literally beautiful marriage known icon beautiful marriage icon icon related ritual depiction wedding hindu deities couple depicted performing accepting hand ritual hindu wedding groom accepts bride taking right hand couple depicted centre accompanied host beings god wife pictured giving away bride god shown priest icon object popular worship usually celebrations divine marriage annual temple festivals scenes found india caves sculptures temple walls legend hindu scriptures story union variation death wife withdrew society deep taking advantage situation demon king secured god killed son believing effectively immortal beings universe defeated gods born god wife underwent severe marry gods desperate birth son sent god love meditation awakened burnt fury gods marry agreed decided test devotion seven approached mocked dissuade remained disguised old visited presence angry leave revealed true form promised marry pleased love devotion couple married produced son subsequently descriptions texts like icon young armed beautiful armed central figures performing accepting hand ritual hindu wedding groom accepts bride taking right hand stands posture legs straight firmly ground slightly bent wears formed hair head adorned crescent moon wears waist band necklace gold ornaments body hands carry axe deer left hand makes blessing giving gesture right hand stretched ahead receive hand bride dark adorned silk gold stands left head bent slightly extends right arm hold right hand holds blue lotus left arm god represented taking place parents ceremony armed shown background hands golden pot water hands couple giving away bride groom holds usual attributes arms wives dressed royal stand hold waist handing headed god shown seated ground foreground wedding priest making offerings sacred fire fire altar armed god holds arms water pot arms presence fire indicates important ritual hindu wedding seven steps bride groom fire seven times figure tallest followed wives deities like guardians directions seven beings depicted standing folded arms background depictions complete scene wedding depicted principal participants shown featuring described wedding scene found south indian sculptures like feature couple configuration depicted centre left giving away hand right caves biological father instead depicted giving away daughter texts appear attributes held divine couple hold mirror instead lotus shown holding drum hands regional variations occur holds knife ceremonial weapon hindu groom expected carry wedding wedding guests depicted scene attendant enjoy festivities playing drums dancing vehicles couple bull lion pictured scene vertical panel depictions guests shown flying gods pictured flying respective elephant ram semi divine beings like fly vehicles found scenes presence children examples found cave 9th century sculpture housed worship icons found india caves sculptures temple walls sect centred worship icon popular feature temple temple towers south indian temples like bronze images annual temple festivals commemorate divine union special halls reserved annual ceremonial wedding deities festival kept unused rest year women worship sculpture find husbands god marriages idols lord form unmarried men women early marriage people completed marriages come complete rituals
Kalyanasundara