Samaira Singha, Indore Institute of Law
ABSTRACT
Hindu marriages are deeply rooted in ancient scriptures and reflect various traditions and cultural values. The Dharmaśāstras, like the Manusmriti, outline eight distinct types of marriage, each representing different situations and societal norms. The first four types—Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, and Prajapatya—are considered the most ideal and are based on religious and moral principles. These marriages emphasize mutual consent and involve rituals and blessings from families and the community. In particular, the Brahma marriage is seen as the most auspicious, as it involves the bride's father giving her away to the groom after he has completed his studies.
The Daiva marriage is characterized by the bride's father giving her away to a priest or learned man, while the Arsha involves the groom offering a dowry of a cow and bull. The Prajapatya marriage, on the other hand, is distinguished by the absence of any dowry or formal ceremony. These four types of marriage collectively represent the traditional and ideal forms of marriage in Hinduism. The next four types—Asura, Gandharva, Rakshasa, and Paishacha—are seen as less ideal or even inappropriate by traditional standards. Asura marriage, for instance, involves a groom offering wealth in exchange for the bride, while Gandharva marriage is based on mutual attraction without formal rituals. Rakshasa marriage involves abducting the bride, whereas Paishacha marriage, the most condemned, refers to a marriage resulting from deceit or force against the woman's will.
These eight types of marriages reflect the evolving social structure of ancient Hindu society, highlighting the importance of dharma (duty), artha (wealth), and kama (desire) in the institution of marriage. While modern Hindu marriages have largely retained elements from the Brahma form, understanding these types sheds light on the complexity and flexibility of marriage customs in early Hindu society.
Keywords: Hindu marriages, Brahma marriage, Daiva marriage, Arsha marriage, Prajapatya marriage, Asura marriage, Gandharva marriage, Rakshasa marriage, Paishacha marriage, Manusmriti, Hindu customs.
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