Spiritually
motivated hINDU aMERICAN WEDDING FOR mIXED RACE couples
(Compiled
by N. R. Srinivasan, Nashville, TN, USA, January 2019)
The most recent study on the origin of Indians
by DNA research led by geneticist David Reich of Harvard University, was
published in March 2018 and was co-authored by 92 scholars from all over the
world - many of them leading names in disciplines as diverse as genetics,
history, archaeology and anthropology.
The collective blood-lines at the Centre for
Cellular & Molecular Biology, India’s leading genetic-research
institute, pose all unique riddle for researchers. On the one hand, geneticists
can trace nearly all bloodlines back to two ancestral groups, one hailing from Africa,
the other from Eurasia. These groups mingled, married and swapped genes. A
mixture of their genetic material can be found in nearly every person on the
subcontinent today. Their finding, recently
published in the American
Journal of Human Genetics, made waves when it was revealed that genetic
mixing ended 1,900 years ago, around the same time the caste system was
being codified in religious texts. The Manusmriti,
which forbade intermarriage between castes, was written in the same
period. The study shows only a correlation between the early caste system and
the divergence of bloodlines, and whether one caused the other is a debate
better left to historians. None-the-less, it puts a stake in the ground,
marking the moment when the belief that one should marry within one’s own
group developed into an active practice.
Studies using ancient DNA have been rewriting prehistory all over the world in the last few years and in India, there has been one fascinating discovery after another.
The first one originated from the
Zagros region in south-western Iran (which has the world's first evidence for
goat domestication) and brought agriculturists, most likely herders, to India.
This would have been between 7,000 and 3,000 BCE. These Zagros herders mixed
with the earlier inhabitants of the subcontinent - the First Indians,
descendants of the Out of Africa (OoA) migrants who had reached India around
65,000 years ago - and together, they went on to create the Harappa Civilization.
In the centuries
after 2000 BCE came the second set of immigrants (the Aryans) from the Eurasian
Steppe, probably from the region now known as Kazakhstan. They likely brought
with them an early version of Sanskrit, mastery over horses and a range of new
cultural practices such as sacrificial rituals, all of which formed the basis
of early Hindu/Vedic culture. (A thousand years before, people from the Steppe
had also moved into Europe, replacing and mixing with agriculturists there,
spawning new cultures and spreading Indo-European languages).
Other genetic studies have brought to
light more migrations into India, such as that of the speakers of
Austro-Asiatic languages who came from south-eastern Asia.
According to Indian DNA studies the spear-wielding fishermen
of the Andaman Islands have no trace of the genetic mix that pervades the
mainland. Proof that the only the thing that really could have stopped
India’s ancestral populations from mixing was an 840-mile schlep to a remote
tropical island.
The majority of Native Americans
are mostly of East Asian ancestry and also significantly of North Eurasian
ancestry, what makes them partly connected not only with the Siberians (their
closest “cousins”) and the Chinese, but also with the Europeans, mainly those
living in northern latitudes (It is the majority because some of them come from
later waves of Siberian immigrants, like the Athabaskan and the Inuit tribes).
Recently an ancient Siva temple
in ruins has been discovered in the dense forests of USA. Sanatana Dharma had
been the religion of the world from the beginning of times. Today it is again
spreading in all countries of the world as world religion. The ancient
Bharatiyas settled in America are known to the world as Red Indians (A name perhaps given by Western discoverers
who also invented the words HINDU and Indian). Generations of present Kaliyuga
migrated from Bharat traveling through frozen sea between 20000 to 30000 years
settled in the continent of America and were called Red Indians when they were
found by explorers say the expert historians.
Settling there they worshiped Siva says a research publication
Sadathala. Sivalingas are discovered in Italy, Ireland, West Asia,
Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Africa etc. Migration has been going on
to and from Bharat in the ancient past.
We read in Puranas about
wandering sages like Narada, Viswamitra, Kapila, Agastya and others
as well as caravans moving with them to and from Bharath. It does not
seem right to claim that in the distant past our religion or culture was
propagated in other countries through an armed invasion or through trade for
that was a time when civilization itself had not taken shape there. But
due to this to and fro migrations and good-will sages the Vedic religion was
prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone
through a process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be
called the original religions of these various lands which in the subsequent
--historical times--came under Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity or Islam as the case
may be.
