Okay, I do not know if this topic has been done before, but what does Hinduism say about intercaste, interracial, and interfaith marriage?
Are you personally in one or do you know someone in one? Are there any challenges in the marriage? If not, would you ever consider one? (when I say "one", I mean all three intercaste, interracial, and interfaith)
bhaktar
Vannakkam bp789:
Although there is a trend where these types of marriages are becoming more commonplace, it is not necessarily wise. Each individual marriage is unique, but stats indicate the divorce rate is three times as high, although personally, I think it may have more to do with the lack of shared interests.
I went to one yesterday, and have been to several, and know several. The one yesterday was between a Sri Lankan Hindu boy, and a Malayalee Christian girl. They are having two weddings: yesterday was the Hindu wedding, and Saturday is the Christian wedding. There is meat at one, but not the other. A thali at one, and a ring at the other. Etc. Quite different in all respects. I'm guessing each family considers one of the weddings to be the 'real' wedding, and that would differ.
Of course there are differences to be worked out. When a child comes along, so we do the namakarana, or baptism? Do we attend church, or temple, or both? So it can get very complicated.
From my observation, the more liberal minded people within their faiths are more likely to succeed. (If the definition of success is staying together harmoniously) The problems occur when an individual is or gets very religious, and then quite adamant about it.
Some of the others I have seen are: Sri Lankan Hindu male married to Swedish Christian female ending in divorce.
Sri Lankan Hindu male married to Korean liberal Christian ... working out wonderfully so far
White non-practising Hindu leaning to agnostic (my son) married to a tolerant liberal Anglican ... working out wonderfully so far.
Two Sri Lankans ... one getting very involved in a Guru, and the religion ... ending in divorce.
So each situation is incredibly different. I think that part of the solution is give up on any infatuation for a minute before marriage, and REALLY talk it out beforehand, especially before children.
Aum Namasivaya
Brahmachari
Namaste,
Here is an article about the growing number of interfaith marriages and how they are failing: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1
I would definitely see more problems arising out of interfaith marriages rather than interracial marriages. But of course a lot of the time the two are intertwined. I have never really thought about marrying a non-Hindu. I can see how non-practicing or semi-practicing Hindus wouldn't mind, but for me personally Hinduism is such a big part of my life and I would prefer to have a Hindu wife and also to raise my children in Sanatana Dharma.
I would be open to marrying someone of another race, provided they are Hindu. Especially with a growing number of white and non-Indian Hindus, that could be a real possibility for me. But of course I don't plan on getting married anytime in the next several, years, so I'll see what happens.
Jai Sri Krishna
bhaktar
Vannakkam: I found a long and often personal discussion about it on another forum here. This one is particularly about Hindu-Christian marriages.
http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/forum/...ead.php?t=3179
Pretty interesting comments all around.
Aum Namasivaya
Brahmachari
Namaste Eastern Mindji,Originally Posted by Eastern Mind
I took a look at the thread and it does have interesting comments. I think the main factor with how successful interfaith marriages will be is how religious the spouses are. If they are both non-practicing or semi-practicing, then the marriage could end up being successful with not that many problems. However, if both spouses are devout and deeply immersed in their respective religions, then most likely problems will arise. Like the OP said that her boyfriend has a deep faith in Christianity and she has a deep faith in Hinduism and they already saw problems arising.
You could always say that you won't raise the children in any religion and let them choose for themselves, but I don't think that is very practical. What will the spouses do when the child is very young and not yet able to choose their own religion? Will the child have a Hindu name or a Christian name? Will the child be baptized or go through the Hindu sacraments such as niskramana, annaprashana, and chudakarma? Also, as somebody in the thread said, depending on where you live, it can be a difficult thing just to not raise your children Christian.
A non-practicing or semi-practicing Hindu probably won't care much about having their child go through the sacraments and a semi-practicing Christian probably won't care much about doing specific things to raise their child Christian. That's why I think those marriages have a better chance of succeeding. But if both spouses are devout and deeply rooted in their own religion, then problems will more likely arise.
Jai Sri Krishna
Member
Namaste Ramakrishna
I will rather opine the opposite (within a limited scope however). You are correct in case of conventional faith where devoutness is equated to externalities. But where the knowledge of spirit is deep, the alliances are never broken, even if partners kill each other (one may of course counter opine that in case of christians or muslims the knowledge of spirit can never be deep enough).
Bhisma and Krishna fought the terminal battle but were they separated?
Om Namah Shivaya
That which is without letters (parts) is the Fourth, beyond apprehension through ordinary means, the cessation of the phenomenal world, the auspicious and the non-dual. Thus Om is certainly the Self. He who knows thus enters the Self by the Self.
India has the lowest divorce rates in the world.
http://www.darndivorce.com/divorce-r...und-the-world/
But divorce rates in India are in the increase now.
I wish some body makes a research and publish the same so that people all over the world can follow India for a successful married life.
All the best
'Let Noble Thoughts come to us from all sides' – Rigveda 1-89-i.
bhaktar
Vannakkam RVR: I find it interesting that none of the stricter Islamic nations are on the list. Perhaps they don't keep statistics or wouldn't release them to the folks who compiled the data. Certainly India's citizens should be commended for ranking so high, but no such survey can be accurate measuring 'successful' marriage by only one factor ... divorce rate. This rate wouldn't include separations, disharmony, or adultery for examples. Neither would it include men who drop their family dharmas to go wandering as 'sannyasins'. I personally know several Indian marriages that fall into such categories. For example two I know are gay men forced into early marriage by family pressure. So the figure is probably closer to 5% or higher, not the 1.1 mentioned in the data. Still its commendable. Personally, I think logical (where common sense prevails) arranged marriages are the best.
Aum Namasivaya
Brahmachari
Namaste,
Interesting article from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-sout...360?print=true
Divorce rates are indeed rising in India, and at alarmingly high levels. It's very interesting what the article says is one of the main factors in this record rise in divorces. People are getting too caught up with their jobs and the rising economy has led to more materialism and consumerism, rather than an emphasis on family values.
Jai Sri Ram
New Member
Interracial marriages, yes of course as long as both partners are willing to contribute their share of sacrifice for the marriage.
Intercaste marriages I feel are perfectly fine as long as one knows his/her duties in her caste and carries them out diligently.
Now for the tough one, Interfaith Marriages. As long as both spouses are aware of the others beliefs and respects them and won't attempt to convert the other and its agreed upon in which faith the children will be raised in than I feel that it is perfectly fine. Of course it would be beneficial for a Hindu to marry a Hindu for innumerable reasons but its better for a marriage between a Muslim man and a Hindu Women whose love transcends their differences as opposed to a Hindu man marrying a certain women because she comes from a rich family and he has little intention of putting his utmost to provide for her and the family monetarily and spiritually.
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