8 kinds of Marriage

Introduction: Manu Bhagavan further describes us about various kinds of marriage(s). Manu Bhagavan had a foresight about the future, when financial or sexual needs would become the primary motives of a marriage and not the Dharmic aspects of it. So, he had graciously included all those kind of materialistic marriages in his broad categorization of marriages.

Brahmo Daivas Tathavaarsha: Praajapathyas Thathasura:
Gandharvo Raakashashas Chaiva Paishashcha Ashtamo Dhama:

Bhavan Manu enumerates the eight kind(s) of wedding(s) possible:

• Brahma
• Daiva
• Arsha
• Praajapathya
• Asura
• Gandharva
• Rakshasha
• Paishacha

Aachadya Chaarchayithva Cha Sruthi Sheela vathe Swayam
Aahooya Dhaanam Kanyaya Brahmo Dharma Prakeerthitha:

Desc: In the Brahma type of marriage, the girl's father welcomes the bridegroom and gives away the bride, who is decorated with beautiful clothes and ornaments. Such a wedding is blessed by the ancestors and celestial and is the highest austerity a house-holder can perform.

Note: In a Brahma wedding, the very beginning of the wedding happens with Kashi Yathra or the groom's journey to Kashi  when the bride's father stops him and offers his daughter. As a sign of gratitude for taking care of the bride for her lifetime the father of bride envisions him as none other than Sri Maha Vishnu. Then, he decorates the bride with flowers, jewels etc.. and offers the bride as kannikadhaanam  The sole intention of the bride and bridegroom in that case would be to follow the dharmas and live a simple, Vedic way of life performing the duties prescribed in the scriptures. If the intention behind is money, physical pleasure etc. it wont qualify as a complete Brahma marriage and it may become a Gandharva or others. So, people who "date" for 36 months and perform all the duties of a gruhasthas ,(other than the ones said in scriptures) and then marry are certainly not recognized by the scriptures. As per Shastras one cannot be with a woman and enjoy her unless he performs any of the 8 kinds of marriage, so dating, casual encounters are strictly punishable deeds by the Shastras  Opportunism in the form of dating for 8 months and having a Brahma marriage are strictly condemnatory deeds. After the engagement or Vaag Nischayam by the father of bride is completed and the marriage date has been fixed, the bride and groom get to meet only on the day of wedding (after Kashi Yathra). Enjoying the pleasures of this world and this body , in accordance with the Shastras gives us long term enjoyment and pleasure. The ceremony of engagement is called as a Verbal promise, where the bride's father promises to offer the bride to the bridegroom and confirms the date of wedding. (Greedy family of bridegrooms sometimes torture the gril's family asking for money, gold etc.. - such kind of marriages are also equally Condemnable . But the bride and the groom should have a strong opinion in common to follow the scriptures and lead a simple life in accordance with the Shastras - and not flirt around before wedding like cats and dogs. Although a stolen mango may be tastier, the actual taste and pleasure of mango can be enjoyed fully only if one collects the same from one's backyard or get is lawfully by paying money for the same. Likewise the pleasure of marriage could be completely enjoyed only if one  stays patient, controls his mind and senses and waits for his/her rightful share of the Gaarhaspathyam (married life) and no just do things as they like. Although Shastras are very strict to follow, and adhere to enjoying the fruits of Shastras is very sweet - both here and after.

Note: If a Brahma marriage is performed for the sake of sexual pleasures for the man and woman, where they have dated for 2 years before the marriage,and have found each others to be physically appeasing, it is considered as a Gandharva wedding, and if the boy shares 50% of the wedding costs it is an Asura cum Gandharva wedding. So, all the opportunistic brahmanas of Kali Yuga cant just escape the hands of Bhagavan Manu. Marriage's primary intention should be adherence to the Dharma Shastras and performance of austerities . The kanya or the girl should be the right hand while the man does such righteous deeds and should understand that, they both are one entity and the ego of the woman merges into the ego of the man (and not fight for woman rights for being lazy and escape from household duties).

Yagne Thu Vithathe Samyag Rugvije Karma Kurvathe
Alankruthya Sutha Dhaanam Dhaivam Dharma Prachakshathe

Desc: In this type of marriage called Daiva, the bride is given away as a gift to the head priest, who officiates a Yagna or Vedic sacrifice. Although this is second in number, this is also one of the marriage(s) authorized by the scriptures for a Brahmana.

Ekam Gho Mithunam Dhve Vaa Varad Adhaaya Dharmatha:
Kanyaa Pradhaanam Vidividaarsho Dharma S Ychyathe

Desc: In this lawful form of marriage called Arsha the bride or her father receives a gift of a cow or ox or two or two kine for the expenses of performing the religious / Vedic sacrifices. In this type of wedding, the bird or her family takes a small gift of cattle or animals to give away the bride.

Sahobhou Charatham Dharmam Ithi Vaachaanu Bhashya Cha
KanyaPradhanam Arbhathya Paraajapathyo Vidhi Smrutha:

Desc: In this type of marriage called as Prajapathya, the bridegroom is worshiped and the bride is given away with the injunction: "Let both of you carry over the duties of a house holder".

Gnaathibhyo Dravinam Dathva Kanyayou Chaiva Shakthitha:
KanyaPradhanam Svachadhyadasurou Dharma Uchyathe

Desc: Dharma calls this as an Asura Marriage , where the bridegroom pays money to the bride's father in return for the bride.

Note: In a Vedic Brahmana wedding, the bride's father must not take any money or other gifts from the bridegroom. In the modern day the bride (w working woman) expects her bridegroom to share 50% in the marriage expenses etc.. and the bride's father, who is greedy of money happily accepts that. Such kind of gifts are not authorized by the scriptures. If it is a poor girl from a reputed family, the bridegroom can always accept her happily but sharing the wedding expenses etc.. because of lust for women etc.. are completely against the scriptures. A bride's father can honestly do whatever he can (he doesn't have to over do or show off) but not expect the groom to pay him for the bride. Vedic weddings can never be a trade (give a girl and set some money etc..) Such people, who collect money from the grooms would lose all the merits of doing kannikadhaanam or the gift of a bride.

Ichaaya: Anyonya Samyoga: Kanyaayaascha Varasya Cha
Gandharva: Sathu Vigneyo Maithunya: Kaama Sambhava:

Desc: In this type of marriage called Gandharva the bridegroom and bride marry with sexual intercourse as the primary reason for the marriage.

Hathva Chithva Cha Bithva Cha Kroshantheem Rudaneem Gruhaath
Prahya Kanyaharanam Rakshasho Vidhiruchyathe

Desc: In this for of marriage called Rakshasha, the bridegroom takes away the bride forcefully while she is weeping and screaming, after having killed or injured the parents and family members of the bride.

Suptha Matthma Pramttham Cha Raho Yathropa Gachathi
Va Papaishto Vivaahaanaam Paishashascha Ashtamo Dhama:

Desc: The eighth form of marriage is called Paisahchika form, where the bride is kind of medicated or in deep sleep while the man would physically molest or rape her and is the most Condemnable for of marriage(literally it means devilish marriage).

Conclusion: Thus Manu Bhagavan has explained us the carious kind(s) of marriages performed on this Earth. And, whichever part of this Earth a marriage happens(irrespective of color, creed, culture or religion) it would fall into one of the above categories. Such is the greatness and knowledge of Bhagavan Manu and his Dharma Shastras.