Family relationships

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Family relationships
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Contents

• The importance of family
• Hindu family life
• Hindu attitudes to Marriage
• The purpose of Marriage
• The marriage ceremony.
• Divorce
• Summary

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The importance of family

• The belief in Ashramas means that all Hindus
  should go through the Householder stage of life.
• The belief in dharma means that performing all
  the duties of a householder and raising children
  is a step on the way to achieving Moksha.
• The Family is also important as it is where
  children learn right from wrong and learn how to
  be good Hindus.
• Puja and other Hindu practices are based in the
  home and family.

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Hindu family life

• Good parents will.
• Provide for their children.
• Perform daily puja.
• Teach their children about puja, Hinduism and
  what is right wrong.
• Ensure boys have the sacred thread ceremony.
• Encourage their children to attend the Mandir.

• Good children will.
• Obey their parents.
• Respect their parents.
• Care for their parents when they are old.

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Hindu attitudes to marriage

• Marriage marks the transition between two stages
  of life that of the student and the householder.
• Marriage is viewed as being for life and as being
  a religious or spiritual event.
• Traditionally couples have been of the same varna
  and marriages arranged. It is increasingly common
  (especially in UK) for couples to find their own
  partner

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The purpose of marriage

• Marriage is viewed as a Gift from God which
  serves the following purposes.
• To allow the couple to have sex.
• To join two families together.
• To allow the couple to share love each others
  company.
• To produce children.
• To enable fulfillment of the householder stage of
  life.

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The marriage ceremony

• As with all aspects of Hinduism, marriages can be
  diverse.
• All Hindu weddings are carried out by a priest.
• The couple take seven steps around the Havan or
  sacred fire as laid down in the Law of Manu. The
  first step is for food, the second for strength,
  the third for wealth, the fourth for happiness,
  the fifth for children, the sixth for sustenance
  and the seventh for unity.
• In addition to this they will often throw rice
  into the Havan to encourage the couples
  fertility, stand on a rock to represent the
  stability which marriage will bring to their
  lives, make offerings to deities and have prayers
  and hymns.

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Divorce

• Hinduism disapproves of marriage. It can be
  considered as a sigma socially and the more
  traditional a Hindu the less likely they are to
  divorce or re-marry.
• Despite this the number of divorces both in India
  and in Hindu communities in the UK is increasing.
• However, divorce is permissible if there is
  cruelty or if after 15 years of marriage no
  children have been produced.

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Summary

• Family is important in relation to Ashramas and
  dharma.
• Marriage is viewed as being for life.
• Divorce is rare and frowned upon, but increasing.
• The 7 steps are the most important part of a
  marriage ceremony.
• There are expectations for both parents and
  children in Hinduism.