Daiva Marriage

One of the eight ways to perform a marriage recognized in the dharma literature, the treatises on religious duty
(dharma). In a Daiva marriage the
father of the bride gives away his
daughter with her ornaments to a brahmin (priest). The priest then officiates
at a sacrifice sponsored by the father.
According to some interpretations, the
girl is given as the dakshina, or fee for
these sacrificial services. This form of
marriage was named after the gods
(devas), and was one of the four
approved (prashasta) forms of marriage. Even though a daiva marriage was
considered an approved form, it fell out
of favor because of the hint that the
bride had been given as a payment for
services, rather than without any conditions whatsoever. See also Marriage,
eight classical forms.