One also wonders why all this
migration was drawn into the Subcontinent called Bharat that was later called
India, cut to a small size today. It is here the concept of
civilized society and culture emerged that regulated and ruled human society,
developed by serious thinking ancient sages divinely inspired that Vedavyasa compiled
as Vedas and Upanishads. To make them spicy and juicy he also compiled Puranas
and Bhaghavad Gita as Spiritual Marketing tools.
However, the real message that the new
DNA research carries is an exciting and hopeful one: that only Bharatiyas have
created a long-lasting Civilized Society and Culture from a variety of
heredities and histories which we now pride as Vedic Religion and Vedic Culture
and no others.
The genius of the Bharatiya
civilization during its best periods has been inclusion, not exclusion. Unity
in diversity is, indeed, the central theme of India's genetic make-up. This
message is echoed in several Veda Mantras quoted later here.
India’s leading genetic-research institute
traces our geneticists to nearly all bloodlines back to two ancestral groups,
one hailing from Africa, the other from
Eurasia. These groups mingled, married and swapped gene as stated above.
A mixture of their DNA can be found in nearly
every person on the subcontinent today.
Neither knowing this background history nor having the parental guidance on
Vedic wisdom being preoccupied with materialism, modern Hindu American youths
have become independent and open minded with their mixed DNA to plan their
own life without parental advice. They
select their life-partners invariably from Jewish/Christian Society,
rarely from Asiatic Non-Indian Society but seldom from Islam disgusted with
Al-Quid-a activities that Islam has not condemned sitting on a fence growing
among cross cultures. Thus they have
ruled out the conventional norms of Hindu conservatism that had put a halt
on further genetics mix or pollution since the beginning of first millennium
that one should marry within one’s own group based on Manu Dharma. These
Hindu youths though married
according to Hindu- Brahma Marriage (may
be attracted by its colorful and luxurious ceremony) are not interested in
Hindu Rituals and Worships and are even
ready to join the so called fast-growing SBNR group in USA that does not
know what Spirituality means that
our Rishis taught in ancient India. They are however attracted to some
sort of Yoga and Meditation. Here in USA temples have to play a major role of guidance
for leading a spiritual life by the
mixed faith couples with Vedic wisdom taught by our ancient Rishis that
does not prescribe any regimental religious following but shows ways to live as
one family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam) in
the world enjoying happiness, peace and prosperity since the parents are
otherwise materially busy and focused on secular education. But unfortunately temples are not playing
their part though struggle hard to import traditions and beliefs from India.
They just adopt and promote the current sectarian worship pattern of India and
also bring agama trained priests from India to conduct worships and rituals
that have no impact on Hindu American Youth.
So also the stereo typed religious education they receive that they
forget once they leave the place for college education and get busy with it and
also start dating influenced by the society they live in.
As a first generation Hindu migrant I conducted the wedding of
both my daughter and son in USA. But I could follow the orthodox and
conservative way, because luckily both of them found their partners within our
own traditional group based on Manu Dharma, in USA. I had my own share of
difficulties in conducting the wedding in traditional Hindu way in a small town
with few Hindus and a temple that was just coming up. Fortunately the wedding
took place immediately after the inauguration of the temple and I had the good
fortune of conducting the wedding renting a Jewish canopy much grander than
India with five Vedic priests from India conducting the ceremony that came for
temple inauguration. My search Engine
worked tirelessly for three months to find all things in USA as directed by
these orthodox priests from India. In this task I was motivated by a serial story “Washigtonnil Iyengar Thirumanam” (Iyengar Wedding in
Washington) published in Madras, by the popular
magazine, Ananda Vikatan. The story goes to such details as to how to
find even a gypsy in USA to carry a gas-light in the wedding procession (nari-kuravan). It also cost me my life’s savings needing
further raising loans. A local daily impressed by the colorful and ritualistic
ceremony issued a special supplement titled “A colorful Hindu Wedding Ceremony
in Albany” who also obliged me with nice photographs that I had not planned for
the wedding that is a must in India. Now-a-days life is made easy because local Gujaratis have developed a lucrative
business out of weddings besides Motels of Patels. They say tell your budget we
have a suitable marriage plan executed to order. Also I was lucky that an
orthodox Palghat Iyer from New Jersey prepared home-made all snacks and wedding
meals and dispatched by truck. Thus it was a wedding even orthodox Hindus in
India would have envied! My son’s wedding was equally traditional and much
grander, executed by orthodox and pious Hindu parents who believed in
Panchayatana worship promoted by Sankara and were temple founding parents of Livermore
Siva-Vishnu Temple where the wedding was conducted. But it missed orthodox
wedding meal of Palghat Parameswaran, divine publicity and voluntary variety
entertainment arranged by my son in
which he and his friends from his college participated which the bride and bridegroom also joined!
