How The Metaphor ‘Tying The Knot’ Ties All Cultures Together

Tying the knot is a very commonly used phrase whenever a marriage is referred to, but have you ever wondered where this phrase originates from and why we refer to a marriage between two people as ‘tying the knot’?

Symbolism Behind the Metaphor

Far from casual, this phrase has its origin rooted deeply in ritual, mythology and cultural symbolism, where it literally translates to fastening a cord, cloth or a necklace around someone, ‘tying the knot,’ is one of the oldest and simplest metaphors in the world that is used for joining two lives. While in India, this term translates almost literally in the form of tying the mangalsutra/ thali, gathbandh or granthi-bandhan; there is an emotional logic behind the phrase that resonates with almost everyone across the globe. It symbolises the public and physical coming together of two people and two families, and even two communities. It signals that these two families are now bound together with promises and obligations woven into this gesture of tying the knot.

Across the world, this phrase grew to be a shorthand for getting married, drawing on an old cross-cultural practice of binding hands or tying cords during wedding ceremonies. Whether in ancient Rome, medieval Europe or the elaborate Indian weddings, this phrase and the knot in itself have served as a powerful metaphor for divine blessings and the union of two individuals.

Globally, the symbolic importance of knots in marriages appears across multiple traditions. In ancient Rome, the brides were noted to wear the knot of Hercules on their girdle as a symbol of fertility and protection. This knot was untied by the groom on the wedding night. In Celtic traditions, the handfasting ceremony, which dates back to the early Middle Ages, involved binding the couple’s hands with cords or ribbons, literally symbolising tying the knot. In the Norse and Slavic communities, knots were used in charms and rituals in the form of binding forces to seal oaths and ward off evil spirits, highlighting their binding powers. However, over the years, the metaphor of tying the knot expanded into everyday language and became the shorthand that we use for marriage today.

Tying The Knot In Indian Weddings

Nonetheless, in the Indian context, this phrase is not just linguistic but entails one of the most sacred and central moments of the wedding ceremony known as the gathbandhan or mangalya-dharanam, depending on the region. It represents a spiritual and social union of two individuals when they marry in the presence of the deities, fire, and family. The ritual-typically tying the bride’s dupatta or the end of her sari to the groom’s scarf or angavastram-symbolises the entwinement of the lives of the couple. This bond is referred to as the sakshi jodi or the witnessed pair across Hindu texts and is considered unbreakable. It is believed to echo the Vedic belief that marriage is a sacred sacrament or samskara rather than just a contract or bond.

This knot, distinct across the vast landscape of the country, takes on different forms that are layered with local mythology and deeper meanings. In the Northern part of the country, Hindu families perform the gathbandhan ritual before the saptapadi or the seven steps that the bride and groom take before the sacred fire. It ensures that the couple takes all these steps together without leaving either of the behind, symbolising harmony and a shared future. In Tamil weddings, mangalya-dharanam is the main ritual where the groom ties a mangalsutra around the bride’s neck in three knots-Minasa, Vaacha, and Karmena. 

The first knot, Minasa or mind, symbolises the union of the couple in spirit, that is, their souls are bound together by the commitment to love and companionship based on shared faith. The second knot, Vaacha or speech, signifies the merging of two families, their lineages and communities. The third knot, Karmena or action, is usually tied with the help of the groom’s sister. It ensures the bride’s care and protection in the new home and reflects the commitment towards fulfilling promises through actions. This ritual represents a bond not just with the husband but also with his family and their shared duty or dharma towards their families. Meanwhile, in Telugu traditions, a yellow thread called tali is tied with turmeric that symbolises purity and prosperity. 

Similar rituals are observed in Kerala’s Nair and Syrian Christian weddings, where the tying of the thali or minnu is believed to reflect the same sentiments. However, in Maharshatra, the knot often includes tying garments together as part of the antarpat ritual, which is believed to lift the physical barriers that separate the bride and groom. Bengali weddings also feature this tying of garments during the sindoor daan ritual, symbolising marital permanence. 

Sikh weddings, while with the same beliefs at their core, emphasise the palla rasam where the bride is made to hold the groom’s scarf as they circle the Guru Granth Sahib. The knot serves as a reminder that their relationship is guided by divine wisdom.

The Knot In Vedic Cosmology

The knot, in Vedic cosmology, represents not just the binding of two people but creation itself, where the various elements of the cosmos are tied together in an orderly manner. In Tantra, this is also believed to be the union of the energies of Shiv and Shakti, mirroring their divine marital bond. ]The Indian interpretation of this metaphor is attributed to its layering of spiritual, familial and cosmic significance, which, unlike the Western linguistic device, remains an indispensable part of the Indian wedding traditions and rituals. It marks the beginning of a shared journey between two people, signifying their duty, companionship and their sacred responsibility. Thus, whether it is in ancient Rome or contemporary India, the knot endures as one of the most universal symbols of the union of two souls. It holds steadfast the hope that marriages, much like these knots, will hold strong against all ups and downs of life and will bring two people closer and make them stronger.