History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.504

v6.c82.504

Very intricate astrological rules are provided for marriage. The Āśv. gṛ. S. (I. 4. 1-2) laid down a very simple rule about the proper times for four saṁskāras which has been quoted above (p. 536 note 778). The Baud. gr. (I 1. 18–20) provides that marriage may be celebrated in all months, that according to some, the months of Āṣāḍha, Māgha and Phālguna are to be avoided and that the auspicious nakṣatras for marriage are Rohiṇī, Mṛgaśīrṣa, Uttarā-Phālgunī and Svātī (vide notes 726 and 777 above). The Āp gr. (I. 2. 12–13) is to the same effect as to months (vide note 775). The Kauśikasūtra⁹²⁴ (75. 2–4) approaches medieval and modern practice as it prescribes that marriage should be celebrated after the Full Moon of Kārttika up to the Full moon of Vaiśākha or one may do as one likes but one should avoid the month or half month of Caitra. In medieval and modern times there was some difference of opinion. The Rājamārtaṇḍa (that devotes over 150 verses to the treatment of marriage) allowed all months for marriage except Caitra and Pauṣa ⁹²⁵ But works like the Dharmasindhu say that the months of Māgha, Phālguna, Vaiśākha and Jyeṣṭha are auspicious, Mārgaśīrṣa is middling and in some works Āṣāḍha and Kārtika are allowed and that usages of the country should be followed.