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I shall not transgress Dharma, in matters of Artha and Kama.

I shall not transgress Dharma, in matters of Artha and Kama.

The promise taken indicates that the purpose of marriage was the fulfillment of [[Trivarga]] doctrine throughout the life of husband and wife. This aspect is brought out in the' [[Saptapadi]] ', (the ceremony of taking seven steps by the bride) at the end of which there is a declaration that they become life long friends. Though the '[[Saptapadhi]]' ceremony was an essential precondition for an orthodox Hindu Marriage, the spirit and purpose of [['Vivaha Samskara]]' in whatever manner performed was one and the same, The husband and the wife, were regarded as one soul with two bodies. Like real friends, they had to share the joy or suffering of life and live together with mutual adjustments disregarding momentary anger or likes or dislikes arising out of temperamental or other differences. This attitude was not only for their happiness but also for the purpose of discharging the onerous responsibilities of upbringing and educating their children.

The promise taken indicates that the purpose of marriage was the fulfillment of [[Trivarga]] doctrine throughout the life of husband and wife. This aspect is brought out in the' [[Saptapadi]] ', (the ceremony of taking seven steps by the bride) at the end of which there is a declaration that they become life long friends. Though the '[[Saptapadhi]]' ceremony was an essential precondition for an orthodox Hindu Marriage, the spirit and purpose of [['Vivaha Samskara]]' in whatever manner performed was one and the same, The husband and the wife, were regarded as one soul with two bodies. Like real friends, they had to share the joy or suffering of life and live together with mutual adjustments disregarding momentary anger or likes or dislikes arising out of temperamental or other differences. This attitude was not only for their happiness but also for the purpose of discharging the onerous responsibilities of upbringing and educating their children.

In order to impress upon the minds of the bride and bridegroom the sanctity and permanence of marriage bond and to make them to commit publicly, in the presence of relatives and guests, that they would fulfill the obligations of married life towards the society vivaha was prescribed as a Samskara. which is one of the most important and basic aspects of the social system based on Dharma. It was regarded as the foundation of family life. After marriage the husband and the wife would enter the stage in life, which was called "[[Grihasthashrama]]" (Householder) ie., family life, during which it was the duty of every family to discharge its social obligation. The relationship was not merely sexual. The husband and the wife were together required to observe a code of conduct, and they had to discharge their responsibility jointly. In particular, they were together required to discharge four pious obligations namely; (i) towards the God, (ii) towards parents, (iii) towards teacher and (iv) towards humanity. (For elucidation read Chapter- V)

In order to impress upon the minds of the bride and bridegroom the sanctity and permanence of marriage bond and to make them to commit publicly, in the presence of relatives and guests, that they would fulfill the obligations of married life towards the society vivaha was prescribed as a Samskara. which is one of the most important and basic aspects of the social system based on Dharma. It was regarded as the foundation of family life. After marriage the husband and the wife would enter the stage in life, which was called "[[Grihasthashrama]]" (Householder) ie., family life, during which it was the duty of every family to discharge its social obligation. The relationship was not merely sexual. The husband and the wife were together required to observe a code of conduct, and they had to discharge their responsibility jointly.  

 

The Vedas laid down that every individual should discharge three pious obligations. This concept of pious obligations emanated from one of the basic values of life evolved as part of Dharma, namely, "Gratitude", in that every individual has an obligation to the source from which every type of benefit was received by him including his own coming into existence. The three pious obligations were

 

(1) Towards God (Devaruna),

 

(ii) Towards Parents (Pitruruna)

 

(iii) Towards Rishis (Rishi Runa).

 

(iv) towards humanity.  

 

This could be discharged only by living together with mutual love and fidelity throughout their life which is the sum and substance of dharma of husband and wife. To impress upon every couple this aspect '''Manusmriti -IX -101 and III-60''' declared thus:

This could be discharged only by living together with mutual love and fidelity throughout their life which is the sum and substance of dharma of husband and wife. To impress upon every couple this aspect '''Manusmriti -IX -101 and III-60''' declared thus: