Hindu Marriage: Marriage is the most significant and beautiful phase of life. In the 16 sacraments of Hinduism, marriage is the thirteenth sacrament. If we talk about today, we often hear about only love marriages and arranged marriages, but do you know how many types of marriages exist? What do we call the marriage where the bride and groom exchange garlands? Let's explore some interesting information related to marriage.
How many types of marriages are there?
Marriage is not just the union of two individuals; in Hinduism, it is considered a religious sacrament. Hinduism recognises eight main types of marriages, with the highest being the Brahmin marriage and the lowest being the Pishacha marriage. These eight types include: Brahmin, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya, Asura, Gandharva, Rakshasa, and Pishacha marriages.
Brahmin Marriage - Brahmin marriage is included in the 16 sacraments. It takes place with the consent of both the bride and groom. Vedic rituals and rules are followed in this marriage. Various customs such as checking the lineage, caste, matching horoscopes, applying turmeric paste, door worship, recitation of auspicious verses, and exchange of garlands are observed. Choosing an auspicious time is essential for performing this marriage.
Deva Marriage - In this marriage, the wedding is conducted with a specific purpose, such as serving a deity or performing religious duties, and the bride marries a particular groom with her consent. It is considered a moderate form of marriage.
Arsha Marriage - According to scriptures, this marriage is related to sages. In this marriage, a sage marries the daughter by giving cows and bulls as a gift for marriage. It is performed for religious reasons rather than determining the value of the bride.
Prajapatya Marriage - In this marriage, the father of the bride instructs the newlyweds to lead a household life after marriage. A special ceremony precedes this marriage, and according to Yajnavalkya, children born from this marriage are considered pure.
Asura Marriage - In this type of marriage, the groom purchases the bride from her relatives by giving them some wealth. The consent of the bride is not significant in this type.
Gandharva Marriage - In Gandharva marriage, a young man and woman express their love for each other and then marry with the consent of their parents. In the current era, love marriage is similar to Gandharva marriage.
Rakshasa Marriage - This type of marriage is against the will of the bride. The groom forcibly abducts the bride and performs the marriage. It is considered a condemnable form of marriage.
Pishacha Marriage - This is considered the lowest form of marriage. In this, the groom marries the woman without her consent, through deception or in a state of unconsciousness after committing a crime against her.
These types of marriages provide a diverse perspective on the customs and rituals associated with Hindu marriages.