Explain Hindu Marriage. What are the aims of Hindu Marriage?
Hindu Marriage
The ancient Indians laid down the ideal conception of Hindu marriage, considering it a ceremonial gift of the bride from her father or others. appropriate relative to the bride groom in order that both may together fulfill their duties which are necessary for human existence. These duties are “Dharma, Artha and Kama”. Dharma is religious duty based on ethical values, that is to do good and attain Moksha or salvation. Artha is the economic aspect of life and Kama is the physical or sexual duties to the partner and to produce children to perpetuate race. Marriage is not for sense of enjoyment, but to perpetuate the race. Marriage is a social duty towards the family and community.
A whole, it serves procreation and the establishment of a family (kutumba). After one’s wedding, people believe that one has entered the second stage of life, the grihastha ashrama, performing the duties of a householder.
The Hindu concept of marriage is that it is a sanskara (tradition) and a religious sacrament, not a contract. It is a holy union of the two souls and not simply of two bodies. Death could only break an indissoluble bond. Society never considers a man without a wife complete. Without a wife, he might also prevent himself from performing various religious sacraments. That’s why people not only call a wife “Patni”, but more significantly “Sahadharmini”, “Dharam-Patni” or “Ardhangini”. This union does not confine itself to one life only. It’s a union that extends to seven lives and beyond. Hinduism considers this union irrevocable and indissoluble; hence, words like divorce and separation are alien to it in literal terms.
Aims of Hindu Marriage
Ancient Hindu texts point out three main aims of marriage. These are dharma (duty), praja (progeny) and rati (sexual pleasure). Besides these, there are also other aims. of Hindu marriage. The aims of Hindu marriage may be described in the following manner.
Dharma
The highest aim of marriage, according to the Hindu thinkers was ‘dharma’. For a Hindu, marriage serves to full-fill his dharma or religious duties. As K.M. Kapadia says, “People desire marriage not so much for sex or for progeny as for obtaining a partner for the fulfilment of their religious duties.” It is the duty of the householder to offer ‘Pancha Maha Jajnas in the company of his wife. If the wife dies the householder must take a second wife for performing his obligations. As such a wife is a religious necessity for a Hindu.
Praja or Progeny
The second aim of Hindu marriage is the procreation of children, particularly a male child. Believers hold that a putra or son saves the father from going to hell. Therefore, Hindus elevate the birth of a male child so highly that they regard procreation as a religious duty. Thus, the the Hindu thinkers regarded procreation as duty in the interests of both the family and community as well as for one’s own salvation. People regard procreation as the second most important aim of Hindu marriage. Kapadia has remarked, “When the Hindu thinkers regarded Dharma as the first and the highest aim of marriage and procreation as the second best, Dharma dominated marriage”.
Kama or Sex Gratification
Sex is one of the aims of marriage, but it is the least desirable aim of marriage and that is why it is given third place by the Hindu thinkers. According to Kapadia, “Though-sex is one of the functions of marriage; it is given third place, concluding thereby that it is the least desirable aim of marriage. Hence, it is found that sex has been given a secondary role in Hindu marriage .Although sex is important for the healthy development of personality of an individual , Hindu thinkers did not consider it to be the sole aim of marriage.
Rina or debt
There are supposed to be three debts which a man has to repay in his life time. These debts are (i) Deva Rina, (ii) Rishi Rina and (iii) Pitri Rina. The first rina is towards the God who created the universe and gave us life. The second rina is towards the teachers who enabled us to fulfill our obligations. The third one is towards our ancestors who gave us birth.
Socio-Cultural Continuity
Hindu marriage has two dimensional approaches. First, for the continuity of society, it is obligatory for an individual to establish a household and procreate and to provide new members to society. Second, it is the duty of every householder to pass on the cultural traditions of his Kula to the next generation
