Sociology · Sociology of Indian Society
Chapter 4 : MARRIAGE SYSTEM IN INDIA
Table of contents27 sections
- 1.MARRIAGE SYSTEM IN INDIA
- 2.Marriage Among the Hindus
- 3.The Hindu Marriage
- 4.Key Terms
- 5.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 6.Marriage Among Muslims in India
- 7.Marriage is Universal Among the Muslims
- 8.Main Aims and Objects of Muslim Marriage
- 9.Characteristic Features or Pre-Conditions of Muslim Marriage
- 10.Conditions of Void or Invalid Marriage
- 11.Importance of Mahr or Dower in Muslim Marriage
- 12.Divorce Among the Muslims
- 13.Importance of "Iddat" in Muslims' Divorce
- 14.Differences Between Hindu and Muslim Marriages
- 15.Types of Marriage in the Pre-Islamic Arab Society
- 16.Key Terms
- 17.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 18.Christian Marriage
- 19.Aims or Objectives of Christian Marriage
- 20.Selection of Marital Partners
- 21.Christian Marital Practice
- 22.Legislations Relating to Christian Marriage and Divorce
- 23.Provision for Divorce
- 24.Position of Women in the Christian Community
- 25.Key Terms
- 26.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 27.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
MARRIAGE SYSTEM IN INDIA
Marriage Among the Hindus
Marriage is a universal social institution established to control and regulate human sex life. It is the cornerstone of civil society and complementary to the institution of family. Both institutions have biological foundations and have existed in India since time immemorial.
- Gillin and Gilin state: "Marriage is a socially approved way of establishing a family of procreation."
- Westermarck remarks: "Marriage is rooted in the family rather than the family in the marriage."
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1956) observes: "Marriage is not a mere convention but an implicit condition of human society... It is an adjustment between the biological purposes of nature and the sociological purposes of man....... It is an institution, it is a device for the expression and development of love."
- C.B. Mamoria comments on the Indian tradition: "we are a much marrying people. We marry early and we marry in large number."
The Hindu Marriage
In the Hindu social heritage, marriage is viewed from a spiritual rather than a materialistic perspective. It is a sacrament, not a contract. The Rig Veda (X 85) speaks of its sanctity as a lifelong binding force where the wife is a god-given gift. The Taittiriya Brahmana states a man is only a half-man, and his wife is his second half (Ardhangini).
Hindu Marriage - A Religious Duty and Not a Contract
Every Hindu is committed to marriage as a sacred Vivaha Samskara (sacrament). It is not a "social contract" or a "licence for sex life".
- Grihasthashrama: The householder stage of life, which can only be entered after marriage. With the marriage sacrament, man and woman as husband and wife establish the family, the home or griha. It is a well thought-out social institution "shaped, organised and idealised by human effort, ingenuity and wisdom for ages past" (P.H. Prabhu, 1998).
- Grihyasutras (composed around 6th century B.C.): Generally begin with Vivaha Samskara because it is the origin of all domestic sacrifices. They presuppose every normal man will marry and run a family (kutumba).
- Vedic Origins : Marriage ceremonies found…
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