Saturday 11 December 2021

Marriage Sacraments

In Islam, it is mostly a civil contract, where the man has to look after the woman.

In Christianity, the marriage should hold good even in adverse circumstances, "in health & sickness" etc. The man should "love & cherish" the woman & she has to "honour & obey" him.

Only in Hinduism is marriage linked with the "Purusharthas" or goals of human life. The four goals are Dharma (righteousness), Artha (material possessions), Kama (Desire) & Moksha (Liberation). The wife is called "Dharma Patni" & most tellingly "Saha Dharmini." The primacy of Dharma is emphasised in this. She is a partner in the path of righteousness. She is not called "Saha Arthini" or "Saha Kamini". However attainment of Moksha is an individual effort for which no partner is required.

Unfortunately, this teaching has been reversed & wives behaving as they are not called are accepted as normal. Further, in many cases, they are even deflecting the man from the path of Dharma. Even Queen Kaikeyi in "Ramayana" did this though reasonably she was insisting on a promise given to her, she did deflect Dasharatha from the path of Dharma.

This may also be the reason behind the rising cases of divorce, being due to a warped sense of priorities.

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