A wedding is a colourful event filled with a mixture of emotions, a day that everyone wants to keep memorable, a young couple gets into wedlock with diverse rituals set on the basis of castes and religions spending exorbitant money. This wedding was something different and cherishable, the couple wanted to keep ostentation and traditional rituals, which are generally associated with weddings, at bay. ‘Mantra Mangalya’ – which is not that familiar around, but this couple who went forward with zeal to marry through a ritual Mantra Mangalya that was advocated by Jnanpith laureate, late Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, famously known by his pen name “Kuvempu”. And this FIRST of its kind of unique wedding in Dakshina Kannada as per “MANTRA MANGALYA” was marked by Vivek Gowda-a Pro-Photographer and video Editor and Miss Shivani Shetty- who heads an Event Management firm.
In this generation where their own values are kept behind, Vivek and his fiance resolved to get into wedlock to set an example for simple marriage thereby promoting the very idea of Kuvempu It is a kind of oath-taking, where the bride and bridegroom are made to read some Kannada slokas (hymns) written by Kuvempu. Generally, elders recite the oath to the couple and make them repeat the hymns. All the procedures take hardly 30 minutes as long as conventional and Brahminical rituals. Once they take the oath they exchange garlands or tie the knot. While Vaidik (Brahminical) rituals, unfortunately, seeped into many lives cutting across castes, this idea could be seen as liberal. Seems like a Simple and rationalistic wedding. The marriage also hails simplicity, besides cost is very minimal. There is a rule in the book that ritual has to be performed before a 50-100 audience. Vivek has followed the norms laid by the book. He only invited close acquaintances to his wedding and the crowd was not more than 100. Kuvempu laid the idea and it first experimented on his son Poornachandra Tejaswi.
In this generation where their own values are kept behind, Vivek and his fiance resolved to get into wedlock to set an example for simple marriage thereby promoting the very idea of Kuvempu It is a kind of oath-taking, where the bride and bridegroom are made to read some Kannada slokas (hymns) written by Kuvempu. Generally, elders recite the oath to the couple and make them repeat the hymns. All the procedures take hardly 30 minutes as long as conventional and Brahminical rituals. Once they take the oath they exchange garlands or tie the knot. While Vaidik (Brahminical) rituals, unfortunately, seeped into many lives cutting across castes, this idea could be seen as liberal. Seems like a Simple and rationalistic wedding. The marriage also hails simplicity, besides cost is very minimal. There is a rule in the book that ritual has to be performed before a 50-100 audience. Vivek has followed the norms laid by the book. He only invited close acquaintances to his wedding and the crowd was not more than 100. Kuvempu laid the idea and it first experimented on his son Poornachandra Tejaswi.
Vivek Gowda said “As a photographer, I’ve seen hundreds of weddings, including one of the richest in India, from close quarters. I strongly believe simplicity has a limit, but not a lavishness. Convincing my family was not an issue since a relative had opted for Mantra Mangalya some 40 years ago, and their children followed it. I had to convince Shivani and her family. For them, it was a new concept. Every parent dreams of having a grand wedding, especially for their daughter. Since both of us are part of the wedding industry, opting for a simple wedding was difficult to believe for many around us.”
The wedding with about 100 guests began by lighting the lamp before the portraits of the philosopher, poet and social reformer Basavanna and Kuvempu and singing of ‘Nada Geethe’. The food menu — veg and non-veg — was elaborate, but the guests had to take an oath that they would not waste food at this wedding and in the future too, which was quite thoughtful. Shivani took care of the decor and everything was handmade, simple and eco-friendly. They used steel glasses and avoided plastic.
Mantra Mangalya disallows dowry and recognises marriages across castes and religions. The wedding expenses are kept minimal and the guest list is restricted to close relatives and friends. The couple bear the expenses, keeping their parents proud. In the absence of a priest, it was activist Vivekananda HK who read out the marriage vows for the couple. He told his in-laws how the wedding ceremony would turn out to be a meaningful one. “The best part is I’m debt-free on my wedding day. I had cleared all my loans before the wedding,” Vivek put across.
Shivani said, “It was challenging to organise a minimalist yet rich wedding. Convincing parents, family and society were stressful. Till the wedding took place, we were worried. Now, we’re happy that everyone is congratulating and supporting our decision. Our wedding is an inspiration for many”.
“Kuvempu evolved a distinct model of marriage that he later called Mantra Mangalya. It was an extension of his ethical ideal of Vishvamanava (universal man), which, briefly put, views all community identities as artificial and narrow and asks individuals to experience the world anew on their own”. When asked why the ritual was not popularized, he said there was no organized effort yet to publicise the idea, hence, it has remained in the shadows. And to a question as to how the couple met, Vivek said, “I and Shivani have been friends for 4 years. I met her at a wedding event and got connected through a common friend, and then it was history”. Said Vivek.
Mallesh and Ms Susheela are Vivek’s parents hailing from Sakleshpur, he did his studies at SDM College -Ujire, took up his profession as a Cinematographer and photographer and settled in Mangaluru. Ms Shivani’s Parents – Ravi and Ms Vidya are from Mangaluru, and having done her studies at SDM College, Mangaluru, Shivani now manages an Event Management Firm in Mangaluru.
Among the guests, the guest star of attraction was “Sasha”, a 4-year-old Golden Retriever breed dog belonging to the bridegroom, which has acted in a few album songs. He shined in a skirt and blouse like every little one dressed up for the wedding and looked stunning.
A distinct model of marriage, Mantra Mangalya was evolved by Kuvempu. It was an extension of his ideal of Vishvamanava (universal man). It asks individuals to experience the world on their own and not through an artificial and narrow lens of community identities. This wedding removes the concept of dowry and considers inter-caste and inter-religion marriages. The wedding expenses are kept minimal. The guest list is restricted to close relatives and friends. Music is not played during the wedding as the occasion demanded introspection from everyone present. No horoscopes are matched and absolute austerity is observed. The need for a priest is ruled out as the family elders and other well-wishers officiate the ceremony. The First “Mantra Mangalya” wedding was that of Kuvempu’s son, Poornachandra Tejaswi to Rajeshwari. Later Shamanna and his sister also followed the Mantra Mangalya tradition. Shamanna took an active part for many years in encouraging young men and women, persuading their parents to follow the tradition.
Nowadays wedding has become a show of extravagance and opulence spending lakhs of money even if you dont have much. The recent celebrity and rich weddings showing extensive shows of wealth have left many starry-eyed. It’s not necessary for one has to go bankrupt for just one event in his/her life or for their child’s wedding. There are better and more fulfilling ways to do the same. And one way is how Vivek Gowda and Ms Shivani Shetty tied their knots in a simple and eco-friendly manner and created a change for today’s generation.
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