Marriage Prohibitions are a set of laws that prohibit people
from marrying one other.
Hindus, like other cultures, have well-defined norms and
regulations about who one should marry and who one should not marry—marriages
should be endogamous, or between members of the same social grouping (in this
case, the jati).
Within this broader group, it is widely recognized that the
bride and groom should not be from the same gotra or pravara—mythic lineages
describing old sage ties.
The marriage of people with whom one had a sapinda relationship—common
ancestry—was also prohibited.
The Sapinda connection ends after the seventh generation on
the father's side and the fifth generation on the mother's side, according to
one well-known code of law, the Mitakshara.
A legitimate marriage may be formed between people who have
shared ancestors outside those bounds.
This sapinda formula was often disregarded, especially in
portions of southern India, where marrying one's maternal uncle's daughter was
not only acceptable, but encouraged.
While some dharma books criticize the practice as an
abomination, others point out that it is a tradition unique to the south, where
it is only authorized as part of the family's usual practice (kulachara).
Cross cousin marriage has a long history in southern India,
and it is still practiced today.
There is also opinion among southern Indian brahmins that
their tiny population—roughly 4% of the total—made it hard to locate brahmin
wives under the tight criteria.
This ritual was judged less significant due to the
conflicting imperatives of marrying other brahmins and adhering to lineage
constraints.
Mars is a planet connected with action, conflict, and misfortune
in Hindu astrology (jyotisha).
Mars is seen as a powerful but evil planetary force as a
result of these links.
The day of the week controlled by Mars, Tuesday, is
considered an unlucky day, and people commonly undertake rituals of protection
to shield themselves from Mars's negative influence.
From 1901 until 1931, Marshall, Sir John, was Director
General of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
Marshall obtained his British knighthood for discovering and
excavating the towns of the Indus Valley civilization during his stint as
director.
He also continued the work of his ASI predecessors,
especially Sir Alexander Cunningham, in recording and cataloging India's
ancient treasures.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
