Vivaha, aka: Vivāha; 15 Definition(s)



In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Vivāha (विवाह) or “marriage” is the most important of all saṃskāras  Through this saṃskāra, one, who has completed the sacrificial bath (samāvartanasnāna), or brahmacaryāśrama, enters into the gārthasthāśrama. This is the most important saṃskāra for men of the twice born classes (dvija). This is the only Vedic sacrament meant for women. It is to be noted that this sacrament is also performed by śūdras without using Vedic mantras.

From the Vedic period marriage is familiar in the s ociety. According to the Ṛgveda, the purpose of marriage, is to enable a man, by b ecoming householder, to perform sacrifices to the gods and procreate sons. The husband accepts a woman as a wife for gārhapatya.

The Manusaṃhitā recognizes eight types of marriage. These are

  1. Brāhma,
  2. Daiva,
  3. Ārṣa,
  4. Prājāpatya,
  5. Āsura,
  6. Gāndharva,
  7. Rākṣasa
  8. and Paiśāca.
Source: Shodhganga: Facts of society in the Manusamhita
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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Vivaha in Purana glossary... « previous · [V] · next »

1) Vivaha (विवह).—An air (wind) which blows very speedily. This wind will be transformed to a fierce storm which will cause havoc everywhere. At the time of the great flood this Vivaha will blow away the cloud called Valāhaka in consequence of which destruction and devastation will become rampant on earth. (M.B, Śānti Parva, Chapter 328).

2) Vivāha (विवाह).—(marriage) General information. In ancient India marriage was considered to be a sacrifice performed in accordance with social customs. Marriage was allowed to those who had completed education at the age of sixteen. (Samāvartana). Father or teacher teaches the pupil the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. When the education is completed the teacher or father makes him sit on a seat decorated with flowers, sandalwood etc. and do Godānavrata. Then he is offered Pañcāmṛta (milk, curd, butter, honey and water). This is called Samāvartana. With this his brahmacarya ends, and he is allowed to marry and lead the life of a house-holder.

Source: Puranic Encyclopaedia

1) Vivaha (विवह).—The chief of the fifth Vātaskandha, situated between the Nakṣatras (Ṛkṣa, Vāyu-purāṇa) and the planets;1 one of the seven Maruts.2

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 5. 86; Vāyu-purāṇa 67. 118.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 163. 32.

2a) Vivāha (विवाह).—One of the four sons in the 30th Kalpa of Śarva, red in colour, attire, etc.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 22. 30.

2b) Eight-fold: Brāhma, Daiva, Ārṣa, Prājāpatya, Āsura, Saindhava, Rākṣasa, and Paiśāca;1 Kṛṣṇa married Rukmiṇī by the Rākṣasa form;2 the marriage day fit for merudāna: gṛhabali recommended in.3

  • 1) Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 10. 24;
  • 2) Ib. V. 26. 11.
  • 3) Matsya-purāṇa 83. 8; 93. 83.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index
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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)


Source: JSTOR: Tāntric Dīkṣā by Surya Kanta
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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Vivāha (विवाह) or Vivāhamūrti refers to one of the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Kāraṇāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): the fourth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgamas. The forms of Śiva (eg., Vivāha) are established through a process known as Sādākhya, described as a five-fold process of creation.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shilpa)
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Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Vivaha (विवह, “marriage”) refers to one of the sixteen saṃskāras, or “ceremonies” accompanying the individual during the Gṛhastha (householder) stage of the Āśrama way of life. These ceremonies (eg., vivaha-saṃskāra) are community affairs and at each ceremony relations and friends gather for community eating.

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In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)


Among these decimal positions (eg., vivāha), the first nine positions from one to one hundred million are called ‘single set enumeration’. From a billion up to, but not including countless is “the enumeration of the great companion” and is called the ‘recurring enumeration’.

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

India history and geogprahy

Vivāha.—(EI 12), ‘one whose vehicle is the bird’; i. e. Viṣṇu. Note: vivāha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

--- OR ---

Vivāha.—(CII 1), marriage of a daughter; cf. āvāha which means the marriage of a son. Note: vivāha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary
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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Vivaha in Pali glossary... « previous · [V] · next »

vivāha : (m.) marriage.

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

Vivāha, (fr. vi+vah) “carrying or sending away, ” i.e. marriage, wedding D. I, 99; Sn. p. 105; PvA. 144; SnA 448 (where distinction āvāha=kaññā-gahaṇaṃ, vivāha= kaññā-dānaṃ).—As nt. at Vin. III, 135. Cp. āvāha & vevāhika. (Page 638)

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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Marathi-English dictionary

vivāha (विवाह).—m (S) Matrimony or wedlock. Eight forms or modes are reckoned. See under aṣṭauvivāha.

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vivāha (विवाह).—m Marriage, matrimony or wedlock.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English
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Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vivaha (विवह).—Name of one of the seven tongues of fire.

Derivable forms: vivahaḥ (विवहः).

--- OR ---

Vivāha (विवाह).—Marriage; (Hindu lawgivers enumerate eight forms of marriage; brāhmo daivastathaivārṣaḥ prājāpatyastathā''suraḥ | gāṃdharvo rākṣasaścaiva paiśācaścāṣṭamo'dhamaḥ || Ms.3.21; see Y.1. 58-61 also; for explanation of these forms see s. v.).

Derivable forms: vivāhaḥ (विवाहः).

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary
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Relevant definitions

Search found 56 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:

paiśācavivāha (पैशाचविवाह).—m A form of marriage.
Tulasī-vivāha.—(EI 32), name of a ceremony. Note: tulasī-vivāha is defined in the “Indian epigr...
Dharmyavivāha (धर्म्यविवाह).—m. (-haḥ) Legal marriage of five sorts, as the Brahma, Daiva, Arsh...
ārṣavivāha (आर्षविवाह).—m A form of marriage.
Arkavivāha (अर्कविवाह).—marriage with the arka plant (enjoined to be performed before a man mar...
Prītivivāha (प्रीतिविवाह).—a love-marriage, love-match (based purely on love). Derivable forms:...
Durvivāha (दुर्विवाह).—m. (-haḥ) A bad mode or form of marriage. E. dur and vivāha marriage.
āsuravivāha (आसुरविवाह).—m (S) A form of marriage; in which the bridegroom gives what he can af...
brāhmavivāha (ब्राह्मविवाह).—m (S) A form of marriage,--that in which the bride duly adorned an...
daivavivāha (दैवविवाह).—m S A form of marriage. The gift of a daughter, at a sacrifice, to the ...
Mahāvivāha (महाविवाह).—m., a high number: Mvy 8011. Cf. vivāha.
Paravivāhakaraṇa (परविवाहकरण) refers to “arranging marriages of others” and represents one of t...
Aṣṭavivāha (अष्टविवाह).—Eight kinds of marriage. (1) Brāhma (2) Daiva (3) Ārṣa (4) Prājāpatya (...
prājāpatyavivāha (प्राजापत्यविवाह).—m S A form of marriage,--that in which the father of the gi...
Vivāha-paṇa.—cf. vivāha-ppaṇam (SITI), same as kaṇṇāla- kkāṇam; a tax on marriage. Note: vivāha...

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