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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00069 Jul 2003

 
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Revered Bhagawathas:

Sriman Sadagopa Iyengar's article on this subject is both illuminating and 
thought provoking to trace the origin of Mangalya dharanam as the ultimate 
authoritative stamp of divine approval of Hindu matrimony. It is evident from 
this article that Mangalya dharanam is not a vedic prescription but evolved as 
social practice to guard women with visible symbols of marriage so that they 
will not be victimized by unruly men. Everybody obeys the cardinal law that 
anyone will burn in hell for coveting a married woman. This is the fundamental 
lesson of Ramayana and of abuses suffered by Dropadhi in Duryodhana's court in 
Mahabharatha. This is one of the Ten Commandments of the Holy Bible. Adultery 
is a crime punishable by death in Islam. 

My inference is that Mangalya dharanam could have been incorporated in Hindu 
wedding as religious practice during the time of Islamic onslaught to admonish 
Islamic invaders that a woman is married , with visible signs to remain 
permanent around her neck and Metti on her feet to emit sound for protection 
from being kidnapped for possession.. This would also explain child marriage 
without consent before puberty and desecration of widows to render them 
unattractive and undesirable for possession. No doubt that some of these 
practices amounted to feminine injustice and cruelty.and have no vedic 
justification.

Modern times present different dilemma. I know that many ladies consider 
maintenance of mangala sutra permanently around the neck as troublesome and 
unfashionable. Sacred yellow thread with three knots disappears by voluntary 
action as gold thirumangalyam joins with gold chain as jewelry around the neck 
of the married lady. Mangal sutra becomes ornamental practice at the time of 
marriage with no subsequent significance. It is also true that several men take 
off Poonal (sacred thread) as they have given up anushtanam for lack of 
interest and put it on only if they choose to follow a religious practice.. It 
is not at all my intention to criticize or condemn anyone for their decision. 
Social customs arise and fade off as time changes Religious customs are 
constantly changing and evolving but basic faith and concepts remain affected. 
This is true for all religions. Even militancy of Islam enforced by Taliban is 
confronting reformation

Today, we are all facing the reality of inter racial and inter religious 
weddings particularly among Hindus settled outside India. Divorce among Hindus 
even in India has reached epidemic proportions. Denial of reality is not an 
escape. When we say Vedic concepts have universal appeal, how do we accommodate 
vedic rites in inter religious marriage?
How do we cope up with divorce? How do you justify vedic marriage services 
conducted by Hindu priests for inter-racial couple, divorcees, widows and 
widowers at any age unless you adopt only universal standards with Veda mantram 
for entrusting bride's hand by her father/elder to the groom and vows of 
Saptapathi before Agni as God and witness as the principal component of 
sanctity? I do not know whether Acharyas can provide guidance and remedies for 
social malady of modern day crisis. To answer Sadagopa Iyengar's riddle, tying 
of knots is only an idiomatic expression for binding two human souls of 
feminine and masculine gender in sacred matrimony before God.

Adiyen,
Srinivasa Raghavan








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