How can Marriage Complement the Spiritual Aspirations of a Man or a Woman?

Spiritual youngsters, who look for life partners with similar values, prefer The Art of Living Matrimony, a matrimony website that brings people together who do yoga, practice meditation and perform “seva” or service. Our marriage consultants have met well-established men and women who are on spiritual path and are in a dilemma whether their spiritual progress would stop after they get married.

Hindu scriptures have explained the importance of “vivaha” or marriage in the life of a man and a woman. When a couple steps into the householder stage, they enter into “grihastha ashram” which is one of the 16 “samaskaras”, each of which supports a human being to attain spiritual enlightenment in the end. To keep a marriage endearing and long-lasting, couples should be wise and spiritual.

Apart from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism also believe that a householder who leads an honest, humble and pious life is equally qualified to attain spiritual enlightenment like a monk.

Every religion has put emphasis on spiritual-upliftment to build happy families. Spiritual enlightenment and the institution of marriage don’t clash if couples bring a balance among all aspects of life.

The Importance of Spiritual Enlightenment to form Long-lasting Relationships between Married Couples: The Religious Perspective

Physical attraction, money and fame don’t remain forever. Without wisdom and spirituality, couples cannot find everlasting bliss and charm in their married lives.

Hinduism: The great “sapta rishis” or the 7 wisest sages of the ancient time were married to equally learned and illustrious women of that time. Rishi Vashishtha was married to Devi Arundhati. According to Vedas, Devi Arundhati was the epitome of an ideal, devoted and virtuous wife. In Mahabharata, Devi Arundhati has been described as an ascetic who was capable of delivering discourses on spirituality to even the “sapta rishis”.

The Significance of “Grihastha Ashram” in Hinduism

“Grihastha Ashram” is the 2nd stage of life according to Hindu beliefs. In this stage, a married householder fulfils his duties towards God, deceased ancestors, family members, priests and holy men. The life of a householder is preoccupied with duties hence; it should be well-planned, organised and spiritually-inclined.

Islam: Holy Quran and hadiths have explained the duties of a married couple to give rise to an ethical and balanced family. Love, care, devotion, honesty and integrity originate from families led by two most mature individuals who fulfil their responsibilities towards themselves and the almighty, “Allah”. Humans find security and bliss in their families. This sense of security and bliss ultimately guide them to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

Christianity: Christians believe that God is the centre of families. Religious and spiritual couples with virtues like kindness, respect, unconditional love, honesty and loyalty build long-lasting relationships. Couples who pray, read the Bible and meditate also respect the decisions guided by the Holy Spirit. Blessed are the married couples who value spiritual discipline to nurture a strong mind and a kind heart to share the responsibilities of their families.

Buddhism: Lord Buddha spoke at length about problems that married couples face; however, he never condemned the institution of marriage. Buddhists believe that to understand the origin of conflicts and to overcome challenges in marriages, both spouses should deeply analyse the nature of self. Spiritual progress would bring happiness in marriages.

Sikhism: “Anand Karaj” or Sikh marriage ceremonies are based on religious and spiritual principles of Sikhism. Sikhs believe that a marriage gives a spiritual identity to a couple. It is a sacred institution that helps couples to attain worldly and spiritual abundance.

Judaism: There is an immense significance of companionship in the lives of married couples who follow Judaism. Jews believe that “yichud” love is the basis for the formation of sustained, lifelong friendship between a married man and a woman. “Yichud” love is the self-less love for the almighty, God. Couples, who follow God’s commandments to discharge their family duties, build charming, long-lasting and blessed relationships.

Zoroastrianism: The Parsi community is deeply religious. They believe that dedication to tenets of their faith would bring abundance and peace in families. Marriages are registered at Zoroastrian “anjuman” that lays down the dos and don'ts of the institution of Parsi marriages.

When the holy scriptures of all the mainstream religions in the world have clearly explained the significance of purification of thoughts and actions to gain spiritual enlightenment that would bring ultimate success in marriages, there cannot be any conflict between spiritual practices and deliverance of conjugal duties. They are two sides of the same coin.

Boys and girls who want to attain spiritual enlightenment along with their life partners can contact us for matchmaking and matrimony services without any dilemma about marriage being in contrast with spiritual aspirations.