*What marriage really signifies?*

With courtesy to the Vedic literatures which are the oldest manuals of Mankind and thus representative of absolute truth , we can know what actually marriage means,

Because marriage is a very sacred vow that is taken between a man and a woman. It is vow taken before God for the purpose of service to God. Because man and woman are not meant to enjoy one another. Animal civilisation is meant to enjoy one another. Therefore animals have no samskaras because what they do is not a sacrifice or devotion to God. It is simply for enjoyment. There is no marriage between two rats. There is no marriage between two dogs, or two hogs or two mosquitoes because their purpose is simply – that there is an urge and they are enjoy.And they find a beautiful partner to enjoy with. And then they have children. And then they raise their children to enjoy. And when their children get old enough they also find a partner and enjoy. And in this way the population of rats, dogs, hogs and mosquitoes increases day by day throughout the world.

Human population is also increasing day by day in the same way. Because people do not understand the meaning of the marriage samskara. athato brahma jignyasa. Human life is meant for self realization. It is not simply meant for sensual enjoyment. The marriage samskara is a sacred ceremony wherein the man and the woman come together and make a vow that they are not coming to enjoy one another. But they are coming to be enjoyed by God together. It is said that when two persons marry they become one person. That means they are completely united in the highest purpose of life which is devotion to God.

From a spiritual perspective one should feel that their partner is something more than just my husband or my wife. A husband should feel towards his wife that this is the daughter of God - this is God’s deeply beloved daughter that has been entrusted in my care.

How you treat her is how God will receive you. How you speak to her, how you act toward her, how you protect her are all important. Protection is said to be on three levels - physical, emotional and spiritual.

To give that protection, to be forgiving to each other and to honor your spouse as God's property, God's gift, is how you will make spiritual progress. And a wife should feel that her partner is not just her husband but he is God’s beloved child entrusted in her care to protect, to be faithful to, and to encourage. If you see each other in this light, marriage really is yoga. Your relationship will be yoga in essence and you will make great spiritual progress.
-H H Radhanath Swami