Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

PERCEPTIONS

VIVAAHA

SAMYOGA (MARRIAGE - SACRED UNION) Sthripumdharma (duties of husband and wife) Stripumdharma and eighteen titles of Vyavahara have been laid down in Manusmriti. Laws of this topic were meant to regulate the marriages. Obedience to it was necessary to have a lawful wedlock and legitimacy of children was intimately con- nected with the right of inheritance. One important aspect of this branch of law was that it did not envisage the institu- tion of any legal proceedings between hus- band and wife. WOMEN Sthridhana (Women’s property) Though women were treated as mem- bers of a joint family, they did not have any right of inheritance of the property of the family. Nor did she have any right to inherit the property of her husband's family. Thus a special provision to safeguard the interests of women was made in the form of sthridhana (women’s property). This was a progressive step to ameliorate her condition in society. Any wealth given to a woman by her father, mother, brother or was received by her as presents at the time of marriage, or given by the husband at the time of taking another wife, so also presents given by relatives as gifts subsequent to marriage constituted sthridhana. Katyayana, (an- cient legislator) mentions twenty-seven items which constituted sthridhana. Some of them are - 1. Adhyagni - What is given to a woman before nuptial fire during marriage. 2. Adhyavaharika- That which is given to a woman when she is taken in proces- sion, from her father’s house. 3. Pritidatta - That which is given out of love by father-in-law or mother-in-law or by any other elderly person, while doing obeisance or (bowing down) at their feet. 4. Sulka - Whatever is given as the bride's fee (in families where there is such a custom). 5. Saudayikam - That which is received by a married woman or by a maiden, in the house of her husband or of her father, from her brother or from her parents, is termed ‘a kind gift’. 6. Anavadhyaya - Whatever is received from the members of her parent's family

or from the members of her husband’s family subsequent to the marriage.

Sthrisangrahana

Sthrisangrahana

in-

cluded the offence of: 1. Winking at a woman, smiling at her or sending messages, constituted adulter- ous acts of the first degree. 2. Sending clothes, fruits, garlands or per- fumes or spirituous liquor is considered as adulterous acts of the second degree. 3. Sitting on the same bed, kissing or em- bracing is an adulterous act of the high- est degree ( Manu ) Punishment for Sthrisangrahana Men who commit adultery with the wives of others, the king shall impose such heavy punishments which would cause ter- ror, and he must also banish them. Viramitrodaya On taking the seventh step a woman ceases to belong to her Gothra (family) of birth and acquires the Gothra of her hus- band. Saptapadi The most important rite by which an orthodox Hindu marriage becomes final and unalterable is the Saptapadi rite (rite of seven steps). In this rite, the bridegroom and the bride take seven steps commencing from the western point, from her right foot, on seven small heaps of rice placed to the north of the sacred fire. It is after the seventh step that the bride gets transformed into wife and the bride- groom into husband.

The prince Sri Rama was hesitating to take Sita to the forest. She was not asked by Kaikeyi to go to the forest. She reminded the Prince as to what his duty was, what duty she had to perform, and convinced him that her place was with him in the forest and not in the kingdom without him. Thus, you have a duty to encourage him to do the right thing. The lady has to be ready to make abundant sacrifices. Sita pointed out to Rama the duty as had been done by their forefathers. No sacrifice was too big to ensure the mental harmony. Swayamvar — Choice by self Marriage - a Samskaara The coming together of a man and woman is necessary for the fulfilment of the threefold ideals of life i.e., Dharma (right- eous rules of conduct), Artha (wealth and prosperity) and Kaama (desire). At the time of marriage, the bride’s fa- ther addresses the bridegroom with the fol- lowing words : You shall not transgress her in the attainment of Dharma, Artha and Kaama. The bridegroom accepts the condition with these words : I shall not transgress her in the matters of Dharma, Artha and Kaama. Mutual Fidelity (the highest rule) Mutual fidelity must continue until death and this is the highest law for the husband and wife. The mutual trust be- tween them is the very foundation for sus- taining the matrimonial bond. The stability of a marriage rests on three pillars, namely, mutual trust, bilateral respect and sympathetic understanding. Out of these, ‘trust’ is the most important aspect for sustaining a matrimonial home.