Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:January 22, 2025, 09:14 IST
In Hindu culture, ‘Chiranjeev’ and ‘Ayushmati’ are written on wedding cards before the names of the groom and bride. The tradition stems from mythological tales involving blessings from deities for long life and fortune
‘Chiranjeev’ is written before the name of the groom and ‘Ayushmati’ is written before the name of the bride in wedding cards. (News18 Hindi)
In Indian culture, marriage is an unbreakable and sacred bond, and wedding invitation cards are an integral part of this celebration. You must have seen that on these wedding cards, ‘Chiranjeev’ is written before the name of the groom and ‘Ayushmati’ is written before the name of the bride. Have you ever wondered about the reason behind this ancient tradition? Two mythological tales unravel this mystery.
The Story of Chiranjeev and Saubhagyakankshini
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According to one lore, a childless Brahmin couple worshipped Mahamaya intensely to have a child. The goddess was pleased and appeared to grant the husband a boon, but she gave him two options: a son who would be a fool but would have a long life, or a son who would be learned but would live only for 15 years. The man chose the learned son.
When the time came, a brilliant son was born to the couple, but the parents were worried about their son’s short life. The father sent the boy to Kashi for education, where he met the daughter of a rich man and got married to her. The girl was also a great devotee of Mahamaya. Unfortunately, the day of the wedding was the boy’s last day, and Yamraj came in the form of a snake to take away his life. The snake bit the boy, but his wife showed promptness and locked the snake in a basket. As the snake was Yamraj himself, it is said that Yamlok came to a standstill.
To save her husband’s life, the newly married woman immersed herself in the worship of Mahamaya. Pleased with her severe penance, the goddess appeared and asked the girl to free Yamraj. She obeyed the command, and Yamraj revived the Brahmin’s son as per the goddess’s order and blessed him to be ‘Chiranjivi’.
Yamraj addressed the girl as ‘Saubhagyavathi’. Since then, these words are written before the names of the bride and groom as a blessing for the groom to be ‘Chiranjivi’ and the bride to be ‘Saubhagyakankshini’ (i.e. a girl who wishes to be fortunate).
Tale of King Akash
In ancient times, there was said to be a pious king named Akash who was childless. On the advice of Sage Narad, he performed a yajna on the land and tilled the land with a golden plough, due to which he received a daughter from Mother Earth.
When the king was bringing the girl to his palace, a fierce lion appeared on the way, wanting to make a meal out of the girl. Seeing the lion, the girl fell from the king’s hands in fear. The lion put her in his mouth, and the girl immediately transformed into a lotus flower.
At that very moment, Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared there and touched the lotus. The flower then transformed into Yamraj, and the girl became a beautiful 25-year-old girl. At that very moment, the king got his daughter married to Lord Vishnu. Yamraj called the girl ‘Ayushmati’. The tradition of writing ‘Ayushmati’ before the bride’s name is thought to have originated then.
SOURCE : NEWS 18