But do we need all these rituals and celebrations to
solemnize a wedding that is not according to Manu Dharma of marriage within the
same group (sampradaya) for people of
different gotras (lineages) coming together within a particular group? Invariably by dating, living in a mixed culture
society Hindu American youth picks up
his/her partner from Abrahamic religions but also decides in favor of a Hindu wedding that anyhow needs
to be further approved and registered
under the laws of the country to live as husband and wife irrespective
of the way it is solemnized by whatever faith they both agree upon?
Essential aspect of Hindu wedding consists of father of the bride giving away his daughter
and entrusting to the hands of the bridegroom, parents of the groom happily
consenting, choosing an auspicious day and time for wedding celebration, priest
administering rules to live as husband and wife acting as an authority,
AHSP (Authority Holding Sealed Particulars) that we call as Saptapadi witnessed before altar of fire, witnessed by close friends and relatives, tying of the knot
reinforced by additional knot from a sister welcoming the bride to their
family in the presence of divine fire or light (Jyoti), finger cuffed by rings
mutually by each other to live together faithfully symbolically, declaration of
the wedding by a Guru as a representative of the divine and finally blessed by
the intimate crowd that acts as witness.
Then follows dining and wining together with added entertainment with the
gathered august assembly as Grand Finale! Thus a mixed faiths wedding, still
retaining all essentials of Hindu way of life could be made simple and
effective with perfection within the folds of Sanatana Dharma guided by the
simplicity and perfection of Sri Rama’s wedding with Sita, briefly described in
otherwise elaborate Ramayana, where even the
tying of the knot (mangalya
dharana) was not there which is a later innovation by Tamils like the ring
exchange of Christians introduced into Hindu weddings also. In such marriages Holy Swastika will be an
ideal pendant (Thali) venerated by all faiths.
The
swastika (卐) (Sanskrit: स्वस्तिक) is a symbol that generally takes the
form of an equilateral cross, with its four arms bent at 90 degrees. The
earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped
ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization as well as the
Mediterranean Classical Antiquity and Paleolithic Europe.
Swastikas
have been used in various other ancient civilizations around the world. The
word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su"
(meaning "good" or "auspicious") combined with
"asti" (meaning "it is"), along with the diminutive suffix
"ka." The swastika literally means "it is good." It is a
common practice for Hindus to draw Swastika symbols on the doors and entrances to
their houses during festivals. Chidambaram Lord Natarajar temple is constructed
in SWASTIK symbol shape.
Surprisingly
Malayalee Syrian Christians in Kerala also wear Thali called Minnu
and also follow many customs similar to Hindu wedding influenced by Hindu
culture. Minnukettu means tying the knot. Minnukettu means tying the
knot. A 'minnu' is a small leaf shaped pendant made of gold, with 7
tiny beads placed together on the leaf to form a cross (+), symbolizing the
holy cross. Minnu is put on a thread spun with twenty one threads taken from
the Manthrakodi (wedding saree). Seven threads are first taken and spun
together. Two more such sets are made, and these three sets are spun together
to make the final thread and minnu is put on this thread. The minnu is tied
around the bride's neck by the groom on the day of their marriage. The knot tied
is called the reef knot, which is almost impossible to unknot. This symbolizes
the permanence of the marriage. A good way to remember how to tie a reef knot
is: left over right and right over left. After seven days of marriage, the
minnu is put on a gold chain and is expected to be worn till death. Minnu is an
indication of a married woman. Manthrakodi or the wedding sari like Koorai
pudavai in Hindu Tamil practice is a gift to the bride from the groom and his
family symbolizing him as her provider. Covering the brides head with
Manthrakodi is another common tradition in Kerala Christian weddings. It
symbolizes the groom's promise of being a protector of his bride for the rest
of her life.
