The 7 vachan (saat vachan) are seven promises that the bride asks the groom to make before she agrees to sit on his left side as his wife. They cover pilgrimage and worship, respect for her parents, care in every stage of life, running the home, consulting her on money, never insulting her, and faithfulness. They are part of most Hindi-speaking weddings, said around the pheras.
The pandit usually reads each vachan in Sanskrit, then explains it in Hindi. The groom agrees to each one. Only then does the bride move to his left, the place of the wife.
The 7 Vachan in Hindi with English Meaning
The Hindi lines below are the common meaning that pandits explain to the couple. The Sanskrit verses vary a little between pandits and printed wedding books, so we have not printed one version as the only correct one.
| Vachan | In Hindi | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | यदि आप कोई तीर्थ यात्रा, व्रत या धार्मिक कार्य करें, तो मुझे भी अपने साथ रखें | If you go on a pilgrimage, keep a fast or do any religious work, take me with you |
| 2 | जिस तरह आप अपने माता-पिता का सम्मान करते हैं, उसी तरह मेरे माता-पिता का भी सम्मान करें | Respect my parents as you respect your own |
| 3 | जीवन की तीनों अवस्थाओं, युवा, प्रौढ़ और वृद्ध, में मेरा साथ दें और मेरा पालन करें | Stand by me and look after me in youth, middle age and old age |
| 4 | परिवार की सभी ज़रूरतों को पूरा करने की ज़िम्मेदारी आप उठाएँ | Take on the responsibility of meeting the family's needs |
| 5 | घर के कामों, लेन-देन और खर्च में मेरी सलाह भी लें | Consult me on household work, dealings and spending |
| 6 | मेरी सखियों या दूसरों के सामने मेरा अपमान न करें, और जुए जैसी बुरी आदतों से दूर रहें | Never insult me in front of my friends or others, and stay away from gambling and other bad habits |
| 7 | पराई स्त्रियों को माँ समान समझें और पति-पत्नी के प्रेम में किसी तीसरे को न आने दें | Treat other women as you would a mother, and let no third person come between us |
At the end of each vachan, the bride says that if the groom agrees, she will come to his left side (vamang). That is why you will hear the words "vamang aaun" or "vamangam ayami" repeated seven times.
Which Vachans Does the Bride Ask the Groom?
All seven. In the traditional form, the bride asks and the groom answers. This is the bride's moment in the ceremony. Many people find it surprising that the old form gives her so much voice.
The order above is the one most pandits in North India follow. Some books swap vachans four and five, or join the sixth and seventh. If your pandit uses a different order, his book is not wrong. There is no single printed standard.
Does the Groom Make Promises Too?
There is no one fixed set of "groom's vachan" in the old form. The groom's part is to agree to the bride's seven.
Some pandits now add a set of promises from the groom's side, or ask both to repeat the vows together in Hindi. A few couples write their own vows and read them after the pheras.
If you want this, tell the pandit when you meet him to fix the muhurat. You can check the year's marriage dates for your city on Drik Panchang before that meeting. Most are happy to fit it in when told a week ahead.
7 Vachan, Saptapadi and Pheras, What Is the Difference?
These three get mixed up all the time, even by relatives who have attended a hundred weddings.
| Ritual | What it is | Who speaks |
|---|---|---|
| Pheras | Rounds around the agni (fire), usually seven | The pandit chants |
| Saptapadi | Seven steps taken together, each for a blessing such as food, strength or friendship | The groom says a line at each step |
| 7 vachan | Seven promises the bride asks before she moves to the groom's left | The bride asks, the groom agrees |
In most North Indian weddings all three happen close together, and families call the whole part "phere". The saptapadi lines come from the old household manuals (grihya sutras). The 7 vachan come from later popular custom and are mostly found in the Hindi belt.
For the meaning of each of the seven steps, read our page on saptapadi meaning.
Only one of the three has a role in law. Section 7 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 says that where the custom includes saptapadi, the marriage is complete when the seventh step is taken. The vachan are not mentioned in the Act.
When Are the 7 Vachan Said in the Wedding?
The vachan are usually said during or just before the pheras, after kanyadaan. In many families the bride sits on the groom's right side through kanyadaan and the early rituals. After the seven vachan she moves to his left. Sindoor and mangalsutra follow.
The whole of the pheras and vachan usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much the pandit explains. A pandit who explains every vachan in Hindi, slowly, is a good thing. The guests may not listen, but the bride and groom will remember.
The full order of the wedding is on our page of Hindu wedding rituals in order.
A Printable 7 Vachan Card
Some couples print the 7 vachan on a small card and keep it near the mandap, or frame it later. A simple way is to copy the Hindi column of the table above into any document, use a large Devanagari font, and print it on A5 card at a print shop.
Ask for a proof first. Matras and the half letters in words like प्रौढ़ often break when text is copied between apps.
If you are at an earlier stage, still sending biodatas to families, you can make a Hindi biodata here. It prints in Hindi and 11 other languages.
Common questions
What Are the 7 Vachan of Hindu Marriage?
Seven promises the bride asks of the groom: take her along in religious work, respect her parents, care for her in every stage of life, provide for the family, consult her on money and the home, never insult her, and stay faithful.
Are the 7 Vachan and Saptapadi the Same?
No. Saptapadi is seven steps taken together, with the groom saying a line at each. The 7 vachan are promises the bride asks before she sits on his left. Both often happen during the pheras.
Who Says the 7 Vachan, the Bride or the Groom?
The bride asks, through the pandit, and the groom agrees to each. That is the traditional form.
Are the 7 Vachan in the Vedas?
The seven steps of saptapadi are described in the old grihya sutras. The 7 vachan as asked by the bride come from later popular custom, and their wording differs between pandits.
Can We Say Our Own Vows Along with the 7 Vachan?
Yes. Many couples now add a few lines of their own after the pheras. Tell the pandit in advance so he can leave time for it.
Sources
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