8 Types Of Marriage In Hinduism

 
                                                  


1. BRAMHA VIVAH    
      

A Brahma marriage is where a boy can get married once he has completed his studenthood or Brahmacharya . When the parents of the boy seek a female , they would consider her family background , but the girl’s father would make sure that the boy that wishes to wed his daughter knew Vedas . Asking or expecting dowry from the bridal side is considered to be a sin , in this type of marriage . So Brahma marriage has the most supreme position of the eight types of Hindu matrimony .

2. DAIVA VIVAH

In this type of marriage, the father gives away his daughter along with heavy ornaments to a priest; this priest performs the sacrifice Yajna. Such marriages were more frequent in earlier times, when Yajna was a vital part of the daily activities of Hindus.

3. ARSHA VIVAH

In this type of marriage, the bridegroom gives a cow and a bull to the father of the bride and the father instead gives his daughter in marriage. This exchange of the cow and the bull was considered as a religious ritual and as a token of gratitude to the father in law. The groom is also obliged to him to fulfill the obligations of Grihasthashram.

4. PRAJAPATYA VIVAH

Prajapatya is when a girl’s father gives her in marriage to the groom , treating him with respect , and addresses them : ' May both of you perform together with your duties ' . Unlike in Brahma marriage , Prajapatya matrimony is where the bride’s father goes in search of a groom .

5. GANDHARVA VIVAH

The voluntary union of a maiden and her lover on their own is called Gandharva marriage . When it comes to ' love ' marriage , it is Gandharva marriage that is the most similar . This is where a groom and his bride could wed without their parent’s knowledge or sanction . This is how Dushyant married Shakuntala Note that this is not the same as dating . Here the bride and the groom exchange vows in the presence of some person , creature , tree , plant , or deity before any further action .

6. ASURA VIVAH

This is matrimony where the groom may not often be compatible with the bride and may even possess some abnormality but either greed or compulsion on the part of the bride’s father coupled with the groom’s desire and wealth may render it . At all times this type of marriage was considered lowly . In modern times this is unacceptable because it is much like buying a product off the shelf and against common Indian law .

7. RAKSHASA VIVAH

The groom will force battles with the bride’s family , overcome them and carry the bride away to convince her to marry him . Because of its use of force this marriage is considered to be a sin . In modern times also it is a crime . Hence it is known as Rakshas vivah or Rakshas marriage.

8. PAISHACHA VIVAH

This was the most horrible form of all types of marriages. In this the bride was not only kidnapped but she was first molested or stolen amidst her tribe. Usually when her relatives were asleep, or in a state of intoxication during a tribal festival, this act was carried out in stealth. This form is unanimously damned. This form of marriage was most prevalent among the Hindu Sutras. By recognition of this form of marriage was only that the children were regarded as legitimate.
According to Kautilya shastra, of these eight types of marriage, only the first four (Brahma, Daiva, Arsha and Prajapatya) carry the ancestral ethnicity of old and are suitable on their being accepted by the father. The rest of the marriages were based on receiving money or torturing the bride.