Meaning of Marriage in Hindu Sanatan Dharma & Duties of a Husband in Hinduism

Meaning of Marriage in Hindu Sanatan Dharma & Duties of a Husband in Hinduism

In today’s era of social media, the meaning of marriage has been presented in a shallow and distorted way.

But in Hindu Sanatan Dharma, marriage is not a social contract, it is a spiritual sacrament, a sacred means for the evolution of the soul.

In Hindu culture, marriage is considered not as the union of two bodies or individuals, but as the divine union of two souls.

It is not a means of desire, but a path to balance the four Purusharthas : Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

The Rigveda declares :

“Samrājñī śvaśure bhava, samrājñī śvaśvrāṁ bhava.” (Rigveda 10.85.46)

“O bride, may you be the queen of your new home; may you receive love and respect from all.”

The Shatapatha Brahmana (13.2.6.7) says :

“Husband and wife are companions and co-followers of Dharma. Both are equal; neither is superior nor inferior. After Panigrahan (the ritual of hand-holding), every act is to be performed together. The wife is the embodiment of Goddess Lakshmi and deserves reverence.”

During the Vedic wedding, the groom holds the bride’s right hand and says,

‘Beloved, I am Vishnu, and you are my Lakshmi. You are the Tri-Devi, and I am the Tri-Deva. I am the melodious Sama Veda, and you are the poetic Richa. I am the sky, and you are the earth. For my good fortune, I hold your hand.’

This verse beautifully reveals the essence of the Vedic marriage. It shows that marriage in Hinduism is not a contract of lust nor a right of ownership, but a sacred union of two conscious energies, Purusha and Prakriti, Shiva and Shakti, Vishnu and Lakshmi.

When the scriptures say “Sakha bhava” (be my friend), it is not a casual expression, but a deeply spiritual acceptance. It signifies that the foundation of marriage is equality, companionship, and cooperation.

Husband and wife are not master and servant, not teacher and disciple, but co-travelers on the same spiritual path.

When it is said, “I am Vishnu, and you are Lakshmi,” it doesn’t mean man is God and woman is his property. It means that the woman is the divine energy in his life.

Just as Vishnu is incomplete without Lakshmi, a man is powerless without the feminine force. As Lakshmi is the power of Vishnu, so is the wife the power of her husband.

“I am Sama Veda, and you are Richa”, means he is the rhythm, and she is the word; together they create the music of life.

“I am the sky, and you are the earth”, he is the space, she is the foundation; both maintain the balance of the cosmos.

The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva 144.5) says :

“Patnī mitraṁ gṛhasthasya.”

“The wife is the truest friend of a householder.”

She is Lakshmi in the home, Shakti in Dharma, and inspiration in life. She is not merely the mother of children but a medium for the man’s spiritual growth.

That is why in the Vedic wedding it is said,

“O bride, may we share equal fortune and prosperity.”

Modern society has turned marriage into a bond of pleasure, but from the Vedic view, it is a union of soul and energy. The relationship between husband and wife becomes sacred only when they see divinity in each other, not when they try to change one another, but when they help each other become complete.

Marriage is not a duty or possession; it is a Yajna, where two souls sacrifice their ego and together create a new creation. It is not just a promise, it is a proclamation of love, balance, and divine order.

The purpose of marriage is not merely survival, but mutual growth and cooperation in the pursuit of Dharma. It is one of the sixteen Samskaras, considered the gateway to Grihasthashrama. Together, husband and wife uphold Dharma, truth, service, and righteousness, continuing the lineage and spreading values. Through self-restraint, service, sacrifice, and love, the soul is refined in the household life.

In Hindu scriptures, the husband-wife relationship is described as Sakha Bhava (friendship), Sahadharmi (companions in Dharma), and Ardhangini (half of the being). The wife is not half the body, but half the existence of her husband. They are mirrors to each other, one’s anger is the other’s test, one’s love is the other’s healing, and one’s patience is the other’s protection.

Both must live with respect, not ownership. Love should be partnership, not possession. Silence often heals more than words. Let Dharma, duty, and self-restraint be the foundation, for a true bond is built by emotion, not by body. Be companions in each other’s spiritual journey, not competitors. Forgiveness and humility are the greatest protectors of marriage.

