Saat pheras are the seven sacred rounds that a bride and groom take around the holy fire. Each round a bride and groom takes around the holy fire holds a vow and a significance that a couple has to follow.
Saat Pheras are not just about going around a holy fire seven times, but have a deep-rooted meaning in Hindu Culture. Each pheras signifies a vow that couples have to take for eternity.
And the deep-rooted meaning of these vows are so beautiful and how!
The ancient systems must have access to supreme knowledge to carve out such beautiful concepts for the bonding of a couple and pass their legacy to their progeny.
These vows have been holding the couples together for ages with love & respect, and will never lose their meaning & significance. Here are the meaning and significance of the Saat Pheras.
1. The first vow is praying to God for Provision and Nourishment
The first vow of Saat Phere is to seek divine blessings from God to bestow prosperity and happiness for life. They pray to be blessed with enough food and money. The groom vows to always take care of his wife and family, and the bride vows to share the responsibilities equally. And together they vow to work towards this goal and respect each other.
2. The second vow is for Strength and Togetherness in every situation
In the second round around the holy fire, the couple prays to God to bring them mental, physical and spiritual well-being. The Groom vows to be present to his wife in any thick or thin situation, be it sickness or health. And the wife vows to be the strength and asks for unconditional love in return.
3. The third round is for Prosperity
The third vow of the Saat Phere is where a bride and a groom ask for a comfortable and prosperous life. It is also about promising loyalty to each other for the entire life.
4. The Fourth vow is for families
In this round, the groom obliges his wife to come into his life and the bride promises to please him in every possible way. They also take the oath to respect each other’s families no matter what.
5. The fifth round around holy fire is for progeny
In this round, the groom takes the lead and prays to the Almighty for healthy and noble children. They also promise to each other to be good parents who will give all the nourishment and healthy life their children deserve.
6. The Sixth vow is for Health
This Phera is a couple promising to God to live a noble and honest life. And they pray for healthy and disease-free years of life. They also pray for strength to fulfil the responsibilities to each other and each other’s families.
7. The last and Seventh vow is for Love & Friendship
In the last round of Saat phere, the bride and the groom promise love, trust and companionship to each other, for life. They vow to stand with each other through thick & thin and be like friends for life enriched with an abundance of love.
These were the seven vows that couples take when tying the knot, as per Hindu marriage and rituals. However, other cultures have different ways to approach this practice but the true essence, the core meaning of the vows remain the same.