This practice in Christianity should give some idea to Hindu Americans as to the Thaali design for Hindu weddings performed for Inter-racial (Hindu-Christian) wed-locks. The girl in such weddings can have one Thaali as per the Hindu tradition and the other similar to Minnu as in Syrian Christian tradition as there is no religious taboo on it being traditions based. In inter-caste marriages the two traditional religious symbols may go into the Thaalis.
To me the most logical, non-questionable and spiritual symbol for a Thaali is Swastika. It is a symbol of Prosperity. It is a symbol popular in all traditions--Indian, Celts, Greeks and others. It is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and among many other cultures and religions. Unfortunately this was adopted as good luck symbol by Nazi party in 1920 and so was stigmatized by Germany because of the anti-Semitism practiced by Hitler. It was outlawed in Germany and other countries later. However Hindu Swastika with four dots is a form of Ganesha glorified in Ganesha Purana. Its use in India dates back to Indus Valley Civilization representing Vishnu. Thus it is acceptable to all traditions of Hindus. Hindus draw Swastika symbol on the doors and entrances during festivals as a welcome sign to Goddess Lakshmi to come to the house and bless all. In Tibetan Buddhism it symbolizes Mother Earth.
With
this background I would like to briefly explain a Spiritually willed Model Hindu
wedding between a Hindu boy and a Christian girl both grown up in USA, where the bride’s parents
entrusted the responsibility of planning and execution of the wedding to boy’s parents to conduct the wedding in Hindu
way to which our family was invited as
close friends.
This wedding was conducted on a Friday during Pradosha
(twilight zone time) hour. Friday is an
auspicious day in both Hinduism as well as Abrahamic religions. Pradosha time is the most auspicious time in
any day for worship of both Siva and Narasimha, an Incarnation of Vishnu. They both came out of darkness and at once brightened
the world during twilight-zone hour
(pradoshakala). January 4, 2019 on which
day this wedding took place was also most auspicious day for Hindus of South
Indian origin being Hanuman Jayanthi Day,
a deity known for strength and valor and noble qualities. Probably the boy’s
parents might not have had that in view!
The boy was devoted to body-building like Bhajrang bali, presiding deity
of strength. In Tamil we say “ellam avan seyal” --it is all His
Good-will, when something happens without our intention. The point I am driving
at here is the parents here did not feel the need for the services of an
astrologer to fix the wedding date and time but yet went the wedding found an
auspicious Muhurta as in Hindu culture.
Though by a strange coincidence and unexplainable divine will
this marriage took place on an auspicious day guiding the parents of the boy,
an ideal, non -controversial holiest day for such weddings without referral to
panchangams or astrologers is Phalgun Uttar or Panguni Uttirtam, the day on
which Rama married Sita, Siva Parvati, Subhramanya Valli and Devayanai and Andal merged with Ranganatha in her bridal attire.
Uttare divase brahman phalguneebhyaam maneeshinah | vaivaahikam
prasamsanti bhago yatra prajaapatih (Ramayana, Balakanda 72-13)
The wise commend a wedding to all people on the
Uttara Naksahtra in the month of
Phalgun presided over by Prajapati, the God of Creation
The boy and girl coming out of darkness walked through
a row of oil-wick (dipanjyothi para
brahma) lamps crowned with a semi-circular decorated area. This was
symbolic of coming out of ignorance seeking knowledge (tamsao maa jyotirgamaya). Hindus worship light as Supreme Being
whose blessing one needs for the occasion! This wedding never felt the need for a temple or church nor a priest or
pastor. Hindu wedding in India is
usually done at home or in a wedding hall. This wedding was also in a public
hall. Only in USA Hindus run to a temple which they misuse often for
socializing. Upanishads declare mother as the first god and Guru, father
occupies the second position while Acharya (family priest who is often Guru
like Vasishtha to Rama) occupies the third position--Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava……..Taittareeya
Upanishad). So the Mother assumed the
role of the priest and administered the seven steps to lead a happy married
life, called Saptapadi, the most
essential part of Hindu wedding ceremony in all traditions, the pair circling
round the main lamp Jyoti symbolizing Brahman and taking oath at each step to
lead an everlasting married life together directed by Dharma, Artha, Kama and
Moksha--Dharma (conduct), life’s pursuits (Artha), love(Kama) and lust-free
divine pursuit (moha+kshaya=Moksha).
