Page 82 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 12: Marriage: Concept, Forms
and Significance

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
12.1 Meaning and Definition of Marriage
12.2 Main Characteristics and Significance of Marriage

12.3 Aims of Marriage
12.4 Forms of Hindu Marriage
12.5 Summary

12.6 Keywords
12.7 Review Questions
12.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, student will be able to:
• Know the meaning of marriage and its importance.
• Know the types of marriage.
• Know the types of Hindu marriage.
• Understand what are the objectives of marriage?

Introduction

One basis of the marriage is, the desire to become mother by a woman and father by a man,
which is only possible by the institution of marriage. Marriage also transfers the culture from
one generation to another. In some societies, the economic life depends upon mutual coopera-
tion of opposite sex and division of labour. The need to meet the financial activities by coop-
eration of male and female has also made the institution of marriage essential. Due to all these
reasons, the institution of marriage was present in every era and every society, although it varies
in its forms. India has also a vast diversity in the scope of marriage. From ancient period, people
of many religions, communities, tribes, languages and views have been living here, in which a
vast diversity of customs, traditions, cultures, institutions and living philosophy are found. This
diversity has effected the institution of marriage over here. In India, many forms of marriage
are found, like vise- monogamy, polyandry, bigamy and polygyny are found. In some societies,
marriage is considered as sacrament whereas in some other a social and general contract.

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