Is Singer Miley Cyrus Planning a Hindu Wedding?

The first time Miley Cyrus made her interest in Hindu religion evident was back in 2012 when she showed off her Om tattoo. And more recently, when photos of the singer performing Lakshmi puja at her Malibu home appeared on her Instagram account, fans wondered if she was switching her faith and converting to Hinduism.

And now, news is the 24-year-old is tying the knot with Liam Hemsworth in the Himalayan mountains this summer. Some media reports have stated that she is planning a Hindu wedding with her beau.

Welcoming the reported interest of the singer, Hindus are now explaining to her that the aim of marriage in Hinduism is a “spiritual union” and not just a “physical union.”

“Marriage (known in Sanskrit as vivaha) is a highly important samskar (sacrament) and one of the highest duties in Hinduism, which is binding in this life and the life thereafter,” said Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism.

Zed suggested the “Hannah Montana” star read some Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavad-Gita and learn Sanskrit (as most part of the Hindu wedding ceremony is conducted in Sanskrit), to really internalize the spirit of the ceremony.

He also indicated that in a traditional wedding, mantras (seeking the presence of deities at the ceremony) were chanted, involving worshipping of various deities.

Zed further said that Cyrus would also be reciting some mantras, including asking for the long life of Hemsworth and love between the couple from God Agni (fire). Hemsworth, in his mantra, while holding the right hand of Cyrus, would be asking, among other things, for an irrevocable relationship between husband-wife. Another mantra by him would urge her to live with him for a hundred years and give him offspring, as producing offspring was considered one of the duties of the married couple, he noted.

Zed listed other usually held rituals at an actual traditional Hindu wedding ceremony, including saptapadi (taking seven steps in the presence of sacred live fire), kanyadaan (with his wife sitting next to him, bride’s father Billy Ray Cyrus to give away the bride), pani-grahan (groom holding bride’s right hand with his right hand), circumambulation around a fire, groom filling the bride’s parting line in the hair with vermillion, and tying of the ends of the nuptial garments of the couple together.