Manusmriti Series-1 : Types of Marriages

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Manusmriti (also known as the Mānava-Dharmaśāstra or Laws of Manu) is an important and controversial text (in modern times) that has greatly influenced and influencing political and cultural fabrics in India and also influenced the ruling class in Myanmar and and Thailand back in the day.

There is some general spiritual content here and there in it but mostly it is a bunch of laws for men, women, marriage, caste system, etc for political administration purposes back in ancient vedic culture where there were no automobiles, no internet, no globalization, no concept of democracy, strong monarchy system like elsewhere in the world and people remained in set of villages and followed strict caste system back in the day (World was primitive like that in 1000 BCE like that, there might be exceptions in stray places).

Today, some of the content would be outrageous when applied to modern day standard, which is not a proper method to compare a political literature since political systems change every few centuries to few decades now.

But was it outrageous back in the day or was it a necessary evil or it was the reality of primitve days? That remains a mysterious question till today unless someone comes with a better system to administer back in 1000 BCE in vedic cultured mainland India? At the sametime, can it be applied in Modern India or it needs drastic reform ?

Who dares to touch it to earn the resentment of several astral and physical pro-vedic battalions and groups ? Unless one is empowered by Supreme deities, it is a very risky mission for any jivatma (limited entity). Empowerment from opposing astral anti-vedic battalions to counter vedic battalions or missionaries or scriptures is a dangerous route because such empowerment by lower deities or asura (demonic) deities are not enough to counter and can gas out in middle of such a mammoth mission.

Buddha was an exception and Supreme deity who countered the Vedic, pro-vedic & vedic derived scriptures in the context of enlightenment or spiritual liberation. For political and administrative purposes, there isn't much in Buddhist literatures as it focusses exclusively on self liberation and austerities, very little for political or administrative people.

Excerpt from Manusmriti (also known as the Mānava-Dharmaśāstra or Laws of Manu) translation.

THE LAWS OF MANUTranslated by G. Buhler

Professor Johann Georg Bühler (July 19, 1837 – April 8, 1898) was a scholar of ancient Indian languages and law.

Topic 7: The marriage rites7.1 The eight marriage rites

Now listen to (the) brief (description of) the following eight marriage-rites used by the four castes (varna) which partly secure benefits and partly produce evil both in this life and after death. [v.3.20.]
(They are) the rite of Brahman (Brahma), that of the gods (Daiva), that of the Rishis (Arsha), that of Pragapati (Pragapatya), that of the Asuras (Asura), that of the Gandharvas (Gandharva), that of the Rhashasas (Rakshasa), and that of the Pisakas (Paisaka). [v.3.21.]
Which is lawful for each caste (varna) and which are the virtues or faults of each (rite), all this I will declare to you, as well as their good and evil results with respect to the offspring. [v.3.22.]
One may know that the first six according to the order (followed above) are lawful for a Brahmana, the four last for a Kshatriya, and the same four, excepting the Rakshasa rite, for a Vaisya and a Sudra. [v.3.23.]
The sages state that the first four are approved (in the case) of a Brahmana, one, the Rakshasa (rite in the case) of a Kshatriya, and the Asura (marriage in that) of a Vaisya and of a Sudra. [v.3.24.]
But in these (Institutes of the sacred law) three of the five (last) are declared to be lawful and two unlawful; the Paisaka and the Asura (rites) must never be used. [v.3.25.]
For Kshatriyas those before-mentioned two rites, the Gandharva and the Rakshasa, whether separate or mixed, are permitted by the sacred tradition. [v.3.26.]

7.1.1 The Brahma riteThe gift of a daughter, after decking her (with costly garments) and honouring (her by presents of jewels), to a man learned in the Veda and of good conduct, whom (the father) himself invites, is called the Brahma rite. [v.3.27.]
7.1.2 The Daiva riteThe gift of a daughter who has been decked with ornaments, to a priest who duly officiates at a sacrifice, during the course of its performance, they call the Daiva rite. [v.3.28.]
7.1.3 The Arsha riteWhen (the father) gives away his daughter according to the rule, after receiving from the bridegroom, for (the fulfilment of) the sacred law, a cow and a bull or two pairs, that is named the Arsha rite. [v.3.29.]
7.1.4 The Prajapatya riteThe gift of a daughter (by her father) after he has addressed (the couple) with the text, 'May both of you perform together your duties,' and has shown honour (to the bridegroom), is called in the Smriti the Pragapatya rite. [v.3.30.]
7.1.5 The Asura riteWhen (the bridegroom) receives a maiden, after having given as much wealth as he can afford, to the kinsmen and to the bride herself, according to his own will, that is called the Asura rite. [v.3.31.]
7.1.6 The Gandharva riteThe voluntary union of a maiden and her lover one must know (to be) the Gandharva rite, which springs from desire and has sexual intercourse for its purpose. [v.3.32.]
7.1.7 The Rakshasa riteThe forcible abduction of a maiden from her home, while she cries out and weeps, after (her kinsmen) have been slain or wounded and (their houses) broken open, is called the Rakshasa rite. [v.3.33.]
7.1.8 The Pisaca riteWhen (a man) by stealth seduces a girl who is sleeping, intoxicated, or disordered in intellect, that is the eighth, the most base and sinful rite of the Pisakas. [v.3.34.]

