Gandharva marriage

A Gandharva Marriage (Sanskrit: गन्धर्व विवाह, pronounced gənd̪ʱərvə vɪvaːhə) is a historic marriage tradition from the Indian subcontinent based on mutual attraction between a man and a woman, with no rituals, witnesses or family participation.[1] The marriage of Dushyanta and Shakuntala was a historically-celebrated example of this class of marriage.[2]

As the historical Vedic religion evolved into classical orthodox Hinduism (ca. 500BC), the social ideas advanced by Manu gained prominence, and large sections of Indian society moved towards patriarchy and caste-based rules. Manu and others attacked the Gandharva and other similar systems, decrying them as holdouts "from the time of promiscuity" which, at best, were only suitable for small sections of society.[2] However, as late as 1817, Gandharva marriages were ruled legal for some social groups by the Bengal Saddar Court.[3]

Etymology

Mythic beings in Hinduism and Buddhism, Gandharvas are male nature spirits and the masculine counterparts of the Apsaras. They are passionate lovers of women and arouse erotic and romantic passion in women.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Catherine Benton, God of Desire: Tales of Kamadeva in Sanskrit Story Literature, SUNY Press, 2006, ISBN 9780791465660, http://books.google.com/books?id=cWAh8sL3gOEC, "... male counterparts of apsaras, gandharvas are known to love women; and women fall instantly for the charms of gandharva men ... awaken sexual passion in women ... In a gandharva marriage, a man and woman are so drawn to one another in mutual passion that they run off together without ceremony or consent of their families ..." 
  2. ^ a b Johann Jakob Meyer, Sexual life in ancient India: a study in the comparative history of Indian culture, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1989, ISBN 9788120806382, http://books.google.com/books?id=izFNswlJ9LMC, "... Gandharva marriage, which is also part of the orthodox system ... Dushyanta. This king's Gandharva marriage with Cakuntala, which is well-known especially through Kalidasa's drama, is a celebrated example ... only for warrior nobility according likewise to Manu ... Narada states without hesitation that this kind of marriage belongs to all castes alike ... 'survival from the time of promiscuity'; might well be understood from an "inter-ethnic" standpoint ..." 
  3. ^ John Dawson Mayne, A treatise on Hindu law and usage, Higginbotham, 1878, http://books.google.com/books?id=FwsTAAAAYAAJ, "... The validity of a Gandharva marriage between Kshatriyas appears to have been declared by the Bengal Sudder Court in 1817 ..."