Do you know India has different types of marriages? I am not a wedding planner, but I can tell you some interesting facts about each type.
In India there are so many wedding traditions and culture differences. Each one has a different story and meaning.
Indian culture is full of grand ceremonies and special rituals that make it colorful and unique.
In this blog article, we talk about 8 different types of marriages. Let’s get into it.
Brahma Vivah
It is a very specific and pure type of marriage in the Hindu culture.
In Brahma Vivah, the father gives his daughter to a groom who is educated, well-versed in the Vedas, well-mannered, and of good character.
This marriage starts when groom’s family approaches bride’s family with a proposal of their son marrying their daughter.
At this point, the father of the bride evaluates that the groom is nice and respectable.
If he is alright with the groom, then he will allow for marriage to take place.
He then gives away the bride in a simple and straightforward wedding ceremony.
There is no dowry and no money exchange in Brahma Vivah. The most important things are respect, love, and shared responsibilities.
People highly respect this type of marriage because it values the relationship of the bride and groom over money.
Daiva Vivah
Daiva Vivah is an ancient form of marriage in Hindu culture. In this marriage, a girl’s family gives her to a priest.
This often occurred when the girl was older and still unmarried.
The family would ask the priest to find a good husband. Priests were respected and wise people.
The family dresses the girl beautifully and presents her to the priest as a gift. This showed respect for the priest’s religious work.
People considered Daiva Vivah good and honorable. But it was not as important as Brahma Vivah.
Daiva Vivah was about giving the daughter for a special purpose. It showed respect for the priest.
Arsha Vivah
Arsha Vivah is an extraordinary form of marriage in Hindu traditions. In this kind of marriage, the groom marries the bride after giving her family a pair of cows or a bull.
This also exhibits respect and proves that he is capable of taking care of his bride and her family. It is not about buying the bride but is a kind way to help both families.
The word Arsha means a wise person. This type of marriage connects to wise and knowledgeable people.
The bride’s family chooses Arsha Vivah when they cannot afford an expensive wedding. It allows both families comes together without spending too much.
The groom, even if not very rich, shows that he is serious and responsible.
In Arsha Vivah, the groom promises to take care of the bride. People respect this type of marriage, but they don’t consider it as important as Brahma Vivah.
Arsha Vivah is a simple and caring way for two people to marry, especially when families face financial difficulties.
Prajapatya Vivah
Prajapatya Vivah is one of the special types of marriages in Hindu tradition.
In this marriage, the bride’s father searches for a good husband for his daughter. This is unlike Brahma Vivah.
In Prajapatya Vivah, the bride’s father takes the lead. He looks for a kind and responsible man. He should prepare to be a good husband.
The father of the bride accepts the groom. He asks them to work in harmony. He asks them to be supportive to each other.
As a couple, they should live with kindness and good values. The marriage depicts promise of being good partners. They must be there for each other.
Prajapatya Vivah doesn’t carry the same grandeur as Brahma Vivah.
However, people still respect it and view it as an important and meaningful way to begin life together.
This type of marriage builds a strong and loving home. Both partners share their responsibilities and follow good morals.
Gandharva Vivah
A Gandharva Vivah is Hindu marriage. It is different from the customary wedding of a society. It is like a love marriage.
Two people marry because they love each other. They don’t take permission from their parents. They don’t follow the rituals of weddings.
A famous story is about King Dushyanta and Shakuntala. They fell in love and married on their own. They did not get approval from the family.
Today, still some rural people do not consider Gandharva Vivah a proper form of marriage.
For instance, Brahma Vivah is more ritualistic and family-oriented. Nowadays, love marriages without much big barat are similar to Gandharva Vivah. It’s more of a trend now.
Love marriage comes first for most people, and they do not really care about the society.
Asura Vivah
Asura Vivah is one kind of marriage in Hindu traditions, which is not fair. It’s just like a business deal.
In such cases of marriages, this happens when the groom is not the best partner to marry her, but he still wants to marry her.
This type focuses on money rather than love and respect.
Asura Vivah is not practiced nowadays and considered to be a bad form of marriage.
Rakshasa Vivah
Rakshasa Vivah is a form of marriage in Hinduism. It is not approved and is wrong. In this marriage, the groom forcefully takes the bride.
The bride does not agree to it. Often, the groom fights and defeats the bride’s family. The bride’s father does not give permission for marriage.
In such situations, the bride’s family suffers harm or is killed. They lose their home. It is a violent act.
The groom celebrates the marriage with his family. He doesn’t care about the bride’s desires or her family.
This practice of Rakshasa Vivah is thought to be very wrong in Hindu teaching. It is considered derogatory.
In the earlier ages, it was known to portray the need for protection of women and children. Today, this form of marriage is illegal. It is a serious crime.
Paishacha Vivah
Paishacha Vivah is a wrong and evil type of marriage in Hindu tradition. It occurs when a man forces himself on a woman who is asleep, drunk, or not mentally able to refuse.
People have always seen this practice as bad, even in ancient teachings.
Old texts like Manusmriti called it a sin. Today, people do not consider it a marriage, but a severe crime known as rape.
Today, society has changed and now protects women and their rights.
Conclusion
Do you know India has different types of marriages? I am not a wedding planner; but I can tell you some interesting facts about each type.
So, what makes each of these marriage types special? Let’s recap what we learned about the 8 types of marriages and their unique traditions.
Here are the key types:
- Brahma Vivah – A respectful and pure marriage where the bride’s family gives her to a groom of good character and knowledge.
- Daiva Vivah – An ancient marriage where the bride is given to a priest, showing respect for religious traditions.
- Arsha Vivah – A simple marriage where the groom offers a pair of cows or a bull. He shows his responsibility and respect for the bride’s family.
- Prajapatya Vivah – A type where the bride’s father looks for a good husband and guides the couple to live in harmony.
- Gandharva Vivah – A love marriage where the couple chooses each other without seeking family approval.
- Asura Vivah – A marriage focused more on money than love and considered a bad practice.
- Rakshasa Vivah – A violent type of marriage where the groom takes the bride by force, which is considered wrong and is illegal today.
- Paishacha Vivah – An evil type of marriage that is condemned in Hindu teachings and seen as a crime today.
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