“Married in haste, we repent at leisure”, is what Congreve once said. And very apt at that, because marriage after all is a major step that decides the fate of a man and a woman as they are the persons who are supposed to live together for the remaining part of their life. And if something wrong takes place in their life, then this becomes a curse for the couple. Hence, to be on the safe side, most parents of prospective brides and grooms rely upon astrology. It is practically a sine qua non of any Hindu marriage. In most cases, this is the starting point. When parents consider that it is high time to get their child married, it is the astrologer or the priest (in some cases) who is called for. Which way the future of the child is heading towards, what is he or she destined to do, whether the time is appropriate to get the child engaged, are the questions commonly asked and discussed. They spend quite a lot of time to reach to a final decision. They try to satiate all sorts of queries which obviously ensure a better selection for their child. Here the role of the astrologer or the priest becomes very vital as the final decision is made only after getting his green signal.

The Bengalis are no exception. In case of arranged marriages, the first initiative that the parents of the to-be Bride or the Groom generally take in the preparation of a prospective wedding is to visit a professional astrologer or invite the family priest for some valuable suggestions. It is only after they (in some cases, both are referred to) give the green signal that the search for a marriageable candidate begins. This marks the beginning of the initial phase of constituting a new life. The search for the most suitable boy or the girl begins here. Initially the parents start making contacts among the family itself. Some parents start the process by visiting a matrimonial agency to find a dream match for their children. Sometimes they publish ads for negotiations in local or national dailies. They do not leave any stone untouched to find athe most suited match for their child. Their attempts start showing their colors and very soon they start getting contacts regarding their search and they start getting proposals for the same which include formal letter along with a photograph and detailed information of the Boy or the Girl. This gives the parents of both the Boy and the Girl a lot of options to ponder upon and decide from.

The role of astrology again comes in once the choice of the probable bride or the groom (as the case may be) is made. The horoscopes of the betrothed couple are handed over to the astrologer or the priest, who compares them and arrives at a conclusion regarding how they would fare as a married pair, or when can they tie the knot, or even something relating to their future. It is based on their judgment that the betrothal is finalized. Once again the role of the astrologer or the priest or sometimes of both becomes very important as they are the persons who actually give shape of a future couple or a family in a true sense. They take all possible precautions to reach a final conclusion as the foundation of a future family entirely depends upon their observation and conclusion. That’s why the responsibilities of those religious people become so vital.

Matching of horoscopes serves purposes more than one. Apart from helping the astrologer or the priest to make a comment, it tells something about the two families. It gives a clear picture of the lineage of the bride and the groom respectively, which is important because the offspring of their union would inherit their qualities. In the broader sense the whole future life of the probable couple is considered carefully and seriously and only after satisfying all aspects, the final judgment is reached. Hence, traditionally, this is the procedure that has been followed in Hindu marriages including that of the Bengalis. If some complexities are found in the horoscopes of the chosen ones, then they also suggest some remedies for them in the best possible manner which is also expected to the most perfect ones as well. Both the parties follow the guidelines that are suggested by those religious people so that the complexities could be tackled in the best possible and tangible manner. All these hectic efforts only suggest and prove how caring and loving the parents are.

According to the beliefs of astrology, one planet or the other constantly influences our life every moment. Thus, on the basis of certain planetary configurations, an auspicious date and time for the commencement of the wedding ceremony is carefully thought out. Obviously this phase comes only after all problems, if any, are successfully met with. This phase certainly brings a lot of happiness and joy to the families concerned. Amidst those happy moments, the to-be husband and wife start dreaming about each other. They start making plans of their probable conjugal life with each other which would begin with tying the sacred nuptial knot.

In a horoscope, each house symbolizes an array of human aspects. Of these, the seventh one relates to the matrimonial matters. It is the middle house in the horoscope, being placed between the house of enemy and that of death. This is symbolically significant. Post-marriage, a person is believed to enter a new realm of life. He has to protect, nurture, and save his family from a host of enemies, rear his children and meet their demands, look into all the economical factors and, holistically, show responsibility throughout his life. He is liberated only after death. After all that’s what family and responsibilities all about. That is the base of human relationship which works as the foundation of strong family and, in broader terms, society.

As far as astrology serving the purpose of matchmaking is concerned, the aspect stressed upon most is that of compatibility. How compatible the couple would be in future is a matter of concern for the parents. They want to know beforehand if they will have a successful life ahead. But this is basically a question of adaptability and adjustment on the part of those who are to tie the knot. Sometimes an unfateful incident occurs even after all possible precautions were taken before the tying of the sacred nuptial knot. The newly-wed can sort out all types of problems by showing maturity, understanding and mutual cooperation. The faith and love of the couple forms the base of their relationship at such a time of turmoil.

Though there are others who prefer numerology (study of occult meaning of numbers) and palmistry (study of the lines on the palms) as an alternative to astrology, the latter still remains the most trusted one for those who wish for a scientific explanation.......Suggestions