Demeaning women and making them as tools for their cruel desires is the latest development. No one gives a man a right to insult, hurt or demean any women.
Please take note of another vital point: India is a nation with many diverse traditions and customs, and each one has a unique definition of what constitutes a marriage.
Has Kanyadaan got Vedic sanction?
As far as my knowledge goes, there is no mention of kanyaadaan in the Vedas. But the Dharma Sastras and Sutras do mention ‘giving’ a kanya in marriage. But how this became ‘daana’ or gift, only god knows.
It is said that the bridegroom, who is the receiver, is treated as Mahavishnu. Naturally the bride has to be Mahalakshmi then. But who is competent to give ‘Mahalakshmi’ as a gift ?😊
Let us check this from Ramayan period--
Ramayana was composed in the post-Vedic period, which predates Puranic period.
The wedding of Sita and Sri Rama was mentioned in Bala Kanda.
इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव || प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना |
"This is Sita, my daughter, take her wishfully, let safeness betide you, take her palm into your palm..."
पतिव्रता महभागा छायेवानुगता सदा || इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद्राजा मंत्रपूतं जलं तदा |
"She who is prosperous and husband-devout, will always be abiding you like your own shadow..." So saying that king Janaka then poured forth water into the palms of Rama, which is sanctified with hymns."
We can observe from the above slokas that it was no where mentioned kanyadan. King Janaka said that Sita will follow Sri Rama in all aspects -as सहधर्मचरी(Sahadharmacharini).
It was about panigrahan only, but not about Kanyadan .
Further, no mention of Vishnu or Mahalakshmi here. These customs may not be traced in Vedas, as they were not mentioned in Ramayana, a post-Vedic epic.
No other epic or purana, including Mahabharath, made any mention of it. The majority of the significant epic characters were married in accordance with the bride's wishes and intentions. Even though he is a powerful king, she used to determine who she wanted to marry instead of the male member. To win the bride's approval, the kings and valiant warriors must compete to demonstrate their mettle in front of the bride, the other royals, and the populace.
The only occasion which was glaringly visible in the Mahabharath was Bhishma bringing brides against their wishes to marry to his princes , and Amba returned as Shikhandi to defeat him during the Mahabharata War.
Such occurrences were extremely uncommon at that time. Everyone who committed crimes against women was subjected to severe punishment. Stree was never considered as daan, a Savior to the mankind.
Cricket
