Types of Marriages in Vedas

What is Marriage and its Significance in Vedas?

The word vivāha or marriage originated as a sacred union of people as per Vedic traditions, i.e. what many call marriage, but based on cosmic laws and advanced ancient practices. Under Vedic Hindu traditions, marriage is viewed as one of the saṁskāras, which are lifelong commitments of one wife and one husband. In India, marriage has been looked upon as having been designed by the cosmos and considered as a "sacred oneness witnessed by fire itself

In ancient India, mythology and historical records show that there are eight different types of Hindu marriages. However, not all followed a religious sanction; they were recognised by many communities that followed Hinduism. It is still arguable that a lot of them can be seen among Hindus today.

There are eight types of Hindu matrimonies, these are; Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya, Gandharva, Asura, Rakshasa and Paishaca.

Detailed Explanation of Eight Types of Marriages (Vivah):

1. Bráhma Marriage

After completing his education and acquiring all the required skills, the groom’s family approaches the family of a suitable girl.

Bride’s father then enquires about the birth, conduct, character, learning, acquirements, and acts of the groom before bestowing one’s daughter.

Thus, it is considered to be the highest form of marriage in the scriptures. Also, there is no dowry involved in this.

2. Daiva Marriage

In this, the bride’s family waits for a suitable groom. If she doesn’t get married to a suitable groom till a specified time, her family look to marry her to a priest who officiates over sacrifices.

This type of marriage is considered inferior to Brahma marriage as it is degrading to womanhood.

3. Ársha Marriage

Arsha means Rishi (or Sage) in Sanskrit.

In this form of marriage, usually, the groom is a Rishi (or a Sage). The bride is married off to a Rishi in exchange for two cows or a cow and a bull.

This is just to show that a sage does not possess extraordinary wealth. It usually happens when the bride’s family is not able to bear the expenses of their daughter’s marriage.

This form of marriage is also considered inferior because of the involvement of business like transaction in this.

4. Prájápatya Marriage

Unlike Brahma marriage, in this type of marriage, an eligible groom is enticed with wealth and presents by the bride’s father to marry her daughter. (This is according to Mahabharata)

It is also called as Kshatra form of marriage.

According to Manusmriti however, marriage is termed as Prájápatya when the father gives away his daughter with due honor saying “May both of you perform your civil and religious duties” and a verbal agreement to practice the dharma together.

5. Asura Marriage

In this form of marriage, the bride’s family is enticed by wealth in return for bestowing their daughter.

This usually happens when the groom is no match for the girl but still wants to marry her.

It is like buying a product by paying a huge amount of money. Thus this form of marriage was also considered inferior to Brahma marriage.

6. Gándharva Marriage

It is synonymous with modern-day love marriage or elopement. The most famous example is the marriage of Dushyanta and Shakuntala in Mahabharata.

In this form of marriage, the couple either lives together out of love or mutual consent (synonymous with the modern-day live-in relationship) or marry each other out of their own free will without the consent of their families.

This type of marriage was very common during the Rig Vedic times as described in Vedas itself. In the Mahabharata also, Rishi Kanva (foster father of Shakuntala) described it as the best form of marriage.

7. Rákshasa Marriage

In this type of marriage, the girl is forcibly abducted by the groom by killing or defeating the bride’s family in battle.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 Indian law.

8. Paisácha Marriage

This type of marriage is considered to be the worst or lowest form of marriage.

In this, the girl is abducted when she is asleep and intoxicated. Not only that, she is also seduced(due to intoxication).It is a marriage where the groom weds the bride by deception and underhand means. On the other hand, the Rakshasa marriage is one where the groom openly confronts and defeats the bride’s people before making off with her. Also, one might equate it to the modern-day evil of date rape.