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== Definition of Family ==

== Definition of Family ==

A number of sociologists and social scientists have defined the family in a number of ways. Many opine  

A number of modern sociologists and social scientists have defined the family in a number of ways. Many opine that the family is a definite and long-term group defined by the conjugal relationships that reproduce and bring up children. It may include other blood-relations also but it is mainly formed by living together of man, woman and their children. The unit formed by their living together is called family. When people of many generations and relatives can also live together in a family. The unit that is thus formed is called ‘dynasty’ by Ogburn and Nimkoff. They distinguished between family and dynasty.<ref name=":0" />

that the family is a definite and long-term group defined by the conjugal relationships that reproduce and bring up children. It may include other blood-relations also but it is mainly formed by living together of man, woman and their children. The unit formed by their living together is called family. When people of many generations and relatives can also live together in a family. The unit that is thus formed is called ‘dynasty’ by Ogburn and Nimkoff They distinguished between family and dynasty.<ref name=":0" />

The families of India, however, comprised of the husband, wife, children, brothers and sisters, and parents, as is fully indicated by various Grhya karmas. It includes even the students, who has the authority to perform regular worship in the Grhyagni of a grhastha, in his absence. Grhyagni was the symbol of a household and each household must possess its own Grhyagni. The existence of a joint family system is indicated by several Sutras. Contrary to the sociologists' views of just the husband, wife and children constituting a family, the Indian family system advocated a united undivided family consisting of the parents, siblings and even students. It is no wonder that our seers expressed that the world is one family, "vasudaiva kutumbakam" which aptly depicts the inclusiveness of the sanatana kutumba vyavastha. <blockquote>अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् ।</blockquote><blockquote>उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥ ७१॥  (Maha. Upan. 6.71)</blockquote>We find the following version of the same purport in use.<blockquote>अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्। उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥</blockquote><blockquote>ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām । udāracaritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam ॥</blockquote>

== References ==

== References ==

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