Hypergamous Marriage

Barun Chakraborty

Hypergamous Marriage

Hypergamous Marriage, Eugenics and Social Integration

As compatible marriage within similar class and clans is propitious, so also proper hypergamous marriage is beneficial in all respects. Hypergamous marriage means the union of a male of a higher Varna with a female of lower Varna. In the scriptures it is highly applauded and countenanced. The fundamental principles of marriage are applicable here also. So apt hypergamous marriage can achieve the twin objectives of marriage e.g., superior becoming and procreation of good children. Over and above this it has many more good effects. As a common Ideal creates a divine integration in the society, so hypergamous marriage effects a blood-compactness among different Varnas and binds them together in a deep mutual relationship. So a common Ideal and hypergamous marriage are the harbinger of social integration.

The Assimilative Power of Society and Expansion towards Becoming

In this connection it should be mentioned that inter-provincial marriage should be introduced both within similar class and different Varnas in a hypergamous manner. That can consolidate national integration on a firm foundation. Moreover there is no bar to establishing marital relations with foreign societies and countries maintaining the fundamental principles of marriage in tact. That serves to expand the society gradually. If the assimilative power of the society does not increase, eventually the society becomes weak and isolated. Moreover if the society does not advance towards existential expansion, it invariably becomes a prey to hostile external forces and proceeds towards annihilation under their aggressive pressure. If we do not move forward towards growth, decadence becomes inevitable. We should have a deep and thorough understanding about the cross current of forces that operates unfailingly in the social plane. We should go onward towards growth with bold steps keeping adherence, existential orthodoxy and conservatism unaffected. It will not do to indulge in suicidal dangerous propensities discarding Ideal, culture, tradition and benign characteristics for the sake of welcoming so called liberalism. We cannot afford to destroy the foundation of our existence which has been built up little by little by the cumulative efforts of thousands of years; rather we have to enrich it all the more by accumulating and assimilating existential elements from all around. Thereby we shall be benefited by others and others will also be benefited by us and herein lies Dharma.

The Influence of Mutual Regard and Love

The admiration of the lower Varna towards a higher and a responsible sense of affection and compassion of the higher Varna for the lower make the society imbued with love and an urge for higher becoming through the cultivation of regard, love and service. Such a go of life intensifies the urge for self-culture. Where such a trend prevails, mutual service and co-operation become dominant instead of forcible demands. The prevalence of hypergamous marriage automatically brings in such a mentality. It cannot be adequately described as to what a stupendous amount of social benefit flows from it. It dispels an unaccommodative egoistic attitude and invokes and installs a tendency of mutual regard in its place. Instead of conflict and struggle there appears a hankering for harmony and fellowship. As a result of this the whole society becomes crystallized and fortified. So no one has to deteriorate owing to weakness, caused by social disintegration. In such an atmosphere people naturally come to the rescue of one another in times of danger. The spiritual and intellectual power of the Vipra, the valour and diplomacy of the Kshatriya, the economic power and acquisitive talent of the Baishya and the working capacity and service-ableness of the Shudra become all the more combined and coordinated through the existence of a common Ideal and hypergamous marriage and thus protect, nurture and defend one and all like an impregnable fortress. And it is thus, that social evolution becomes spontaneous.

Benign Consequences of Hypergamy

Moreover, as a result of the judicious inter-marriage of different Varnas, people with varied richer instincts are born, and they turn out to be invaluable assets to the nation. We know that the seed predominates. The father supplies the seed and the mother receives and measures it and gives shape to it by providing suitable nurture. So there appears a difference in the resultant form of the seed i.e., the child according to the characteristic nature of the receptivity, measuring capacity and nurture of the mother, which again depend on her biological structure. Thus there grow different subsections within each Varna according to the difference in the Varna of the mother. And in every subsection a special type of the paternal instinct is discernible, as within the Bipra Varna there are original ‘Bipras’ born of Bipra parents, there are ‘Murdhabshikta Bipras’ who are born of a Bipra father and a Kshatriya mother, there are ‘Ambustha Bipras’ who spring from a Bipra father and a Baishya mother and there are ‘Parashab Bipras’ who owe their origin to Bipra fathers and Shudra mothers. Every one of these sections has its distinct characteristics. And this distinctiveness has its special suitability and contribution to the society. It holds good with regard to the subsections obtaining in each Varna. So we should make a proper assessment as to how enormously these varieties contribute to the enrichment of the society. Again as a result of the prevalence of hypergamy, vigour, valour and enlivening energy flare up in the nation through the nurture of newer and newer blood-combinations. So Sri Sri Thakur has said: “Marriage within similar class produces a balanced temperament and hypergamy increases vigour”.

A girl of a lower Varna naturally cherishes a keen and active admiration for a suitable husband belonging to a higher Varna. This existential admiration invariably enhances the life-urge of the child abundantly. A regardful ardour becomes ingrained in them. Again some organic evolution is effected in the mother in course of her endeavour to nurture the higher seed. And women also become normally elevated through the impact of an intimate contact with the family-environment of her husband having a superior Varna and corresponding superior culture. So can there be any doubt about the fact that this kind of hypergamy is supremely propitious in all respects?