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Marriages

The document discusses different types of marriages in India from sociological perspectives. It defines marriage according to different scholars and looks at the characteristics and aims of marriage universally. It then examines Hindu, Muslim and tribal marriages in India, highlighting differences in religious ceremonies, rules of exogamy and endogamy, concepts of purity and divorce between the groups.

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25 views10 pages

Marriages

The document discusses different types of marriages in India from sociological perspectives. It defines marriage according to different scholars and looks at the characteristics and aims of marriage universally. It then examines Hindu, Muslim and tribal marriages in India, highlighting differences in religious ceremonies, rules of exogamy and endogamy, concepts of purity and divorce between the groups.

Uploaded by

NikkuRaj
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Paper - 2

Systems of Kinship

By
N. Vijay Kumar
Marriage
Marriage
•  According to Malinowski, a legal marriage is one which gives a woman
a socially recognized husband and her children a socially recognized
father.
•  Radcliffe-Brown states that Marriage is a social arrangement by which
a child is given a legitimate position in the society determined by
parent hood in the social sense.
•  According to Westermarck it is a relation of one or more men to one or
more women which is recognized by custom or law and involves
certain rights and duties both in the case of parties entering the union
and in the case of children born out of this union.
Marriage
•  According to Lundberg, marriage consists of rules and
regulations that define the rights, duties and privileges of
husband and wife with respect to each other.
•  According to Horton and Hunt marriage is the approved
social pattern whereby two or more persons establish a
family.
Marriage
•  Hindu texts point out three main aims of marriage:
1.  Dharma (duty)
2.  Praja (progeny)
3.  Rati (sexual pleasure)
•  Islam looks upon marriage as Sunnah (an obligation) which must be
fulfilled by every Muslim.
•  So, even from religious point of view, marriage is a universal social
institution in India.
Characteristics of Marriage
Marriage may have the following characteristics:
1.  Marriage is a universal social institution. It is found in almost all societies and
at all stages of development.
2.  Marriage is a permanent bond between husband and wife. It is designed to
fulfill the social, psychological, biological and religious aims.
3.  Marriage is a specific relationship between two individuals of opposite sex
and based on mutual rights and obligations. Relationship is enduring.
4.  Marriage requires social approval. The relationship between men and women
must have social approval. Without which marriage is not valid.
Characteristics of Marriage
5.  Marriage establishes family. Family helps in providing facilities for the
procreation and upbringing of children.
6.  Marriage creates mutual obligations between husband and wife. The couples
fulfill their mutual obligations on the basis of customs or rules.
7.  Marriage is always associated with some civil and religious ceremony. This social
and religious ceremony provides validity to marriage. Though modern marriage
performed in courts, still it requires certain religious or customary practices.
8.  Marriage regulates sexual relationship according to prescribed customs and laws.
9.  Marriage has certain symbols like ring, vermillion, special cloths, and special sign
before the house etc.
Hindu Marriages
•  Among Hindus, marriage is a sacrament and a duty.
•  According to Kapadia, in his Marriage & Family in India, 1966 ,
rites like Homa, Panigrahna and Saptapadi, etc give marriage
a sacred meaning.
•  As a result, it is considered as indissoluble among Hindus.
•  It is bound by rules of Exogamy and Endogamy.
•  Sapindas rule is followed.
Muslim Marriages
•  Among Muslims, Marriage is not a sacrament, but more like a contract
and marriage is solemnized through a document called Nikahnama.
•  Polygamy is still allowed.
•  Both Exogamy and Endogamy is practiced.
•  Both cross and parallel cousin marriages are allowed.
•  In Muslims, the concept of purity of blood seems to be mainly
responsible for marriage preferences.
•  Significant feature of Muslim marriages is Mehr (guaranteeing of some
security in name of bride)
Tribal Marriages
•  Marriage by exchange.
•  Marriage by capture is where a man forcibly marries a woman.
•  Marriage by intrusion is where a woman forcibly marries a man.
•  Marriage by probation allow a man to stay at woman place for weeks together after which
if they decide to get married.
•  Marriage by purchase or giving b ride price. A man is required to give an agreed amount
of cash/kind to the parents of the bride as price which usually varies according to the
physical beauty and utility of the bride.
•  Marriage by service is where the man serves at his father-in-law's house before marriage.
•  Marriage by trial.
•  Marriage by mutual consent.
•  Marriage by elopement.

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