Arsha Marriage

One of the eight ways to perform
a marriage recognized in the Dharma
Shastras, the treatises on religious
duty (dharma). In an arsha marriage,
the bride’s father receives a pair of cattle
from the bridegroom with the understanding that the cattle are to be used
for sacrifice.
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Arranged Marriage
This was regarded as one of the four
approved forms of marriage (prashasta
marriages) but fell out of favor because
of the stigma of accepting any sort of gift
for the bride, even one explicitly designated for sacrifice. The form was named
after the rishis (sages) because of the
implicit sacrificial rites. See also marriage, eight classical forms.