The gift of daughters among Brahmanas is most approved, (if it is preceded) by (a libation of) water; but in the case of other castes (it may be performed) by (the expression of) mutual consent. [v.3.35.]

7.1.9 The qualities of the ritesListen now to me, ye Brahmanas, while I fully declare what quality has been ascribed by Manu to each of these marriage-rites. [v.3.36.]

The son of a wife wedded according to the Brahma rite, if he performs meritorious acts, liberates from sin ten ancestors, ten descendants and himself as the twenty-first. [v.3.37.]
The son born of a wife, wedded according to the Daiva rite, likewise (saves) seven ancestors and seven descendants, the son of a wife married by the Arsha rite three (in the ascending and descending lines), and the son of a wife married by the rite of Ka (Pragapati) six (in either line). [v.3.38.]
From the four marriages, (enumerated) successively, which begin with the Brahma rite spring sons, radiant with knowledge of the Veda and honoured by the Sishtas (good men). [v.3.39.]
Endowed with the qualities of beauty and goodness, possessing wealth and fame, obtaining as many enjoyments as they desire and being most righteous, they will live a hundred years. [v.3.40.]
But from the remaining (four) blameable marriages spring sons who are cruel and speakers of untruth, who hate the Veda and the sacred law. [v.3.41.]
In the blameless marriages blameless children are born to men, in blameable (marriages) blameable (offspring); one should therefore avoid the blameable (forms of marriage). [v.3.42.]
The ceremony of joining the hands is prescribed for (marriages with) women of equal caste (varna); know that the following rule (applies) to weddings with females of a different caste (varna). [v.3.43.]On marrying a man of a higher caste a Kshatriya bride must take hold of an arrow, a Vaisya bride of a goad, and a Sudra female of the hem of the (bridegroom's) garment. [v.3.44.]

Interesting note:

In the above excerpt The Brahma rite is the arranged marriage where parents of bride and groom fix the marriage common in Asian & Indian cultures.

7.1.1 The Brahma riteThe gift of a daughter, after decking her (with costly garments) and honouring (her by presents of jewels), to a man learned in the Veda and of good conduct, whom (the father) himself invites, is called the Brahma rite. [v.3.27.]
1. The son of a wife wedded according to the Brahma rite, if he performs meritorious acts, liberates from sin ten ancestors, ten descendants and himself as the twenty-first. [v.3.37.]
2. From the four marriages, (enumerated) successively, which begin with the Brahma rite spring sons, radiant with knowledge of the Veda and honoured by the Sishtas (good men). [v.3.39.]
3. Endowed with the qualities of beauty and goodness, possessing wealth and fame, obtaining as many enjoyments as they desire and being most righteous, they will live a hundred years. [v.3.40.]

The Gandharva rite is the love marriage between the boy and girl without any parents consent done solely on the sexual attraction basis.

The Rakshasa (demon) and the Pisaca (very base demon creatures feasting on corpses, etc) type are marraiges are also common in India, Asia and can also been seen remote cases in Western lands. Rape, intoxicating and forceful abduction are the equivalents of it.

Are the benefits mentioned in Brahma Rite or type of marriage is true, has all the ten ancestors liberated of their sin? I have seen several ancestors still roaming around begging for the body and also many of died in young age and middle aged who were begotten thru the Brahma type (or as close to this type) of marriage in modern times. It is good to know how things were back in primitive days.

7.1.5 The Asura riteWhen (the bridegroom) receives a maiden, after having given as much wealth as he can afford, to the kinsmen and to the bride herself, according to his own will, that is called the Asura rite. [v.3.31.]
7.1.6 The Gandharva riteThe voluntary union of a maiden and her lover one must know (to be) the Gandharva rite, which springs from desire and has sexual intercourse for its purpose. [v.3.32.]
7.1.7 The Rakshasa riteThe forcible abduction of a maiden from her home, while she cries out and weeps, after (her kinsmen) have been slain or wounded and (their houses) broken open, is called the Rakshasa rite. [v.3.33.]
7.1.8 The Pisaca riteWhen (a man) by stealth seduces a girl who is sleeping, intoxicated, or disordered in intellect, that is the eighth, the most base and sinful rite of the Pisakas. [v.3.34.]

But from the remaining (four) blameable marriages spring sons who are cruel and speakers of untruth, who hate the Veda and the sacred law. [v.3.41.]
In the blameless marriages blameless children are born to men, in blameable (marriages) blameable (offspring); one should therefore avoid the blameable (forms of marriage). [v.3.42.]

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