Rules of Marriage

RULES OF MARRIAGE

Marriage is not a mere license to live as spouses. It provides the basis of social structure and involves social, mutual and individual obligations. Marriage bonds are, therefore, in every society strictly disciplined by exogamous and endogamous restrictions. Marriage is made possible under the conditions that society deems fit. The restrictions differ from society to society; so also differ from time to time. The conditions have been laid and changed also in the interest of harmony and betterment. Endogamy and exogamy are the two main rules of marriage that condition marital choice.

1. ENDOGAMY OR ENDOGAMOUS MARRIAGE:

Endogamy is the form of marriage in which one must marry within one’s own caste or other group. This rule does not permit marriage of close kin. These endogamous groups specifically refer to tribe, caste, sub-caste, and varna endogamy.

i. Tribal or Divisional Endogamy:  

This is the endogamy in which no individual can marry outside his own tribe or division. Like caste, a tribe is also an endogamous unit.

ii. Caste Endogamy: 

This form of caste endogamy, prohibits the members of a caste to marry outside their own caste.

iii. Sub-caste endogamy: 

This is the type of endogamy in which choice for marriage is restricted to the sub-caste.

iv. Varna Endogamy: 

Varna endogamy prescribes marriages between the members of the same Varna. Marriage between the members of the same varan was regarded as proper and ideal.

2. EXOGAMY OR EXOGAMOUS MARRIAGE:

Exogamy refers to the rule that a man must marry someone outside his own group. It prohibits marrying within groups such as gotra, pravara, sapinda and village.

i. Gotra Exogamy: 

Gotra refers to the clan. Members of a particular gotra or clan are supposed to have close blood relations among themselves. Hence the Hindu practice of one marrying outside one’s own ‘gotra’ is gotra exogamy.

ii. Pravara Exogamy: 

Pravara means siblings. People originating from a common saint are said to belong to a particular Pravara. According to Pravara exogamy, one has to marry outside one’s own pravara. Marriage within pravara is forbidden.

iii. Sapinda Exogamy: 

Sapinda means-lineage. People belonging to five generations from the father side and three or seven generations from the mother side are known as sapindas. They believed to belong to a particular pinda. Hence according to sapinda exogamy marriage within one’s own sapinda is forbidden. They are supposed to marry outside one’s own sapinda.

iv. Village Exogamy: 

According to this principle marriage within one’s own village is forbidden each and every society prescribes certain rules relating to marriage. Some societies put several restrictions on marriage among kins whereas some other societies allow marriage between a limited number of kins.

There is a greater trend towards exogamous marriage. Since endogamy is said to be conservative, it is widely criticized. Exogamy is appreciated as progressive and more scientific. It also brought peoples of various castes, races, religious groups and tribals together. It can effectively reduce social distance among people and encourage and support social solidarity and communal unity.