Purpose Of Marriage - By Prof. Shafi Ahmed Khan - Ambur
Marriage is a legal social bond that unites a man and a woman in special forms of mutual dependence and generally for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. Marriage has been used in the modern period to denote that ritual which unites a man and a woman to produce and maintain their children. The word marriage has been derived form merry and thus a man and woman unite to make merry and family brings merry for them. Later the word gives the wide meaning that marriage unites man and woman legally to fulfill the norms for a happy living. In view of the necessity for children to undergo a long period of development before attaining maturity, the care of children during their years of relative helplessness appears to have been the chief incentive for the evolution of the family structure and thus nuptials and weddings have become inevitable in the society. Matrimony, is a contract between a man and a woman, has existed since ancient times. Man has started living a social life since time immemorial. The ancient Indus valley civilizations, Aryan civilizations and Egyptians civilizations had wedding as an important ceremony and they had designed various legal terms and rules for this legal custom. Matrimony is a social practice that entered into the society. Wedding brings lot of merry to the partners if they respect their legal bond.
Marriage has been decided in the heaven and thus man and woman unite to lead a matrimonial life on the earth. The peaceful and contended matrimonial life depends on the mutual love and understanding between the matrimonial partners. The matrimony is the garments for each partner. This protects the matrimonial couple to refrain themselves from the shameful acts and also desist the society from the indecency. As garments give beauty and happiness to the persons, the same does, wedding to the couples. The matrimonial bond is one of the strong bonds, which helps an animal to elevate itself as the human beings and becomes the vicegerent of God on the earth. Matrimonies are needed to bring reforms in the society. The societies, which have adopted the different and wrong look for matrimonies, have considered marriages as pastime; have been collapsed in the world. Matrimonials' lives are best to lead and the fractions in the matrimonial system must be dealt with iron handedness. Marriages' customs vary greatly from one culture to another but the importance of the concept is universally acknowledged. Every society believes in the concept of legal system of wedding. Wedding mainly performs for the community interest in the children and families. Infant betrothal or marriage, Levirate in which a man might marry the wife of his deceased brother and Sororate is a custom permits a man to marry one or more of his wife's sisters had been largely abandoned in the world. Monogamy, the union of one man and one woman, is thought to be the prototype of human marriage and its most widely accepted form, predominating also in most of the societies and nations. Polygamy and polyandry are practiced very less in the society. Under Islamic laws, one man may legally have as many as four wives, all of whom are entitled to equal treatment. The incidence of polyandry is rare and is limited to Central Asia, southern India, and Sri Lanka. Polyandry is a hazard as it sprouts many inevitable evils in the society.
Marriage is established through a contractual procedure, generally with some sort of religious sanctions. Matrimonies take place only in Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church in the western society. Betrothal is also performed as a part of the ritual and the period between betrothal and marriage is the transition period in which many types of rituals are also performed. In the modern society even the betrothed couples are allowed to meet and enjoy. Most of the societies follow the arranged marriage systems where families negotiate a dowry, future living arrangements, and other important matters. Even the love marriages are arranged properly with the concern of the elders. Most wedding ceremonies involve rituals and symbolism that reflect the desire for fertility, such as the rituals in Hindu marriages, the sprinkling of rice, the bride's adornment with orange blossom, and the circling of the sacred fire. Many inter relational rituals have entered in the other society. Many Hindus' rituals have entered in the Muslims' wedding systems in India due to the prolong sojourn and mingling of both communities in the nation. Nikah is the important concept of the Muslims marriages where a priest read out generally 3 verses from the Holy Quran and a hadith during the matrimonial ceremony. Hindus, Buddhists, and many other communities consult astrologers before and after marriages are arranged to choose an auspicious date and time. The new bonds between the matrimonial couple are frequently represented by an exchange of rings. Feasting and dancing, the presence of witnesses, and the official sealing of marriage documents are necessary in the matrimony. The governments also record these marriage bonds for future purposes. Marriage can be seen as a rite, as certain social and religious rituals accompany it.
The world appreciates Endogamy, which limits the marriage to partners who are members of the same society or social class, or to adherents of the same religion. The world also prohibits the matrimony between the mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister, and all offspring of the same parents. In many societies, restrictions are broadened to include marriages between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, first cousins, and, occasionally, second cousins. Exogamy, or marriage outside a specific group, can involve the separation of a society into two groups, within which inter marriage is not allowed. Marriage outside the specific group is very rare.
The traditional importance of marriage can be observed in the customs surrounding widows and widowers. The most extreme custom, abolished by law in India in 1829, was that of sati, in which a widow was expected to sacrifice herself on her husband's funeral pyre. The matrimonies can be broken and divorce can be sought if couple desires in most societies except Hinduism and Roman Catholicism that regard marriage as indissoluble. Islam gives the rights of divorce to both male and female. The most frequently accepted grounds for divorce have been infertility, infidelity, criminality, and insanity. Marriage is closely tied to economics, law, and religion.
The institution of marriage has altered drastically in western societies as a result of social changes brought about by the Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, and a growing ideology of individualism. The rise of a strong middle class and the growth of democracy gradually brought about a tolerance for the idea of romantic marriages based on free choice. Arranged marriages have been collapsed. The modern revolutions in the Internet fields have also brought many matrimonial sites to access. Many matrimonial sites are available in which a person can search his or her spouse. The bride and groom who meet for the first time only on their wedding day have many apprehensions about each other. The increase in the incidence of premarital sex brought on by the relaxation of sexual limitations has been accepted with contempt in the society. The significant roles in the legalization of abortion, the improvement and increased accessibility of birth control have changed the society towards their matrimonial attitude.
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