Share the alms equally". This motherly command leads the five brothers to become the five husbands of Draupadi.

Shiva Parvati Vivah(Wedding Ceremony)

Ancient wedding of Lord shiva and Goddess Parvati also has mention of Varmala ceremony. Shivaratri takes place on the darkest night of the moon, when Shiva goes to the house of Parvati in the Himalayas, riding upon a huge bull. He is accompanied by his marriage party of rakshashas, all of whom are most peculiar and terrible to look at. Some have eyes on their stomachs and noses on their necks. Others have the huge ears of an elephant. Some have three legs and others one. Some ride donkeys, others are upon pigs.