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गान्धर्वेण च मां भीरु विवाहेनैहि सुन्दरि ।
विवाहानां हि रम्भोरु गान्धर्वः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
Indian marriages have always been adored worldwide due to their classical and traditional rituals. Gandharva Vivaha is one among the eight ancient marriages mentioned in the Hindu Vedas.
‘Gandharva’ denotes a group of celestial musicians in Sanskrit. As per Hindu Dharma, Gandharvas were stellar musicians and singers who lived in heaven and entertained the gods and goddesses with melodious music.
Music is the essence of every love and emotion. From here arrives the concept of Gandharva Vivaha, based on pure love and passion between the bride and the groom. The best examples of Gandharva Vivaha are King Dushyanta with Shankuntala, Bhima with Hidimba, Daksheya with Prajapati, Kach with Devyani, and Kamdev with Rathi.
Historic Importance of Gandharva Vivaha
According to the Apastamba Grhyasutra, the Gandharva Vivaha occurs when couples find a mutual connection. In Rigvedic times, the bride and groom tied the knot without their parents’ consent. Usually, the bride and groom belong to the same village or meet at the village function, fair, temple, or festival. It is how they choose their partners through regular meetups and decide to spend the rest of their lives together.
Customs and rituals of Gandharva Vivaha
There are no typical marriage rituals binding this type of marriage. The marriage takes place in a temple during the daytime. The bride and groom then exchange a garland or wedding jaimalas of fresh rose flowers. No yagnas are performed. Certain vows are to be taken by the married couple.
These vows comprise promises to love and keep each other happy ever after. Also, there is no compulsion of family or parents being present. All this solely depends on the consent of the boy and the girl. Ultimately, the couple seeks blessing from the temple priest or any elder who has no objection to the marriage.
The Downfall of Gandharva Vivaha
Around the 16th century, the practice of Gandharva Vivaha began to drop drastically. One theory suggests that there was social confusion about girls getting married at the age of 16 and below. All this gave rise to the tradition of Baal Vivaha (child marriage) coming into existence. Conflicts and arguments arose as rituals and customs were essential to legitimate marriage ceremonies.
Later, the arrival of Muslim rulers also influenced this marriage system. Their culture also favoured child marriages before the girls even became mature enough. All these malpractices led to their inability to choose a man of their choice, leading to Gandharva Vivaha.
Not only that, but society even pressured girl children to opt for early arranged marriages. Correspondingly, the economic point of view was another reason for disapproving of Gandharva’s marriage. Alternatively, the priest communities encouraged Brahma Marriage and other rituals. Also, they believed that Gandharva Vivaha was inappropriate and disapproving of Hindus. According to Asvalayana Grahyasutra, this marriage fell under the Adharma Category. It hampers the ancestors’ natural process of gaining salvation (moksha).
Relationship of Gandharva Vivaha with Modern Age
The concept of traditional Gandharva Vivaha has eventually started to be adopted in modern times. Nowadays, people denote it as a love Marriage. Brides and grooms are again involved in choosing their partners purely based on mutual attraction, even though people face many hurdles in terms of inter-caste marriage and caste differences between two families. All this ultimately gives both individuals the freedom to finally choose as per their preferences and choices.
Conclusion
Gandharva Vivaha is an ancient and beautiful concept of two souls uniting regardless of their caste, creed, and traditions. This marriage is a pure amalgamation of love and mutual consent. In today’s world, Gandharva Vivaha can be a challenging task. But a person can conquer all these complications with proper understanding and communication and prioritize love over everything else.
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