Book Title: Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra
Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
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Sec. IV]
The text gives a graphic account of the marriage ceremony of a royal family which was performed with great solemnity and pomp and grandeur in accompaniment of music.
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
It appears that the age for the boy and girl was determined by their capability of enjoying the worldly life at the attainment of their full youth.
Form of marriage
The picture of the marriage ceremony as depicted in the BhS reveals only one form of marriage arranged by the parents of the boy. It may be called a mixed Brahma-Prājāpatya-Âsura marriage of well developed and grown up boys and girls of mature age belonging to the families of equal and same social status, profession and caste, but having the different ancestral families as a rule, for the brides were to be brought from their parents' houses to that of the bridegroom and they were presented rich gifts of dowry.
Thus it is learnt that the parents of prince Mahabala, the king and queen, Bala and Prabhāvati Devi of Hastinapura caused him to accept the hands of eight princesses of a similar complexion and same age and endowed with the beauty, youth and qualifications by bringing them to their own house from the eight royal families of equal status1.
Marriage Ceremony
The text presents a vivid picture of the marriage ceremony as celebrated by the people of its period in the following manner. First, the bridegroom took his bath, performed the worship of the house-god (balikamma), purified himself by an expiatory sacrifice of charms and auspicious marks (kaya-kouya-payacchitta) and then adorned himself with all kinds of dresses and ornaments.
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Next, he, having performed the rite for averting the evil misfortune by the worship of solemn ceremonies and been presented auspicious articles Tilaga and Kamkana by the married
1 BhS, 11, 11, 430. 2 Ib,
Jain Education International
(Tilaga is the auspicious mark on the forehead, while Kamkana is the band tied round the wrist of the bridegroom or bride.
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