Vows and Verses

We take our vows today, we will be changed forever,
and I take them gladly, and without reservation.
I promise to honor you, believe in you,
protect you and do everything in my power
to make your life happy and fulfilled.
This is my promise.
Take my hand as we go with
joy into our new life together.

I am proud to marry you this day.
I promise to wipe away your tears with my laughter,
and your pain with my caring and my compassion.
We will wipe out the old canvases of our lives and let God,
with His amazing artistic talent,
fill them with new color, harmony and beauty.
I give myself to you completely, and
I promise to love you always,
from this day forth.

God has given us a second chance at happiness.
I come today to give you my love,
to give you my heart and
my hope for our future together.
I promise to bring you joy,
to be at home with your spirit and
to learn to love you more each day,
through all the days of our lives.
My love for you endless and eternal.

Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again.
I look forward with great joy to spending the rest of my life with you,
caring for you, nurturing you, being there for you in all life
has for us, and I vow to be true and faithful
for as long as we both shall live.

As we stand beside the ocean tide,
may our love always be as constant and unchanging
as these never-ending waves that pour beneath our feet,
flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea;
your love came softly upon my heart,
just as the foam comes softly upon the sand, and
just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow,
so there will never be a day without my love for you.
I pledge myself to you this day.
Our love will be as unchanging and dependable as the tide;
as these waters nourish the earth and sustain life,
may my constant devotion nourish and
sustain you until the end of time.

Today, as I give myself to you my mind is clear
and my commitment is strong and without reservation.
I take you to be my life's partner.
I will never leave you nor forsake you;
I will spend all my days at your side.
We will share a lifetime of eternal, immeasurable love.

I commit myself to years of growth and sharing as
I encourage you to move in new direction.
I will strive to achieve my potential as God's creature
and will celebrate your progress toward the same goal.
I give myself as I am and as I will be, and
I do it for all of life.

Respecting each other, we commit to live
our lives together for all the days to come.
I ask you to share this world with me, for good and ill.
Be my partner, and I will be yours.

May our days be long, and may they be
seasoned with love, understanding, and respect.

Now we stand together; may it always be so.
I offer myself to you today.
I will always love you, respect you and be faithful to you.

I have enjoyed the time we've spent talking
about what our different faiths mean to us.
We have discovered much that we share in common.
It is my prayer that the candles we have lit together
today in unity will enlighten our path to the future.
I promise to honor your traditions as I honor you.

Vows for Marriage Later in Life

I offer you not the "summer of my life" but the autumn, brisk and vibrant.
I promise to be a companion worthy of your precious friendship.
I pledge you compassion in good times and bad;
encouragement in sickness and health.
It is my intent that our life together include our
large circle of friends and loving families.
We'll cherish the memories of our individual pasts;
and create our new life as we go now together.

Vows for an Intercultural Marriage

Our love has opened windows to the worlds we lived in as children.
I have found profound respect for your heritage; but, I am not part of it.
We have vowed to live our adult lives together.
Our marriage will be a new creation.
Now I promise to build bridges of understanding and share
the best of myself with your family, your friends and you.

Vows for Remarriage

Since I have found you, I have found a new life.
The decision to commit to share that life with you
is one I make happily and with full confidence in our love.

Secure in the knowledge that
you will be my constant friend,
my faithful partner in life,
and my one true love.
On this special day,
I give to you in the presence of God and all
these witnesses my pledge to stay by your side,
in sickness and in health,
in joy and in sorrow, as well as
through the good times and the bad.

I promise to love you without reservation,
comfort you in times of distress,
encourage you to achieve all of your goals,
laugh with you and cry with you,
grow with you in mind and spirit,
always be open and honest with you,
and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

Because I love and cherish you,
And want to fill your heart with grace,
These things I promise I will do:

I vow to tell you what is true
That you might touch whom you embrace
Because I love and cherish you.

I vow to put aside my view
And paint my portrait from your place:
These things I promise I will do.

And when you must your dreams renew,
I vow to give you ample space
Because I love and cherish you.

I vow to make our battles few
And love the child behind the face:
These things I promise I will do.

And that we might make one of two,
Too deep to know, too vast to trace,
Because I love and cherish you,
These things I promise I will do.

These things I promise I will do
That life may grant you ample grace
Because I love and cherish you:

I vow to treasure what is true
That I might touch whom I embrace:
These things I promise I will do.

I'll build a garden in your view
That with sweet fruit will stone replace
Because I love and cherish you.

I vow to love each day anew,
For love must dance through time and space:
These things I promise I will do.

I vow to make your terrors few
And then with you those demons face
Because I love and cherish you.

And now, as we make one of two,
A passage we cannot retrace,
These things I promise I will do.

Let us take the first step to provide for our household a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living.

Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental, and spiritual powers.

Let us take the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and proper use.

Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness, and harmony by mutual love and trust.

Let us take the fifth step so that we are blessed with strong, virtuous, and heroic children.

Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.

Finally, let us take the seventh step and be true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock.

Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder - together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O sweet-worded girl!

Let us live with honor and respect.
Let us walk together so we get food.

Let us be happy and enjoy life.
Let us walk together so we get strength.

Let us share joys and pains together.
Let us walk together so we get wealth.

Let us not forget parents and elders.
Let us walk together so we get happiness.

Let us observe all acts of charity.
Let us walk together so we have family.

Let us live long and peaceful life.
Let us walk together so we have joy.

Let us be friends with love and sacrifice.
Let us walk together so we have friendship.

Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder - together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O sweet-worded girl!

