Marriage
Marriage
Marriage
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Definition of Marriage:
Different scholars and sociologist have tried to define it. They differ from each other.
(1) According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Marriage is a physical, legal and moral union
between man and woman in complete community life for the establishment of a family.
(2) According to Malinowski, Marriage is a contract for the production and maintenance of
children.
(3) Edward Westermark in his famous book History of human marriage defined, Marriage
is a relation of one or more men to one or more women which is recognized by customs or
law and involves certain rights and duties both in case of parties entering into the union and
woman are socially permitted without loss of standing in community to have children.
mates.
(6) According to Horton and Hunt, Marriage is the approved social pattern whereby two or
(7) According to Hoebel, The complexes of social norms that define and Control the
relations of a mated pair to each other their kinsmen, their offspring and their society at
large.
Thus from the above analysis it is concluded that marriage is both a biological, psychological,
cultural and social affair. Marriage is a special type of relationship between permissible mates
involving certain rights and obligations. That is why Lundberg is right when he opines that
Marriage consists of the rules and regulations which define the rights, duties and privileges
Characteristics of Marriage:
(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
(3) Marriage is a specific relationship between two individuals of opposite sex and based on
(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 couple fulfill their
(7) Marriage is always associated with some civil and religious ceremony. This social and
(8) Marriage regulates sex relationship according to prescribed customs and laws.
(9) Marriage has certain symbols like ring, vermillion, special cloths, special sign before the
house etc.
Types of Marriage:
As a universal social institution marriage is found to exist in all societies and at all stages of
development. Types or forms of marriage varies from society to society. Types or forms of
marriage in different communities, societies and cultural groups differ according to their
sacrament whereas in others it is a social contract. However, there are several types of
On the basis of number of mates marriage may be classified into three types such as
Monogamy, Polygamy and Endogamy or group marriage. This can be known from the
following diagram.
(1) Monogamy:
Monogamy is an ideal, widespread and rational type of marriage. It is found in all civilized
societies. Monogamy refers to a marriage of one man with one woman at a time. This type of
marriage is normally unbreakable in nature. It continue till death. Today the principle of
monogamy i.e. one husband and one wife is practised and emphasised throughout the world.
In case of non-serial monogamy the question of remarriage does not arise by either of the
couple. Here a spouse has the same single spouse throughout his life.
However, Monogamy is an ideal or best form of marriage because of its different advantages
(1) It is suitable for all society and for all levels of people.
Because of the above advantages Monogamy is considered as the best form of marriage and
(2) Polygamy:
marry more than one woman or a woman to marry more than one man at a time. Polygamy is
(i) Polygamy:
Polygamy is a type of marriage in which a man marries more than one wife at a time. In this
type of marriage each wife has her separate household and the husband visits them in turn. It
was a preferred form of marriage in ancient Indian society. But now it was not in practice
But it is now found among few tribals such as Naga, Gond and Baiga. Economic and
political cause was mainly responsible for polygamy. Besides mans taste for variety,
enforced celibacy, Barrenness of women more women population etc. are some of the cause
of polygamy. Polygamy is further divided into two types such as Sororal polygyny and non-
sororal polygyny.
word sorer which means sister. Accordingly it refers to a marriage practice in which a man
marries the sisters of his wife at a time or after the death of his wife.
It is just opposite of the sororal polygamy, when a man marries several women at a time who
(ii) Polyandry:
Polyandry is a very rare type of marriage in present day. In this type of marriage a woman
marries several men at a time. In the words of K.M. Kapadia, Polyandry is a form of union
in which a woman has more than one husband at a time or in which brothers share a wife or
wives in common. At present it is found among some of the tribes like toda, khasi and nayars.
Polyandry is divided into two types such as fraternal polyandry and non-fraternal polyandry.
