• Marriage and family are complementary social institutions with biological foundations, both having a long-standing history.
• In the Indian context, both institutions have existed since ancient times and have withstood the test of time.
• Both marriage and family are permanent elements of the Indian social system.
• In Hindu social heritage, marriage is considered a sacrament rather than a contract.
• The Rig Veda (X 85) speaks of the sanctity of marriage, considering it a binding force throughout life.
• Marriage was viewed as a ritual where the husband regarded his wife as a god-given gift.
• The Hindu marriage has evolved over time but still retains its sanctity.
• With the marriage sacrament of ‘vivah samskara’, husband and wife establish the family or ‘Griha’.
• Grihasthashrama (the stage of family life) is seen as both a biological necessity and a social ideal.
• In Indian social evolution, the family has always meant the joint family.
• Grihyasutras emphasize the importance of the Hindu family, particularly the Hindu joint family as the foundation of Hindu values, beliefs, and attitudes.
• The family is a sacred institution in Hinduism, deriving its authority from religion and social traditions.

THE HINDU MARRIAGE

• Marriage has been of great importance to Hindus since ancient times.
• Marriage is almost obligatory and unavoidable for an average Indian.
• Life without marriage is considered unthinkable in India, and there is a strong social stigma attached to those who remain unmarried for long.
• There is a deep-rooted, long-standing, and widespread tradition in India favoring marriage as a basic ritual.
• C.B. Mamoria commented that “we are a much marrying people. We marry early and we marry in large numbers.”
• Marriage in India is viewed as a religious duty rather than a contract.
• Hindus regard marriage as a sacred sacrament (Vivaha Samskara).
• For Hindus, marriage is not seen as a “social contract” nor a “license for sex life.”
• In the Hindu Ashramas system, one enters the grihasthashrama (the stage of family life) only after marriage.
• Through the marriage sacrament, a man and woman establish the family, the home, or griha.

THE HINDU MARRIAGE – A SACRAMENT

Aims of the Hindu Marriage

• Marriage among Hindus is not a social contract but a religious sacrament with great individual and social significance.
• It is a socially approved union aimed at procreation, pleasure, and the observance of certain social obligations.
• The Hindu ideal emphasizes both the individual and social aspects of marriage.
• K.M. Kapadia in “Marriage and Family in India” supports the view that Hindu marriage is a sacrament.
• The aims of Hindu marriage are:
  • Dharma (religious duty)
  • Praja (progeny or children)
  • Rati (pleasure)
• Dharma is regarded as the highest aim of marriage in Hinduism. Marriage is seen as a way to acquire a partner for the fulfillment of religious duties.
• After marriage, the sacred fire is kindled, and the householder is obligated to perform panchamahayajnas with his wife.
• These obligations continue until the householder’s death, and if the wife dies, the householder may marry again.
• The basic aim of marriage is Dharma, which requires fulfilling moral duties.
• Praja (progeny) is another important aim of marriage, driven by the parental instinct.
• Having children is considered essential in Hinduism, as a son is believed necessary to fulfill Pitri Rina (paternal obligations) and Kutumba Dharma (family obligation).
• Saptapadi, an important marriage ritual, includes the husband praying for children.
• Rati (pleasure or Kama) is the third aim of marriage in Hinduism, emphasizing the sexual function.
• While sex is a function of marriage, it is considered the least desirable aim, as Dharma is given priority.
• The marriage of Shudras is said to be for pleasure, and they are not expected to fulfill the higher purposes of marriage.
• Despite its lower ranking, sex is not condemned or degraded in Hinduism; it is just considered secondary to Dharma.