Hindu Marriage : Aims, Ideals and Types

Hindu Marriage: Aims, Ideals and Types

The Aims of Hindu Marriage:

The aims of Hindu marriage according to K.M. Kapadia are:

(i) Dharma

(ii) Praja

(iii) Rati

(i) Fulfillment of Dharma:

According to Hindu scriptures marriage is the basis of religious duties. This religious duty can be performed only when a man is accompanied by his wife. So marriage is necessary for fulfillment of Dharma.

Praja Progeny:

The second aim of Hindu marriage is the continuity of the race. Hence getting a son is necessary and important in Hindu family. Manu says that the chief aim of marriage is procreation.

Rati (Satisfaction of sex instinct):

The last aim of the Hindu marriage is the satisfaction of sex instinct with the realization of divine bliss. It is the chief aim of Hindu marriage.

Ideals of Hindu Marriage:

(i) Marriage among the Hindus is a religious sacrament. It is not a social contract. It is mainly intended for the fulfillment of Dharma.

(ii) Pre-marital chastity and marital fidelity of both husband and wife are the most valued ideals of Hindu marriage.

(iii) Hindus believe that marriage is a bond that binds a man and his wife not only in this life but also in their future lives.

(iv) Hindu marriage is indissoluble. Hindu couple wants to live together till their death.

(v) Hindus like to adopt monogamy form of marriage although polygyny is permitted under certain circumstances like sterility’ of the wife, absence of a male issue etc.

(vi) Marriage for the Hindus is a sacred institution because it is the source of not only. Dhanna, Artha and Kama but also of mokha (liberation)

(vii) Marriage it-self is an ideal for the Hindus to attain because a man is considered in-complete unless he is married.

(viii) Finally though Dharma, procreation and sexual pleasure are the main aim of Hindu marriage, observance of Dharma is primary and sexual pleasure is secondary.

Types of Marriage among the Hindus:

Basically there can only be two types of marriage namely Monogamy and polygamy, in Hindu society both the type of marriage were found to exist.

(1) Monogamy:

One husband and one wife Monogamy is the ideal form of marriage among the Hindus. Under monogamy one man marries one woman at a time. This is the leading form of marriage of Hindus. Its advantages are at present well recognized. It produces the highest type of affection between parents, between parents and children and between children themselves as well as creates sincere devotion of wife towards husband.

Under monogamy the elders receive favouring care by their children. Whereas under polygyny their days end in bitterness. According to Malinowski, “Monogamy is, has been and will remain as the only true type or form of marriage”

Polygamy:

Polygamy is a type of marriage in which a man or a woman is allowed to marry more than one wife or husband at the same time.

Polygamy is of two types:

(i) Polygyny

(ii) Polyandry

(i) Polygyny:

It is a type of marriage in which a man is allowed to marry more than one wife at a time. This pattern of marriage persisted in Hindu society since Vedic times. In fact it was mainly practiced by kings and other well – to – do members of the society. Though it was socially approved form of marriage, Hindu law discouraged its practice and did not accept it as an ideal form of marriage.

In some areas it is practiced to obtain more children as well as to get cheap and reliable labourers in the form of wives. In some tribes the leaders accept this form of marriage only to prove their superiority and to obtain social prestige. It is a fact that it checks prostitution problem of society as man can satisfy his sex desire in a better way by keeping more wives within the confines of marriage but it increases economic burden for the bread winner because he has to support many women along with their children.

Besides, it creates jealousy among the wives and their children and also children cannot be looked after properly. More over it destroys family happiness and lower the position of women in the society on account of its greater harmful effects on family life. It has been declared illegal in the civilized societies. The Indian Government has declared polygyny an offence under Hindu marriage Act – 1955.

(ii) Polyandry:

It is a form of marriage where in one woman marries more than one man at a given time. It is widely spread in low socio – economic society to get more economic support. It may take two forms – fraternal polyandry and non-fraternal polyandry.

(a) Fraternal Polyandry:

In this form of polyandry one wife is regarded the wife of all brothers establishing sexual relation with her and the children are treated as the offspring of elder brother.

(b) Non-Fraternal Polyandry:

In this form of marriage, one woman has many husbands with whom she cohabits in term but it is not necessary that these husbands be brothers and any one husband is chosen as parents of a child by a special ritual. This form of marriage is generally existed in backward areas, situated far away from the centres of culture and progress. It also develops due to high bride price on account of lesser number of women in the society and also poverty condition of society. (From these two forms of marriage monogamy form of marriage is well accepted in civilized society)

It is a means to control the growth of population and strengthens the economic position of the family. However it adversely affects the health of woman because the same woman has to satisfy the sexual desire of several husbands. Polyandry is generally considered an obstacle in the way of social progress. It causes harm to married life and creates several other psychological problems. It is on this account that polyandry has gradually come to end in those societies where in it once prevailed.