Divorce Has No Place in the Vedic Religion

 Divorce Has No Place in the Vedic Religion

Vedas: Not in Favour of Divorce

— Āchārya Priyavrat Vedavāchaspati

In the Vedic religion, there is no place for divorce. Before marriage, both the bride and groom are instructed to thoroughly examine and understand each other — to “choose your partner after due consideration.” But once the marriage has taken place, it cannot be broken — divorce is not permitted. Thereafter, both must live together in love and tolerance, correcting each other’s shortcomings with affection and patience.

According to the Vedic ideal, one man should have only one wife, and one woman only one husband, and there should never be divorce between a wedded couple. The following mantras from the Vedas clearly illustrate this:

√ In the Atharvaveda (7.37.1), the wife says to her husband:

“O husband, remain mine alone; do not even think of other women.”

√ In the Atharvaveda (2.30.2), the husband says to his wife:

“O wife, be devoted to me alone; never be separated from me.”

√ In the Atharvaveda (Book 14) and Ṛgveda (Mandala 10, Sūkta 85), at the time of marriage, the newly wedded couple is instructed:

“May you two remain united in this bond of marriage for your entire life; never forsake one another.”

√ Again, in Atharvaveda (14.2.64), it is said:

“May this newly married couple remain together all their life, just as the male and female chakravāka birds (ruddy geese) always stay together.”

√ In Ṛgveda (10.85.47), the bride and groom declare during the wedding ceremony:

“All the gods have united our hearts as water unites when two vessels are poured together.”

√ In Atharvaveda (14.1.50), the groom addresses his bride:

“O wife, may you walk with me till old age.”

And again (14.1.52):

“O wife, live with me for a hundred years.”

From these and other passages, it is abundantly clear that the Vedas uphold the ideal that one woman should have one husband, one man should have one wife, and there should never be divorce between them.

Marriage, in reality, is a divine union in which two individuals give their hearts to each other. The heart can be given only once, and to only one person; once given, it cannot be taken back. Therefore, the Vedas prescribe the vow of monogamy and explicitly forbid divorce. According to Vedic injunction, once a person has taken the other’s hand in marriage, they must remain devoted to each other for life.

If flaws or shortcomings appear in one another, one should not abandon the partner in frustration. Instead, both should strive to correct those defects with affection, sympathy, and patience. And if certain faults cannot be corrected, one should learn to overlook them, remembering that no one is entirely free of imperfection. When viewed with love and understanding, such shortcomings never become a cause for separation.

It is in this spirit that, during the Vedic marriage ceremony, the bride and groom offer oblations together while reciting sacred mantras. The essence of these mantras is as follows:

“Whatever faults, flaws, or imperfections may exist — in your forehead, your eyes, your hair, your form, your voice, your smile, your manners, or any part of your body — with this final oblation, I pacify and purify all of them.”

By offering these oblations, the couple pledges to accept each other wholly — with all virtues and faults. They resolve not to quarrel or think of separation, but to continually strive to correct and endure each other’s imperfections with love and empathy.

Before marriage, they chose each other because they found one another to be the most compatible and virtuous. After marriage, their mindset transforms — now the husband believes, “My wife is the most virtuous of all,” and the wife feels, “My husband is the most noble of all.” Their hearts become one. When hearts and souls are united, superficial physical flaws no longer draw attention.

Thus, in the Vedic religion, there is no place for polygamy (one man with multiple wives) or polyandry (one woman with multiple husbands). Likewise, divorce has no sanction in the Vedas. The textual evidence cited above makes this truth absolutely clear.