Marrying a Tree to Escape a Curse? A Unique Vedic Wedding Tradition & the Manglik Dosha

Think you’re unlucky in love? Your failed relationships don’t even come close to the doomed romances caused by the Manglik Dosha in India! People born with this unique astrological affliction are so cosmically cursed, superstition says that marrying them might lead to an early death. To outwit fate and protect their future spouse, they sometimes stage a symbolic first wedding, with a tree, as a kind of cosmic decoy.

 

A tree, you ask? Yes — a tree. Big, leafy, tall. That kind of tree.

 

These symbolic starter marriages might seem unusual at first glance, but trust us, they're even more interesting with a second look. Let’s dig in! 

 

 

What is a “Manglik Dosha”? 

 

To explain the cosmic challenges of the Maglik Dosha, we’ll need to dive right into the deep end of Vedic astrology. 

 

A "Manglik" is a person born with an unlucky astrological placement of Mars, called Mangala in sanskrit. When Mars is positioned in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the birthchart, it creates a negative influence called a "dosha," specificially the "Mangal Dosha," or "Manglik Dosha." In terms of marriage, it’s especially unlucky to be born when Mars is in one of these unique houses because it puts both your relationship and your spouse at risk!

 

Why? In Vedic astrology, these six houses govern the self, family, domestic happiness, marriage and partnerships, your spouse’s family and joint finances, and sexual satisfaction. All essential components to a happy marriage.  But when governed by the fiery, destructive nature of Mars, all of these essentials are at risk. It’s even worse for the spouse though — believers say that marrying a Manglik Dosha can lead to your death!

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Hindu Vedic superstition says marrying a Manglik Dosha can lead to an early death…

 

Believers say that marrying a Manglik Dosha can lead to a spouse’s early death. There are numerous stories and legends of Manglik becoming young widows and widowers — their spouses dying early because they had the unfortunate luck of marrying an astrologically-inauspicious partner. 

 

This belief puts a damper on a Manglik Dosha’s love life, to say the least, and it’s why many people who practice Vedic astrology compare birthcharts with their partners to look for potential incompatibilities.  

 

So what is a Manglik with such an unlucky birthchart to do? They marry a tree first to fool the universe and throw off the curse! 

 

Let us explain. 

 

 

Why does a Manglik Dosha marry a tree? 

 

Because the spouse of a Manglik is risking an early death, a symbolic marriage to another entity — a tree, in many cases — is performed first. This transfers the risk to the tree instead, as the Manglik’s first spouse, leaving the couple to live out a long and happy life together. 

 

(This doesn’t work out so well for the tree, unfortunately. Keep reading and you’ll see why.)

 

 

(Photo: Artofkosi / iStock)

 

 

What happens during a Manglik Dosha symbolic marriage ceremony to a tree? 

 

A symbolic marriage ceremony between a Manglik and a tree is called a Kadali Vivah. Often, a banana tree or sacred fig tree (also known as a bodhi tree or peepal tree) is chosen as a symbolic bride or groom. Sometimes this ritual marriage is done with an earthen pot holding an idol instead (this is more common for women); this variation is called a Kumbh Vivah.

 

During a Kadali Vivah symbolic wedding, several cultural rituals are performed:

 

• prayers to Lord Ganesha 
• wrapping the base of the tree in red cloth
• applying sindoor powder and turmeric to the tree (just as is done with brides in traditional Hindu weddings)
• Placing symbolic offerings at the base of the tree, including flowers and candies

 

Exchanging offerings, gifts, and blessings between the Manglik and the tree forms a symbolic marriage bond. In ceremonies where an earthen pot is used, sometimes the pot is broken after the ceremony to represent the end of the unlucky astrological affliction. 

 

After the Kadali Vivah ceremony, the tree is cut down. This powerful, ritualistic act symbolizes the death of the Mar’s negative force, and gives the Manglik the new cultural status of widow or widower. In this way, the symbolic marriage has cleared the cosmic path for the Manglik and their spouse-to-be, allowing them to get married without any astrological risks! 

 

Have any famous people had a Kadali Vivah ceremony?

 

There aren’t many confirmed public Kadali Vivah ceremonies, especially in the United States. Even in India, where the practice is more common, it’s usually kept private. There have been rumors of celebrities taking part in the practice however, including speculation that popular actor Aishwarya Rai symbolically married a tree before her formal wedding to actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007. Rai has adamantly denied this however, claiming the rumor was a silly waste of time.

 

Part of the reason for keeping symbolic tree marriages quiet is that the cultural ritual can be controversial among modern couples. Some people believe the Mangal Dosha is just a way for unscrupulous astrologers to take advantage of believers, pointing to the fact that a large number of people fall into this broad birthchart category. 

 

Another reason there aren’t many public examples or videos of Kadali Vivah or Kumbh Vivah is because of their sensitive religious and cultural significance. They’re usually kept private for the family and friends who share a couple’s beliefs. 

 

So, what do you think? 

 

So, what do you think? Do you still think you’re unlucky in love? In the grand scheme of things, you might be getting off easier than you think. 

 

Of course a little extra good luck can’t hurt. Here are a few ways to ensure your wedding day is as auspicious as possible: 

 

 

• Lucky in Love: AMM Minister writes groundbreaking book about wedding traditions and customs

 

• The Luckiest Month to Get Married According to Superstition
   
• 5 Lucky Wedding Traditions from Around the World
   
• This Wedding Planning Book Uses Numerology for a ‘Marriage by the Numbers’!
   
• A Simple Guide to Handfasting Cord Color (Meaning & Magic)
   

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