For centuries, wedding mantras in India have been spoken in a man’s voice. Today, that voice also belongs to a woman.
Acharya Shruti is conducting Hindu wedding rituals in a space that has long been dominated by men. She says she entered this profession to challenge practices she believes were changed over time and made one sided.
Her Beginning
Shruti says her education has always been rooted in the study of scriptures. She studied these texts academically and had initially planned to become a Sanskrit lecturer or professor.
A few years ago, she was approached by someone who specifically requested a female priest for a wedding ceremony. It was her first experience conducting a wedding. She says that after that event, she felt this was work she could and should do. From there, her journey began.
She describes feeling proud of the work she does.
Facing Questions And Doubts
Shruti says that even today people question whether they should invite a female priest.
She recalls an event in Jaipur where, after she had reached the wedding venue and preparations were complete, the bride’s mother asked where the priest was. When told that Shruti herself was the priest, there was visible surprise and disapproval.
She says that after witnessing her work, the same family later apologised.
According to her, many challenges come from both men and women. She also says that when she shares videos on social media, some comments accuse her of reciting mantras incorrectly or claim she does not have the right to perform rituals. She states that many of those profiles belong to male priests.
On Scriptural Authority
Shruti says that in her reading of the scriptures, there is no prohibition against women studying or reciting the Vedas.
She refers to a mantra from the Yajurveda, which she interprets as stating that the Vedas are divine knowledge meant for all human beings and not restricted to a specific group.
She maintains that nowhere in the scriptures is it written that women cannot perform such rituals.
On Modifying Ritual Presentation
Shruti says she has not changed the core rituals. Instead, she has presented them in a way that connects with today’s generation.
She explains that lifestyles have changed, and therefore the way rituals are explained during weddings should reflect contemporary realities. She says that after ceremonies, people often tell her they have not witnessed wedding rituals conducted in that way before.
On Kanyadaan
Shruti says the word Kanyadaan is one of the reasons she entered this profession.
She explains that in her understanding, the term Kanya Pratigrahan appears in the scriptures and that the word Kanyadaan, as commonly interpreted to mean the donation of a daughter, is not framed that way in the texts.
According to her explanation, the term originally referred to offerings or gifts given for the daughter when wedding processions would arrive at the bride’s home. She believes that over time the meaning shifted and became associated with the idea of giving away a daughter.
She says many families now approach her specifically requesting that the ceremony not include Kanyadaan in that sense.
On Menstruation And Ritual Participation
Shruti says there is no scriptural basis for declaring women impure during menstruation.
She believes that the practice of keeping women away from certain tasks during that time may originally have been intended to allow rest due to physical strain. She says that later interpretations turned this into social exclusion.
She questions how a natural biological process connected to creation can be considered impure if not stated so in scripture.
Beyond Weddings
Shruti says she has conducted not only weddings but also final rites.
She maintains that there is no ritual that women are incapable of performing.
Defining The Word Pandit
Shruti explains that alongside the word Pandit, there is also the term Purohit. She describes a Pandit as someone who works for the welfare of the community.
For her, the word represents respect and responsibility. She says she feels proud when addressed as Pandit.
At a recent wedding she officiated, one attendee said it was their first time witnessing a ceremony conducted by a female priest and described the experience as positive.
