Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.533

c7.533

There was a difference of opinion as to whether the usual marriage ceremonies are necessary or are superfluous in case of a Gāndharva Vivāha. Already Devala recommends the performance of these ceremonies and Kāmas 228 f. too advises the lover (nāyaka) to perform sacrifices into the fire and to take the bride thrice round the household fire, because the marriage would therewith be as good as concluded, and the parents, in order to avoid public scandal would have to give their consent to it. The Gāndharva marriage is moreover praised (l. c. 233) as being on the whole the best form of marriage and it is otherwise a common designation for love affairs. It is also opined in the Smṛtis (Nār. 12, 44; Baudh. 1, 20, 16 etc.) that this form of marriage is open to all castes alike.