The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s2.27

c7.s2.27

In the Gāndharva marriage parties fall in love with each other and immediately proceed to consummate their contemplated marriage. Religious rituals etc. do not precede the union. A passage interpolated in the Mahābhārata in later times no doubt represents Śakuntalā as calling a priest for the performance of the religious rites before proceeding to consummate her marriage¹. This version of the story is inconsistent with the one given by Kālidāsa in his *Śākuntala*; it further contradicts the definition of the Gāndharva marriage as given in the epic itself. When Kaṇva proceeds to express his approval to his daughter of her love marriage, he incidentally defines the Gāndharva marriage as a love union brought about without any recitation of Mantras².