History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c9.7

v1.c9.7

The description of Rājyaśrī’s marriage ceremony given by Bāṇa in the Harsha Charita is indeed masterly, poetical, picturesque and true to fact and nature. The extreme anxiety of the parents, all powerful as they were, is graphically described, and the grand preparations made on the occasion. It appears that it was then the custom for intending bridegrooms to demand girls in marriage. (In modern India the contrary practice holds the ground among the higher classes at least.) The father or guardian of the girl then chose from among the suitors the best, chiefly on account of high family and then poured water on the hand of the emissary solemnly declaring the gift of the girl. The bridegroom and his party thereafter came to the town of the bride and were suitably lodged. On an auspicious day and at an auspicious time (astrology then being as powerful as now) fixed by the astrologers, the bridegroom came in procession to the house of the bride and was received at the door by the bride’s father, conducted to the assembly and duly honoured. The Kshatriyas apparently observed purdah then as now and the actual marriage took place in the purdah where Brahmins were admitted. The immortal Bāṇa describes the bride anxiously waiting near the marriage Vedi surrounded by her companions and incessantly chiding both her own heart and the companions for prompting her to raise her head to have a look at the bridegroom, as he entered the inner apartment. For Indian brides then as now usually hung down their heads before the bridegrooms. At the arrival of the exact auspicious moment the bride and bride-grooms joined hands, kindled the sacrificial fire, threw in it the oblations of Lājā or fried rice and walked the seven steps constituting life-long friendship, the most vital part of the ceremony of marriage according to the Smritis. The bride and bridegroom then bowed to their parents and elderly ladies and relations and Brahmins. Strangely enough Bāṇa does not describe that there was a feast hereafter. He describes their repairing to the Āvāsa gṛiha or specially prepared decorated honeymoon room where they passed their first night of conjugal happiness. The bridegroom is described by Bāṇa as residing for about 8 or 10 days hereafter at the father-in-law's house and trying to gratify in every way his mother-in-law. He then departed with his bride after receiving suitable presents, servants and paraphernalia, to his own country.