Hindu Laws

The ancient Hindu law recognized eight forms of marriage. Four were approved and the remaining four were unapproved. The approved forms were:

• Bramha
• Daiva
• Arsha
• Prajapatya

Beliefs govern the way marriages are solemnized under Hindu customs that are followed across regions. However, Hindu law makes it simpler to understand what ceremonies are vital and what happens in case a spouse converts to another religion.

Dating back to the period of the Rig Veda, marriage has been revered as a 'samskara' or sacrament. Eight different forms of marriage were recognized in Hindu law at that time but only four were considered as approved forms of marriage.

India is a country where laws and customs flow in and out of our daily lives, without any of us striving too hard to scrutinize the legal implications of our actions. Every time you smoke in a public place or drive beyond the prescribed speed limits or persuade a cop or public servant to accept a bribe and do you a quick favor, do you realize those actions have legal implications? Probably not, right?