Dowry is Bad

Meaning: The line of Athervaved 14/1/27 — that man becomes impure who makes use of the money and material brought by the woman; in other words to take dowry is a great sin.

Message: The Empire of ‘agni’ or fire is throughout the world because it sustains and nurtures mankind by its heat energy for cooking and warmth. No work is possible without energy. Similarly a person who is profound and bright like the fire, becomes reputed and receives love. Those who are like the Sun, like kings and are brave they too receive respect, honor, name and fame. The Sun gives light, dispels darkness and nourishes the whole world. Men of excellence work for the welfare of all by the light and power of their virtues by destroying the ignorance and wickedness in the world. Just as a king protects the country, looks after the interests of all, and deals with all like a well-wishing friend and therefore becomes popular, similarly a king-like person also remains busy in the interest of the family and the society and protects them and serves them with the feeling of ‘aatmavat sarvabhooteshu’ i.e. everyone has the soul within him or her just like his. A brave man defends his country and society at the cost of his life.

For such virtuous men, the scriptures have given the permission to marry and enjoy marital bliss. Only those who are knowledgeable, well-built and diligent should marry a beautiful, virtuous woman of good qualities and fulfill the responsibility of a householder. Like the fire, sun and king, they should make arrangements for the sustenance of the family. They should keep their wives happy with clothes, ornaments, money and provisions. Only a prosperous and cheerful husband can fulfill all the wishes of the wife. Like the sun, he should be industrious and dynamic, should earn sufficiently to fulfill the needs of the family and like the king should keep his wife and family contented, happy and protected. Only therein lies the glory of householdership.

Marriage should always be between deserving and cultured man-woman. A lazy and ignorant man always remains poor and unhappy and always looks for free helpings. Such men make marriage also a trade for earning money and resort to the meanness of collecting dowry forcefully from the bride’s family by sheer force. What can be lower than this? Whatever money and material is given to a woman at the time of her marriage is hers only and in Nepalese society called ‘streedhan’ i.e. woman’s property. The husband has no right at all to make any use of this. The difference between something given willingly as a gift to the daughter, and that collected under duress is like the difference between heaven and hell. It is an indication of the lowest level of man’s character to demand dowry and to use various tricks to get it. Not only is taking dowry crime, but also it leads to man’s spiritual downfall and crumbles to dust his respect, honor, name and dignity. No one can be meaner and wicked that those who plan to run their family with the wife’s money.

Man’s honor is restricted to his diligence only.