Marriage
There are eight types of marriage described
in the ancient Hindu text of Manusmriti or "Manava Dharma
Shastra":
1.
Rite
of Brahmana (Brahma) – The system where the father of the bride
invites a man learned in the Vedas and a good conduct, and gives his daughter
in marriage to him after decking her with jewels and costly garments.
2.
Rite
of the Gods (Daiva) - The daughter is groomed with ornaments
and given to a priest who duly officiates at a sacrifice during the course of
its performance of this rite.
3.
Rite
of the Rishis (Arsha) - When the father gives away his daughter
after receiving a cow and a bull from the bridegroom.
4.
Rite
of the Prajapati - (Prajapatya) The father gives
away his daughter after blessing the couple with the text "May both of you
perform together your duties".
5.
Rite
of the Asuras (Demons) - When the bridegroom receives a maiden
after bestowing wealth to the kinsmen and to the bride according to his own
will.
6.
Rite
of the Gandharva - The voluntary union of a maiden and her
lover, which arises from desire and sexual intercourse for its purpose.
7.
Rite
of the Rakshasa - Forcible abduction of a maiden from her
home after her kinsmen have been slain or wounded and their houses broken open.
8.
Rite
of the Pisaka - When a man by stealth seduces a girl who
is sleeping or intoxicated or is mentally disbalanced or handicapped.
Women & Marriage
Eight types of marriage were prevalent in the Vedic age, of
which four were more prominent. The first was 'brahma', where the daughter was
given as gift to a good man learned in the Vedas; the second was 'daiva' ,
where the daughter was given as a gift to the presiding priest of a Vedic
sacrifice. 'Arsa' was the third kind where the groom had to pay to get the
lady, and 'prajapatya', the fourth kind, where the father gave his daughter to
a man who promised monogamy and faithfulness.
In the Vedic age
there was both the custom of 'Kanyavivaha' where the marriage of a pre-puberty
girl was arranged by her parents and 'praudhavivaha' where the girls were
married off after attaining puberty. Then there was also the custom of
'Swayamvara' where girls, usually of royal families, had the freedom to choose
her husband from among the eligible bachelors invited to her house for the
occasion.
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