Page 90 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes paying price. Such son-in-law is called ‘Vijmata’. In marriages of Kaikai, Gandhari and
Madri description about payment of high prices for bride to her mother-father is present.
6. Gandharva Vivah: Manu says, “the marriage done by the bride and groom due to mutual
love with emotions of lust and intercourse is known as Gandharva Marriage”. Yagyav-
alkya written that the marriage held due to mutual love and affection is called Gandharva
Marriage. Gautam says, “To make relation on own wish with a girl with the same wish is
called Gandharva Marriage”. In ancient period, this marriage was very popular among
a caste called Gandharva that is why this marriage was named Gandharva marriage. In
modern time this marriage is called love marriage in which groom and bride marries due
to mutual love and affection. In such marriage rituals are accomplished after making sexual
relations. Some scriptures had acknowledged this marriage but some had denied. This was
praised in Baudhayan Dharmasutra. Vatsyayan had acknowledged this marriage as an
ideal marriage in his Kamasutra. It was the Gandharva Marriage which was held between
Dushyanta and Shankuntala.
7. Rakshasa Marriage: Manu says, “To bring a crying girl by beating, penetrating, breaking
her house by forceful abduction is called Rakshasa Marriage”. Yagyavalkya writes, “Rak-
shasi Yudh Hararat” means “to abduct a girl in a battle and marry her is called Rakshasa
Marriage”. This type of marriage was popular in that period when battles were important
and woman were considered a reward of battle. Many examples of this marriage is seen in
Mahabharata Era. Bhishm had defeated the king of Kashi and abducted her daughter Amba
for her brother Vichitraveerya. Marriages of Sri Krishna with Rukmani and Arjun with
Subhadra were also of this kind. In Rakshasa Marriage, there is a mutual fight between the
parties of bride and groom. Due to popularity of this marriage among Kshatriya, this is also
called Kshatra Marriage. Today this marriage seen as exception.
8. Paishacha Marriage: Manu says, “To make relation with a girl forcefully who is sleeping,
emotional, worried, drunken or going in the way and thereafter marrying her is called
Paishacha Marriage”. This type of marriage is presumed of worst category. Vashishtha and
Apastambha never recognized this type of marriage, but due to no fault of girl in this type
of marriage and in order to prevent her from the social boycott due to loss of her virginity
and to maintain her social respect, this type of marriage was acknowledged.
In “Satyartha Prakash”, It was told that the Brahma Marriage is best, Prajapatya is medium and
Arsha, Asur and Gandharva are of lower category. Rakshasa Marriage is sinful and Paishacha
Marriage is the very corrupt. Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya and Rakshasa Marriage are completely
eliminated now. Dr. Majumdar says, “Hindu society recognizes only two kinds of marriage-
Brahma and Asur, former in higher caste and later in lower caste are popular respectively.
Though, Asur Marriage is not eliminated in higher caste, completely”. In modern period, Gand-
harva Marriage is also called love marriage and is popular among educated people.

In modern time, in Hindus Brahma, Asur, Gandharva and somewhere
Paishacha Marriages is popular.

12.5 Summary

• Literal meaning of “Vivah” i.e. marriage is “To take the bride to groom’s home”.
• Marriage is an institution for male and female to enter into a family life.
• According to Mardock, there are three aims of marriage in all societies-Sexual satisfaction,
economic cooperation, socialization of children and their nurturing.

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