The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s2.44

c7.s2.44

The conception of marriage as a secular contract did not arise in ancient India. In the Vedic literature (*T. Br.*, II, 3, 10), we have the story of Sītā Sāvitrī, who is seen refusing to marry Soma, who had fallen in love with her, unless he accepted certain conditions of her own. This story presupposes a tendency to regard marriage as a contract, but it did not make much progress. Marriage was regarded as a sacred religious union brought about by divine dispensation; it was felt that the mutual vows which the parties took in the presence of Sacred Fire sufficiently emphasised all the points that could possibly have been included in a mariage contract. The marriage sacrament united the parties in an indissoluble union, and the husband and the wife each prayed that their love and friendship should be lasting, genuine and indissoluble. Complete unity of interest left no room for a contract.