A promise made to mother and oath taken is very difficult to give up
unlike the one made to a hired priest indeed and is no match! It was
magnanimous on the part of the father to give up his right to lead the wedding
to mother befitting Hindu culture. In India Kerala society is matriarchal
unlike in rest of India. Usually in Upanayana ceremony father administers
Gayatri mantra with the approval of mother who also gives her last meal to the
boy and sends him to Gurukuala for Vedic studies similar to graduation ceremony
in USA bidding goodbye after Graduation Ceremony saying “You are on your own
kid”. This boy had his Upanayana at the
right age which is a pre-ritual in Hindu Wedding when not done earlier. So the parents deleted this pre-ritual. Then
the boy tied the first two knots of Mangalya (talisman) placed on the neck of
the girl and got it reinforced by his beloved sister to make the bride friendly and
comfortable and as a symbol of two
families coming together and then receiving the rings for exchange. A Hindu marriage is
not only between boy and the girl coming together but also two families coming
together. The married couple did not wait for Arundhati tar to appear in the
sky for the “customary Arundhati Darsan” though it was night by then because
they had the Jyoti (Parabrahman) all the time. “Na tatra suryo bahnti na chandra tarakam”-- when Parabrahman as
Jyoti is there where is the need for Sun or Moon or star?
They were declared by the mother as husband and wife being
the administering Minister before the august assembly that is the most powerful declaration
any Hindu can think of coming from a mother. This act by mother is also
pleasing to American Mothers who are often joked as Helicopter mothers circling
round their kids! The entire ceremony
was conducted in English language with no mantras necessarily employed in
orthodox weddings in Sanskrit language but did not lack the spirit those mantras
carry. This did not embarrass the girl’s
parents and the bridal party and made
possible for them to follow the
entire procedure. Of course they had not missed the bridal shower as
witnessed by the Mehndi floral decorations on bride’s hands a must now- a-days
in American Hindu weddings a reminiscence of ancient Hindu culture.
The
final act in Hindu wedding is Asirvadam that
is blessing by the elders wishing them a happy prosperous and peaceful life.
Here the father took the lead by a short speech and advice. The couple then walked through the bright
path lit by oil-wick traditional lamps receiving blessings from elders as they
walked along with a shower of sweet scented flowers to lead a sweet and
fragrant life! Oil wick lamp reminds one to lead a life with no ego burning of
all negative values. Probably these lamps were six symbolizing burning off six enemies in life (Shad Ripus)-- Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (attachment), Lobha
(Greed), Mada (Pride) and Matsrya (Jealousy).
that I failed to notice. Thus the whole ceremony brings people
together speak together and act together as our ancient Rishis did in
rising their voices to the Supreme!
If I am not wrong the message of Saptapadi as seven commandments were ascribed on a scroll and presented to the married couple to permanently hang in
their house and always keep their vision
on them and fulfill their obligation in
life as promised to their mother. Thus it was not a mere formality
but a covenant and an obligation in life
for both of them to accomplish. If families
thus come together society also comes together as life partners to live
in peace but not in pieces (sarve janaah sukhino bhavantu)--May all live happy and comfortable!
Essentially saptapadi echoes the spirit contained in the following Rigveda mantras for the two souls united:
Sangacchadhvam
sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana
upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord
like the divines that sat together in the past in harmony to worship.
Samaano mantra: samiti: samaani samaanam mana: saha chittamesam /
samaanam mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi //(X-191-3)
Let our speech be one; united be our voices! May our minds be in
union with the thoughts of te wise people! Sharing a common purpose; we worship
as one.
[Vedanta Religion is universal. It did not promote walled
religions. Bhagavad Gita later said these religion need bridges to connect to
the Supreme. All rivers seek refuge in the vast Ocean. All religions seek
universal Lord Brahman only who is ever expanding and indescribable to
accommodate all]
Samaani vaa
aakootih samaana hridayaani vah / Samaanam astu vo mano yathaa vah susahaasati //= (X-191-4)
United be your purpose, harmonious be your feelings and collected
be your mind, in the same way as all the various aspects of the universe exist
in togetherness, wholeness.
The parents of the boy though had the complete liberty, to conduct
the wedding in the traditional Hindu style, requested by the magnanimous
parents of the Christian Faith in their MOU, focused only on essentials of
universal appeal of traditional Hindu wedding thus causing no embarrassment to
girl’s parents as equal partners. This may be an ideal model for such mixed
race marriages since Hinduism has enough scope in Dharma administration and
out-reach. Hindu Samskaras prescribe eight types of Hindu weddings of which Brahma marriage is very traditional. Modern DNA studies tells
Hindus initially are a mixed race that at a later stage stopped from
further multiplying its DNA in its mixed race. This gives solace to first
generation Hindu Americans whose children walk out of conservative Hindu way of
life but still have a liking for Hinduism.
