TYPES OF MARRIAGE

                    
              Vivāha is the Sanskrit term for marriage. In Hinduism, it is viewed as one of the (sacraments) and not a contract. Hindu families are patrilocal

                         According to Hinduism, marriage is a union between a male and a female with a commitment so that they can pursue Dharma, Artha (possessions) and Kama (physical desires) together. It joins two families. It is at once a gateway to earthly life of pleasure, progress, prosperity and joy as it is also an altar of elevation to a level of spiritual experience. Society recognizes and controls it as it results in the procreation and nurture of future generation and thereby influences the social and cultural growth of society. According to Manusmriti, or laws of Manu, there are eight different types of Hindu marriages. Not all eight have religious sanction. The last four were not religiously defined and were condemned. These are: Brahma Marriage, Daiva Marriage, Arsha Marriage, Prajapatya Marriage, Gandharva Marriage, Asura Marriage, Rakshasa Marriage, Paishacha Marriage.

Type of marriage
Eight kinds of marriage are enumerated in Manu Smrti III.20-34, these are:

1. Brahma Vivah: In Brahma marriage once the boy completes his Brahmacharya Ashram (student hood), he is eligible to get married. His parents then approach the parents or guardian of a girl belonging to a good family and same Varna and ask them for the hand of their daughter for their son. The father of the girl also carefully chooses the groom who is well versed in Vedas and of a noble character. This is how a Brahma marriage was arranged. There was no dowry system at that time; a girl came with two garments and a few ornaments only. According to Dharmashastras, "Brahma Vivah" is the best marriage among all.
2. Daiva Vivah: If the girl is groomed with ornaments and married to a priest during a sacrifice, it is called Daiva Vivah. In this type of marriage the girl's family wait for a reasonable period for a suitable man for their daughter but when nobody turns up they go looking for a groom in such places where a sacrifice is being conducted. According to the Dharmashastra, Daiva marriage is considered inferior to Brahma marriage because it is considered degrading for the womanhood to look for groom.
3. Arsha Vivah: In this type of marriage the bridegroom gives a cow and a pair of bull to the guardian of girl. Marriages of this type used to happen because the parents of the bride couldn't afford the expense of their daughter's marriage at the right time according to the brahma rite. So the girl is married off to an old sage. The cows, which were taken in exchange of the bride shows that even the groom does not any remarkable qualities. According to sastras noble marriages had no monetary or business transactions so this kind of marriages were not considered noble.
4. Prajapatya Vivah: In this type of marriage, the bride's father goes in search for a groom for his daughter. The protection of the bride or daughter is handed over by the father to the bridegroom during the Panigrahan ceremony or the acceptance of the bride's hands. The actual wedding ceremony takes place after Panigrahan.
5. Gandharva Vivah: However when a man and a woman marry with each others consent but may not have the consent of their family then this wedding is called Gandharva Vivah or 'love marriage'.
6. Asura Vivah: In the Asura type of marriage the groom is not at all suitable for the bride . In no way is he a match for the girl but willingly gives as much wealth as he can afford to the bride's parents and relatives. In Arsha type cows are given in exchange for the bride but there is no compulsion like the Asura type. Even the groom is also not so rich and powerful like his counterpart in Asura type.
7. Rakshasa Vivah: If a bride is taken by force and then persuaded to marry. This is not considered as the right kind of marriage as you are forcing somebody to marry.
8. Paishacha Vivah: In this type the girl's wish is not considered whether she wants to marry or not instead she is forced to marry and even the bride's family is not given anything in cash or kind. This kind of marriage was later prohibited. It is considered as the most inferior type of marriage.