GRIHYASUTRAS DESCRIBES SAMSKARAS. THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE YAJNAS THAT ARE PERFORMED BY GRIHASTAH. SAMSKARAS OR SACRAMENTS ARE IMPORTANT PART OF KARM KANDA. SAMSKARAS ARE BELIEVED TO REFORM, SANCTIFY A HUMAN’S LIFE FROM ITS BIRTH TO DEATH. THERE ARE 16 TYPES OF SAMSKARSAS WHICH ARE PERFORMED IN A LIFE OF A PERSON FROM HIS BIRTH TO DEATH. MARRIAGE IS ONE OF THE 16 SAMSKARAS. IN DHARMSASTRAS EIGHT FORMS OF MARRIAGES ARE MENTIONED. OUT OF EIGHT, ONLY FOUR ARE ACCEPTED. THE ACCEPTED ONCE ARE BRAHMA, PRAJAPATYA, DAIVA AND ARSA. DHARMSASTRAS CONTAINS RELIGIOUS RULES AND THEIR PRACTICAL SHAPE.
| MARRIAGE | DESCRIPTION |
| BRAHMA | THE ARRANGED FORM OF MARRIAGE. NO DOWRY. |
| DAIVA | THE GIRL IS GIVEN TO THE PRIEST WH OFFICIATED THE AT SACRIFICIAL CEREMONY. |
| PRAJAPATYA | A FORM IN WHICH THE FATHER GIVE THE GIRL WITHOUT DOWRY OR BRIDEPRICE. |
| ARSA | A TOKEN PRICE IN THE FORM OF COW OR BULL WAS TO BE PAID TO THE GIRL’S FATHER. |
| GANDHARA | LOVE MARRIAGE. |
| ASURA | BY PURCHASE. |
| RAKSHASA | BY CAPTURE. |
| PAISHACH | A FORM IN WHICH THE BRIDE WAS ABDUCTED IN UNFAIR MANNER. |
THE MARRIAGE INVOLVES SEVERAL PREMARITAL, MARITAL AND POST MARITAL STAGES. THE IMPORTANT STAGES ARE
| VAGDANA | BETROTHAL | PREMARITAL |
| VARA-VARANA | THE FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF BRIDE AND GROOM | PREMARITAL |
| KANYA-DANA | GIFT OF THE BRIDE TO THE BRIDEGROOM BY THE LEGITIMATE GUARDIAN | MARITAL |
| VIVAH-HOMA | MARRIAGE OFFERINGS | MARITAL |
| PANIGRAHANA | CLASPING THE HAND | MARITAL |
| HRIDAYASPARSHA | TOUCHING OF HEART | MARITAL |
| SAPTAPADI | SEVEN STEPS SYMBOLIC OF PROSPERITY AND FELICITY | MARITAL |
| ASMAROHANA | MOUNTING THE STONE, SYMBOL OF STABILITY | MARITAL |
| SURYAVALOKANA | LOOKING AT THE SUN, AS A WITNESS OF SAMSKARAS | MARITAL |
| DHRUVADARSANA | LOOKING AT THE POLE STAR. THE SYMBOL OF STABILITY. | MARITAL |
| TRIRATRA-VRATA | THREE NIGHTS CONTINENCE | POST MARITAL
|
| CHATURTHI-KARMA | FOURTH DAY OF CEREMONY OR THE FORMAL UNIFICATION OF THE COUPLE. | POST MARITAL |