No doubt they walk away from Manu Dharma that had put stop on further
mixing of DNA on those called Hindus but may adopt principles of Sanatana
Dharma like Vasudhaiva kutumbakam to
lead a happy married life amidst different cultures. How far they can keep
their children with Hindu values, whatever religion they may
decide to follow or do not want to believe in any religion, depends on the way they have been brought up, Temple Traditions to
which they are exposed and Baal Vihaar (Vedic Heritage Education classes)
training they have received. Please go
through my detailed discourse on traditional Hindu wedding currently popular with Hindus which our priests
cleverly mange to employ effectively for mixed race couples to satisfy Hindu
parents. Our Hindu Temples in USA may not like the above spiritually inclined
wedding for it questions the authority of our religious pundits and astrologers
and also affects temple income and popularity to make provision for ninth type of Hindu marriage!
I
have witnessed many Hindu American marriages where the clergy also solemnizes
such weddings to satisfy both the parties in the temple or separately in a
Church. Any solemnization by a clergy would necessarily admit the Hindu partner
to Christianity, an indirect way of proselytizing. But a wedding solemnized by
a Hindu priest or a Hindu Mother does not necessarily make the Non-Hindu
partner a Hindu for there is no
conversion in Hinduism. Hinduism is not a religion but
a way of life to lead a Dharmic Way of Life guided by Sanatana Dharma and has
to be earned by constant practice and
spiritual disposition like David Frawley
(Padmabhushan Vamadeva Shastrti), Velan
Samy (Hawaii Temple), Phil Goldberg (Author of American Veda), Annie Besant (Adayar Theosophical Society) etc. You come across
several such couples in USA where both partners have adopted Hindu Dharma and
Culture.
a note on Significance of Gotra in ARRANGED MARRIAGES
Hindu Temples in America still insists
on declaring one’s Gotra (lineage from ancient sages) in the religious
resolutions (Sankalpa) before staring any ritual or worship. In
the context of the above in due course this practice will become obsolete for Hindu Americans. In
arranged Hindu marriages in India Gotra and horoscope matching play a major
role strongly promoted by astrologers and orthodoxy. With the growing number of
inter-caste marriages in India this customary popularity of Gotra will also
fade out gradually. In this context it
will be interesting to know about this ancient custom that has even gone to
courts to solve disputes.
Marriages within the gotra ('sagotra'
marriages) are not permitted under the rule of exogamy
in the traditional matrimonial system. The compound word 'sagotra' is a union
of the words 'sa' and 'gotra', where 'sa' means same or similar. It is common
practice in pr eparation for Hindu
marriage to inquire about the kula-gotra (meaning clan lineage) of the bride
and groom before approving the marriage. People within the gotra are regarded
as siblings and marrying such a person would be thought
of as taboo. In almost all Hindu families, marriage within the same gotra is
not encouraged or practiced since they are believed to be descended from the
same family. Marriages between opposite gotras are therefore encouraged. But
marriage within the jaati is
also obligated. Gotra is always passed on from father to children among most
Hindus. However, among the Malayali
and Tulu people it is passed on from mother to
child.
In communities where gotra membership passed
from father to children, marriages were allowed between a woman and her
maternal uncle, while such marriages were forbidden in matrilineal communities, like Thiyyars and Tuluvas,
where gotra membership was passed down from the mother.
While the gotras are almost universally used
for determining excluding marriages that would be traditionally incestuous,
they are not legally recognized as such.
The idea of Brahmin families descending from an unbroken line of common
ancestors as indicated by the names of their respective gotras "impossible
to accept." says the Supreme court of India.
REFERENCES:
1)
Samskaras (Sacraments)
2)
Vivaham, Hindu Brahma Sacred Matrimony
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/06/vivbaaham-hindu-braahma-sacred-matrimony.html
3) Mangalya Dharanam and Sumangali Kriya in Hindu Wedding
3) Mangalya Dharanam and Sumangali Kriya in Hindu Wedding
4)Abhivadanam,
Gotra and Charan Sparsh