Groom, Step 1:
O' my beloved, our love has become firm by your walking one with me. Together we will share the responsibilities of the lodge, food and children. May the Creator bless noble children to share. May they live long.

Bride, Step 1:
This is my commitment to you, my husband. Together we will share the responsibility of the home, food and children. I promise that I shall discharge all my share of the responsibilities for the welfare of the family and the children.

Groom, Step 2:
O' my beloved, now you have walked with me the second step. May the Creator bless you. I will love you and you alone as my wife. I will fill your heart with strength and courage: this is my commitment and my pledge to you. May God protect the lodge and children.

Bride, Step 2:
My husband, at all times I shall fill your heart with courage and strength. In your happiness I shall rejoice. May God bless you and our honorable lodge.

Groom, Step 3:
O' my beloved, now since you have walked three steps with me, our wealth and prosperity will grow. May God bless us. May we educate our children and may they live long.

Bride, Step 3:
My husband, I love you with single-minded devotion as my husband. I will treat all other men as my brothers. My devotion to you is pure and you are my joy. This is my commitment and pledge to you.

Groom, Step 4:
O' my beloved, it is a great blessing that you have now walked four steps with me. May the Creator bless you. You have brought favor and sacredness in my life.

Bride, Step 4:
O' my husband, in all acts of righteousness, in material prosperity, in every form of enjoyment, and in those divine acts such as fire sacrifice, worship and charity, I promise you that I shall participate and I will always be with you.

Groom, Step 5:
O' my beloved, now you have walked five steps with me. May the Creator make us prosperous. May the Creator bless us.

Bride, Step 5:
O' my husband, I will share both in your joys and sorrows. Your love will make me very happy.

Groom, Step 6:
O' my beloved, by walking six steps with me, you have filled my heart with happiness. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace, time and time again. May the Creator bless you.

Bride, Step 6:
My husband, the Creator blesses you. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace. I promise that I will always be with you.

Groom, Step 7:
O' my beloved goddess, as you have walked the seven steps with me, our love and friendship have become inseparable and firm. We have experienced spiritual union in God. Now you have become completely mine. I offer my total self to you. May our marriage last forever.

Bride, Step 7:
My husband, by the law of the Creator, and the spirits of our honorable ancestors, I have become your wife. Whatever promises I gave you I have spoken them with a pure heart. All the spirits are witnesses to this fact. I shall never deceive you, nor will I let you down. I shall love you forever.

---

We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled.

Let us take the first step to provide for our household
a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living.
Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental and spiritual powers.
Let us take the third step to increase our wealth
by righteous means and proper use.
Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge,
happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust.
Let us take the fifth step, so that we be blessed
with strong, virtuous and heroic children.
Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
Finally, let us take the seventh step and be true companions
and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock."

We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever.
Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours.
Hereafter, I cannot live without you.
Do not live without me. Let us share the joys.
We are word and meaning, united.
You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us;
may the morning be honey-sweet for us;
may the earth be honey-sweet for us and the heavens
be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us;
may the sun be all honey for us;
may the cows yield us honey-sweet milk.
As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable,
as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable,
so may our unions be permanently settled.

---

We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled.

After crossing seven steps with me thus, you should become my friend. I too have become your friend now. I will never discard this friendship and you should also not do that. Let us be together always. Let us resolve to do things in life in the same manner and tread the same path. Let us lead a life by liking and loving each other, having good hearts and thoughts, and enjoying the food and our strong points together. Let us have undivided opinions. We will perform the vrithas united. Let us have same and joint desires. I will be Sama; you will be Rig. Let me be the Heaven; you be the Earth. Let me be the Shukla and you be its wearer. Let me be the mind and you its spokesman. With these qualities, you be my follower. You the sweet tongued, come to me to get good male children and wealth.

You have become mine forever.
Yes, we have become partners.
I have become yours.
Hereafter, I cannot live without you.
Do not live without me.
Let us share the joys.
We are word and meaning, unite.
You are thought and I am sound.

May the nights be honey-sweet for us.
May the mornings be honey-sweet for us.
May the plants be honey-sweet for us.
May the earth be honey-sweet for us.

Whoever sees all beings in the soul and the soul in all beings...
What delusion or sorrow is there for one who sees unity?
It has filled all. It is radiant, incorporeal, invulnerable...
Wise, intelligent, encompassing, self-existent,
It organizes objects throughout eternity.

May my speech be fixed in my mind, may my mind be fixed in my speech! O self—luminous Brahman, be manifested to me. O mind and speech, may you bring me the meaning of the Vedas! May what I study from the Vedas not leave me! I shall unite day and night through this study. I shall think of the right; I shall speak the right. May Brahman protect me, may Brahman protect the teacher! May Brahman protect me, may Brahman protect the teacher! Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

Om. That is full; this is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness. When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;
May we work conjointly with great energy,
May our study be vigorous and effective;
May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).
Om ! Let there be Peace in me!
Let there be Peace in my environment!
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!

That is full; this is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness. When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness. Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

Om. May we, O gods, hear with our ears what is auspicious! May we, O worshipful gods, see with our eyes what is good! May we, strong in limbs and body, sing your praise and enjoy the life allotted to us by Prajapati! Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

Om. May we, O gods, hear with our ears what is auspicious! May we, O worshipful gods, see with our eyes what is good! May we, strong in limbs and body, sing your praise and enjoy the life allotted to us by Prajapati!
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

Invocation Om. May Brahman protect us both (the preceptor and the disciple)! May Brahman bestow upon us both the fruit of Knowledge! May we both obtain the energy to acquire Knowledge! May what we both study reveal the Truth! May we cherish no ill feeling toward each other!
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!