But today, social media has confined marriage to romance, photos, and freedom, whereas its true meaning is the union of two incomplete beings who become whole together. It is not the fulfillment of desire, but the maturity of values; not a bondage, but a spiritual companionship, where two souls together take a step toward God. Sadly, marriage today has become a transaction, not a sacrament.

The Vedas and Upanishads call a woman Sahadharmīṇī, the equal partner in Dharma. But today, the same woman is treated as a servant at home and a burden outside. If marriage destroys one’s self-respect or existence, it is no longer a Vedic sacrament, it is bondage, and bondage can never be a part of Dharma.

Some even claim, “A woman who doesn’t marry destroys Hindu Dharma.” This is a misconception, neither scriptural nor spiritual. Hindu Dharma is preserved not by population, but by values. Our tradition honors both, the householder and the celibate, the married and the ascetic.

Gargi never married yet was revered as a Rishi. Maitreyi chose Brahman over the world. Lopamudra, Anasuya, Ganga, Sita, and Radha, all used marriage as a means of Dharma, not bondage. Thus, marriage is not an obligation, but one of many paths on the journey to self-realization.

Dharma perishes not by celibacy but by Adharma. It is not the woman’s choice that destroys Dharma, but the man’s ego, unrighteousness, and society’s ignorance.

Marriage remains sacred only when freedom and respect of both are preserved. Where the wife is Lakshmi, she must be seen as power, not property. Where the husband is Vishnu, he must act as a protector, not a master.

True Sanskār is not when the woman remains silent, but when the man learns to understand her.

In today’s society, everyone remembers the “Duties of a Wife,” but the “Duties of a Husband”, which scriptures describe even more seriously, are almost forgotten.

The Vedas, Smritis, Mahabharata, and Puranas clearly explain a husband’s sacred duties. Beyond providing financial or physical security, his duty is to offer emotional, spiritual, and social protection to his wife.

“Na hiṁsyāt kanyāṁ, na ca bhartā bhāryāṁ pratikūlāṁ vadet.” (Manusmriti 3.55)

A husband must never harm, insult, or speak harshly to his wife. He is responsible for her protection, not for control over her body.

“Priyavākyam nityaṁ vadet.” (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 146.13)

He should always speak to her with kindness, encouragement, and respect. Scriptures say that a woman’s tears destroy the Lakshmi of the home; therefore, the husband’s duty is to create an atmosphere of peace, respect, and joy for his wife.

“Dharme cārthe ca kāme ca nāticharet patiḥ kvacit.” (Manusmriti 9.101)

In Dharma, wealth, or desire, a husband must never act in a way that hurts his wife’s soul.

“Yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ.” (Manusmriti 3.56)

“Where women are honored, there the gods rejoice.”

The husband must see the divinity in his wife, not merely her domestic role. A husband’s first Dharma is to ensure the welfare and sustenance of his family, not with pride, but with the spirit of service.

“Patnīṁ tu rakṣituṁ nityaṁ bhartā dharmeṇa yojayet.” (Manusmriti 9.11)

He must remain faithful and detached from other women, this is his protection of Dharma.

“Strīṇāṁ gārhye doṣe’pi na krudhyet.”

Even when a wife errs, the husband must respond with patience, not anger.

In the Vedic wedding, the husband says,

“Saubhāgyaṁ te sumanasaḥ saha bhāgaṁ syām.” (Rigveda 10.85.36)

“May we share good fortune together”, meaning, in joy and sorrow, success and failure, we remain one.

Bhishma Pitamaha says,

“Patiḥ bhāryāyāḥ śaraṇaṁ, bhāryā patim anugacchet.” (Anushasana Parva 146)

“The husband is the shelter of the wife, not of fear or control, but of love and protection.”

“Patnīṁ priyām anugṛhṇīyāt snehād dharmeṇa cānvitām.” (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva 144.7)

“The husband must treat his wife with affection, righteousness, and respect, for she is the foundation of the householder’s Dharma.”

The true Dharma of a husband is not just to provide, but to protect the body, mind, and soul of his wife. If he fails to offer love, respect, safety, and freedom, he may be called a husband by name, but not by Dharma. A true husband is one who becomes not the fear, but the faith of his wife’s life.