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Marriage and Position of Woman
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as a part of the nuptial contract, that he would not engage in fun and frolic with other woman; that he would not visit immoral women's abodes; that he would not gamble; that he would provide for and protect the bride by earning an honourable living; that he would not oppose her visiting suitable and proper places, such as a place of pilgrimage, temple, etc.; that he would have no secrets from her; and, lastly, that he would not reveal her secrets to any one. The wife also was required to make the following seven promises : that she would respect and honour and serve his parents; that she would not disobey him (in all the really serious matters of life ); that she would refrain from bitter and harsh speech; that she would not be sullen or sulk when visited by Holy Men and Women; that she would not go to another man's house at night, nor get mixed up with a crowd of men, and that she would not go to the houses of drunkards and immoral persons. 121 Sometimes these promises are made after the sixth round and before the seventh round of the circum-ambulation of the sacred fire.122
Let us now compare the Jaina and Hindu rites and ceremonies performed at the 'vivāha ', i. e., actual marriage ceremony. (i) In describing the ceremonies and rituals connected with the 'vivāha', all the Hindu texts concerned refer to the bride as being given away by the father or her guardian in the family, who invites the bridegroom. The bridegroom goes to the bride's home where the vivāha' is to take place.123 The Jainas consider that a bride be given by her father to a bridegroom. It is in the nature of a gift or dāna. We have seen that the most prevalent forms of marriage among the Jainas at present are Brahma and Prājāpatya and in both these forms a bride is given as a gift to the bridegroom by her father.12 Further, marriage ceremony is to be performed by the Jainas at the bride's place and after the ceremony is over, the bride is brought by the bridegroom to his own house. 125
(ii) Among the Hindus, like the Jainas, there are variations in the observation of wedding rites with people of different regions and villages. Of these rites, the commonly accepted by all are as follows :- The Kanyadāna, the Vivāhahoma, the Panigrahana, the Agnipariņayana, the Aśmārohana, the Lājāhoma and the Saptapadi. . According to Hindu vivāha system a marriage is not regarded as complete unless and until the rites of Pāpigrahana
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