(a)Fraternal Polyandry:
When several brothers share a common wife it is called as fraternal polyandry. Draupadis
associated with some rituals. At present time this type of marriage is practised by some tribals
It is just opposite of fraternal polyandry. In this type of marriage husbands of a woman is not
necessarily brother to each other. This type of marriage is found among the Nayars of Kerala,
Wife goes to spend some time with each of her husband. So long as a woman lives with one
of her husbands, the others have no claim on her. This mainly happens due to scarcity of
women.
Endogamy is otherwise known as group marriage. In this type of marriage a group of men
marry a group of women at a time. Every woman is the wife of every man belonging to the
particular groups. Sociologist, like Dr. Rivers call it as a kind of sexual communism. This
type of marriage is found among some tribes of New Guinea and Africa,
(B) On the basis of choice of mate or on the basis of rules of mate selection:
Marriage may be divided into two types i.e. endogamous and exogamous marriages on the
basis of choice of mate or on the basis of the rules of choice of mate. Endogamy is divided
into four sub types such as caste, sub-caste, varna and tribal endogamy. Similarly exogamous
marriage may be divided into four sub-types such as Gotra, Pravar, Sapinda and village
Endogamy or endogamous marriage refers to the marriage within ones own group such as
within ones own caste, sub-caste, varna and tribe. In other words there are several types of
endogamous marriage such as caste endogamy, sub-caste endogamy, varna endogamy and
tribal endogamy.
Caste endogamy is a type of endogamous marriage in which marriage takes place within
ones own caste. In a caste based society endogamy is strictly followed. Members of each
It is another type of endogamous marriage. In a caste based society each caste is divided into
many sub-castes. Like caste each sub-caste is also an endogamous unit. In sub-caste
we found the existence of four varnas such as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra. In varna
Tribe is a territorial group. Tribal endogamy is a type of endogamous married in which the
choice of mate is restricted to ones own tribal group. Like caste tribe is also an endogamous
unit.
sapinda or village. This is a sound marriage system which leads to the creation of healthy and
intelligent children. However there are several forms of exogamy such as:
Gotra refers to clan. Members of a particular gotra or clan supposed to have close blood
relation among themselves. Hence according to gotra exogamy one has to marry outside
Pravara means siblings. People originating from a common saint are said to belong a
particular Pravara. According to Pravara exogamy one has to marry outside ones own
Sapinda means-lineage. People belonging to five generations from father side and three or
seven generation from mother side are known as sapindas. They believed to belong a
particular pinda. Hence according to sapinda exogamy marriage within ones own sapinda is
According to this principle marriage within ones 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 allows marriage between a limited
number of kins.
other words on the basis of preference marriage may be divided into four types such as cross-
When marriage takes place between ones mothers brothers daughter/son with fathers
sisters son/daughter we called it as cross cousin marriage. The marriage of Abhimanyu with
Sashikala is an example of this cross-cousin type of marriage. This type of marriage supposed
to be practised in some part of Orissa, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra etc. This type of marriage
occur to avoid payment of high bride price and to maintain ones family property.
When marriage takes place between the children of either two sisters or two brothers it is
known as parallel cousin marriage. This type of marriage is mostly found among Muslims.
(iii) Levirate:
It is otherwise known as Devar Vivaha. When a woman marries her husbands brother after
the death of her husband it is known as levirate. This type of marriage is found among some
tribes like the Gond, the Munda or the Santal the oran and the Toda etc
(iv) Sororate:
It is otherwise known as Sali Vivah. When a man marries his wifes sister after the death of
his wife or even when the wife is alive it is called as sororate. This type of marriage is found
When a man of higher caste or varna marries a woman of lower caste or varna it is called as
Anuloma. This was in practice among the nobles in the past. In Bengal it was found in the
form of Kulinism.
hypogamy marriage. This is not an approved form of marriage. Ancient Hindu law giver a
man a lower caste or status marries a woman of higher caste or status it is known as pratiloma
or hypogamy marrieage. This is not an approved form of marriage. Ancient Hindu law giver
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