Hindu religion talks of four ashrams and four aims of life. These four ashrams are related to the age of human life and four aims Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. It is believed that the aim of dharma can’t be achieved by either man or woman alone. They need to perform various religious duties (dharma) together.
So, the purpose of performing religious duties the man and woman are bound in the relationship of marriage. The union of man and woman in wedding happens in many ways. In one method of marriage, the father of the bride hands over the hands of his daughter to the groom for joint performance of sacred duties together. This form of marriage is known as Prajapatya marriage.
In the Brahma marriage, the bride’s hand is given by her father of the groom to perform sacred duties of life together. The similar thing happens in Prajapatya marriage also. But the Brahma marriage is ancient than the Prajapatya marriage. Hence, it may say that the Brahma marriage is the origin of Prajapatya marriage.
The job of selecting a groom for the daughter is done by father of the bride. He goes from place to place to search a suitable groom for his daughter. The groom is selection from the same caste and same ethnic group.
Performance of Yajna
On the marriage day, a holy yajna is performed at the bride’s house. The groom along with his family members, friends and relatives (only male members) reaches the bride’s house. He is made to sit along with priest and participate in yajna. He is joined by the bride and her father. He is treated with great respect. Both the bride and groom are taught be the priest as well as by their parents to be in a happy marriage and continue the family life in sacred manners. Then the bride and groom are tied into wedlock. They are blessed by all people present there. Now the groom changes to be a married person.
In Hindu religion, the single life of man or woman is treated as vice. A single male or female cannot perform any worship or yajna alone. As per the tradition, the husband and wife are made to sit together in any religious work. Moreover, as per Hindu culture the procreation of child is also one of religious duties. This is done in order to continue or maintain the human generation. For this purpose also, the marriage is necessary. You may various the stories of various gods; when they came in the human form they performed all religious duties like human beings and with their wives. Going to jungle by goddess Sita with lord Rama is one is one of heart rendering example of family-love and cooperation. Similarly the story of lord Krishna or other gods presents us the example that the family life can be run by entering into marriage relationship and performing sacred duties. The Prajapatya marriage gives an opportunity to both the man and woman to do all religious duties.