What is a Marriage? Mating is preponderantly a psychophysical phenomenon involving the pairing off of individuals of opposite sex under the influence of the sexual drive. But all mating are not marriages. Marriage is something else. When mating gets social approval and when it controls the … [Read more...]
Hindu Marriage Tradition (Hindu Marriage System)
Introduction: In India, The Hindus give great importance to the Hindu marriage system and traditions. Hindu customs presuppose that every man, in his normal conditions is expected to marry. It means that every man is expected to undergo the "vivaha samskara" and run a family (kutumba). As far as … [Read more...]
Forms of Hindu Marriage (Vivaah)
Forms and Types of Hindu Marriage The expression 'forms of marriage" normally refers to the four major forms of marriage such as — Monogamy, Polygamy, Polyandry and Group Marriage — as mentioned by anthropologist Malinowski. But in the context of the Hindu Marriage System the expression "forms of … [Read more...]
Importance of Hindu Marriage
Marriage is regarded an important event in the life of a Hindu man because without a wife he cannot enter the "Grihastha ashrama" ordained by the holy law givers. Besides, without marriage there can be no offspring and without a son, no release from the chain of birth-death-rebirth. The importance … [Read more...]
Sapinda Marriage | Cousin Marriage in Hinduism
Sapinda Marriage refers to the cousin marriages in Hinduism. The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 does not allow Sapinda marriage. A marriage between a boy and a girl is not legally valid if they are "sapindas". But it permits the Sapinda marriages where such marriage is customary. Sapinda relationship … [Read more...]
Hindu Gotra System | Sagotra | Gotra in Hindu Religion
The gotra exogamy, as a tradition among Hindus, prohibits marriage between members of the same gotra. The Hindu society traditionally expects people to marry someone outside their gotra. But The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 legalizes marriage between members of the same gotra. Sagotra exogamy, … [Read more...]
Monogamy in Hinduism | Hindu Monogamy
Hindu Monogamy The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 strictly prohibits the Hindus to practice polygamy. Monogamy is the law and practice of the Hindu society. Monogamy is a form of marriage when one man only marries one woman. Ever since the Vedic times in India, monogamy has been the most dominant … [Read more...]
Endogamy in India
Endogamy Endogamy is a rule of marriage which is intimately related to the caste structure. In Endogamy form of marriage, a person has to marry within his or her group or varna or caste or sub-caste. For example, Brahmins have to marry Brahmins, Rajputs have to marry Rajputs, and Vaishya have … [Read more...]
Anuloma and Pratiloma Marriage
Anuloma and Pratiloma Marriage Anuloma and pratiloma marriage, as a rule of marriage is an inseparable part of the hindu caste system. The rule of anuloma and pratiloma marriages has greater significance for the caste structure of Hindu society than for the marriage pattern of the Hindus. Anuloma … [Read more...]
Hindu Pologamy | Polygamy in Hinduism
POLYGAMY IN HINDUISM Polygamy among the Hindus has become a thing of the past. It is legally prohibited. Bombay State had passed legislation against its practice as early as in 1946 and later Madras and Saurashtra governments followed it. But The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 introduced by the Central … [Read more...]