In prehistoric times, women were considered movable property and it was therefore the father of the bride and not the groom who was considered entitled to demand payment at the time of marriage. The groom took the bride and deprived his family of their services, so he could not dream of asking for a dowry or donation. Therefore, dowry was unknown in ancient India. Among wealthy and royal families, gifts were given to sons-in-law at the time of marriage. They were given voluntarily out of pure affection. The dowry system is associated with the idea of marriage as a dana or gift. A religious gift in kind is usually accompanied by a gift in cash or gold. Thus, the bride`s gift was also accompanied by a small gift in cash or ornament. It is only in the Middle Ages and Rajputana that we find that the dowry system reaches alarming proportions, but only among royal and aristocratic families (13th to 14th century AD). But in the last 150 years, the dowry system has reached outrageous proportions. The Grihyasutras, Dharma Sutras and Smritis mention eight types of marriage. They were- These couples who are not allowed by their families to unite seek refuge in this form of Hindu marriage.
The groom and bride secretly marry without their parents` knowledge. Gandharva`s form of marriage is somewhat similar to today`s love marriage, but it was considered inferior because this form of marriage was born out of passionate impulses. The marriage of Gandharva, or the marriage of the celestials, involves a simple exchange of garlands affirming the sanctity of marriage. References to this type of marriage can be found in a number of epics and mythological texts. In rigvedic opinions and classical literature, the commonly described type of marriage was Gandharva, where the bride and groom had met in their ordinary village life or in various other places such as regional festivals and masses, began to enjoy each other`s company and decided to be together. This free choice and mutual attraction was generally approved by their relatives. A passage in the Atharvaveda suggests that parents generally left the girl free when choosing their lover and directly encouraged her to move forward in romantic relationships. The girl`s mother thought at the time when the daughter was developing her youth (Pativedanam, after puberty), that she would gain a husband, it was a sweet and happy affair without anything scandalous and unnatural.
[7] [8] The translated version of the passage Atharvaveda (Strikaratâni, ii.36) reads as follows: According to Apastamba Grhyasutra, an ancient Hindu literature, Gandharva marriage is a type of marriage in which the wife chooses her own husband. They meet themselves, agree to live together, and their relationship is completed in a copulation born of passion. This form of marriage did not require the consent of parents or other persons. According to Vedic texts, it is one of the oldest and most common forms of marriage of the Rigvedic period. [6] Early marriage has also been linked to the abandonment of wives and an increase in the number of divorces or separations. Child brides are also at risk of being widowed by their husbands, who are often much older, or they have an unexpected death. In these cases, the bride is likely to experience further discrimination, as in Indian culture, young widows are blamed for the death of their husbands and suffer a loss of status and may be ostracized by society and deprived of their property rights. There are 8 types of Hindu marriages, and all of them are defined as between a man and a woman. In addition, Shri Krishna preached that the ultimate goal of marriage is to reproduce together to raise God-conscious children.
Since same-sex couples cannot reproduce together, same-sex marriage is not technically valid in Hinduism, regardless of opinion. There are conservative and liberal views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage in Hinduism, with Hindu priests marrying same-sex couples. In 2004, Hinduism Today asked Hindu swamis (teachers) for their opinion on same-sex marriage. The Swamis expressed a number of opinions, both positive and negative. [ref. needed] The Mangal Sutra, a necklace that the groom ties around the bride`s neck, is supposed to protect the couple from the evil eye and symbolize the longevity of the husband`s life, making it unfavorable if the Mangal sutra is lost or broken. [9] Women tend to wear it every day to remind them of their duty to their husbands. Horoscope counting played no role in regulating marriage in ancient India. Grihyasutras and Dharmasutras nowhere suggest or recommend that the parties` horoscopes be consulted before deciding on their marriage.
The reason for this was that the science of astrology was still in its infancy at the time and did not progress until 400-900 AD. A reference to bridal parents who consult an astrologer for the marriage of their wards is perhaps first found in the 7th century Dasakumarachacharita book. The last and eighth type of Hindu marriages is the Paishacha marriage. This type of marriage is considered the inferior form of Hindu marriage and was later banned. It was believed that in this form of marriage, men were allowed to marry women who had seduced them if the woman was intoxicated, sleeping, or suffering from mental illness. However, the most popular form of marriage was Swayamvara, where the bride and groom met at the bride`s home and the bride chose her spouse. Svayam-vara means “a self-selection of the husband”, Svayam = self, Vara = husband. This ceremony is mentioned in the famous Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Hindu marriage harmonizes two individuals (mainly a man and a woman) for ultimate eternity so that they can pursue the Dharma (responsibility/duties), Arth (meaning) and Kama.
