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Was there child marriage in Vedic
times? The answer is no. The word for the bridegroom is vara,
the chosen one. In the case of kşhatriya or ruling clan, it
is well documented that the bride chooses the groom among several
suitors. "The happy and beautiful bride
chooses (vanute) by herself (svayam) her own
husband". RV (27.12)
"The creator sustains the
earth, heavens and Sun;
May he assign a husband of her
choice for this lady;" AV (6.60.3)
There appears to be have been a
practice of friends of the boy or girl helping with the search for
a spouse.
"Here comes the helper Aryamā.
With his locks of hair loosened
over the brows.
Desiring a husband for this
maiden.
And a wife for an unwedded man.
(6.60.1)"
The phrase ‘with locks of
hair...’ indicate that the go-between was a young male. The entire
hymn
AV (6.60).
Rig Veda (10.85.26),
(10.85.27)
and AV
(14.1)
and
(14.2)
explicitly state that the bride is asked to address the assembly
vidātha in which the sages speak eloquently. Hence there
was no custom like purda of keeping women away from social
or scholastic gatherings. Both men and women attended these
meetings.
ATHARVA VEDA (6.60)
A HUSBAND FOR A MAIDEN
(Addressed to a Wooer)
Rishi: Atharvan
Here comes the
wooer with his
locks of hair
loosened over the brow,
desiring a
husband for this maiden
and a wife
for an unwedded man. --------- (1)
She has taken
pains, O wooer !
attending
others' wedding rites,
now, surely,
wooer ! others should
come to her
marriage festival. --------- (2)
May the Creator
who upholds
the earth,
upholds the sky and the sun,
may He give to
this unwedded girl
a husband
after her heart's desire. --------- (3)
ATHARVA VEDA (14.1)
(From the Father's to the Husband's
home)
Rishi: Sūrya, Daughter of Sun
Our homage to
Aryamān !
the kindly
friend who finds husbands.
Like a cucumber
from its stalk
I free thee
from here, but not from there. --------- (17)
Enjoy you two
together fortune's richest gifts,
observing the
Law in rightful bearing.
Brahmaņaspati,
make the husband dear to her,
and graceful
be the words the wooer speaks. --------- (31)
Hoping for
love, children, fortune, wealth,
and by being
always behind
thy husband in
his life's vacation,
gird thou up
for immortality. --------- (42)
By me may she
be cherished;
Bŗhaspati has
made thee mine;
live, a mother
of children, with me,
thy husband,
for a hundred years. --------- (52)
ATHARVA VEDA (14.2)
(Good wishes for man and wife)
Rishi: Sūrya, Daughter of Sun
May you two,
waking up in your pleasant chamber,
both filled
with laughter and cheer, and enjoying
mightily,
having good sons, a good home,
and good
cattle, pass the shining mornings. ---------
(43)
This woman
says, as she throws the husks of corn:
Long-lived be
my husband, may he live a hundred years. --------- (63)
Join this
couple here, indra, like
a pair of
chakravaaka birds.
May these two
in a good home enjoy
with children
the full length of life. ---------
(64)
I am this, thou
art-she;
I am song, thou
art verse;
I am Heaven,
thou art Earth;
We two together
shall live here,
becoming
parents of children. --------- (71)
(Flaws in the ceremony)
If the bride's
sisters and young maidens
have danced
together in your house,
and committed
sin with shouts,
May Agni and
Sāvitri free thee from that sin. --------- (61)
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