Different Types of Hindu Marriage

Apart from being a social contract and a promise for infidelity, the Hindu Marriage holds a paramount importance in terms of religious aspects. Grounded on the interminable philosophies of Vedas and other holy scriptures, the Hindu Marriage is an irrevocable bond of mutual loyalty that lasts forever.


According to “Manusmriti” (Laws of Manu), an ancient metrical texts on Hinduism, there are eight types of Hindu Marriage. “Manusmriti” was written by “Manu,” the progenitor of mankind in Hindu tradition, holding the identical position of Biblical Adam. “Manu” is the person who established the social laws for Hindus.
Here are the eight different types of Hindu Marriage that were or still prevalent among people following Hinduism.


Brahma Marriage: Brahma Marriage holds a supreme position among all the eight types of Hindu Marriage. In this type of marriage, boy’s parents seek a bride of same Varna belonging to a good family, once their son completes his student hood. In this type of Hindu Marriage, no materialistic demands are made by the boy’s family. That’s the reason; the Brahma Marriage opposes the dowry system.


Daiva Marriage: When the parents of girl fail to find a suitable groom after waiting for a reasonable period, they eventually give away their daughter to a priest as a sacrifice. In this type of Hindu Marriage, the bride is well groomed with ornaments and is married to the priest, making the entire phenomenon as a demeaning practise for womanhood.


Arsha Marriage: In this type of Hindu Marriage, the Arsha (Sage) offers a cow and a bull to the father of girl, and in return, he receives the girl as his bride. This type of Marriage usually happens when bride’s family in unable to afford the expenses of marriage at the appropriate time. This system is not considered baronial, as any kind of business or monetary transactions are prohibited in the noble marriage.



Prajapatya Marriage: Prajapatya Marriage is a bit different system of Marriage where bride is handed over to groom before the marriage. This phenomenon is called “Panigrahan Sanskar” which is generally an acceptance of bride’s hand by the boy. After the “Panigrahan Sanskar,” actual wedding ceremony takes place.


Gandharva Marriage: Best known as the Love Marriage, this type of Hindu Marriage happens when girl and boy marry each without the consent of their parents. The ancient literature of Hindu mythology is severely occupied with the Gandharva Marriage taking Dushyant and Shakuntala, Kach and Devyani, Bhim and Hidima and others as a potent example.


Asura Marriage: This marriage is commodification of a woman. In this system, an unsuitable boy approaches the family of the girl and offers as much wealth as he is able to afford the girl as his bride. Even if the boy is no way a match for the bride, he gets are by the power of wealth.


Rakshasa Marriage: In this type of Marriage, the bride is forcefully taken away from her family by the bridegroom. This system is a highly disgraceful form of marriage as it involves the use of crime and improper use of force.


Paishacha Marriage: This is an unanimously damned type of Hindu Marriage, where the girls is intoxicated and abducted, and is compelled to marry even against her desires.

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