Danger of collapse of the family system due to the resulting immorality !

        The world looks up to Bharat with respect as the heritage home of Spirituality, and a country that gives lessons on a culture that revolves around moral values and on values of self-restraint and discretion. Today, however, in the process of aping the west, the radiant culture of this country is being destroyed.

1. Wrong judgments given by the Government and Judiciary

1. Live-in relationships (A woman and man living together without getting married): Supreme Court of Bharat has legalised such relationships.

2. The Ministry of women and child development under the ‘Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2010’ proposes permitting of consensual non-penetrative sex between 12 year olds.

3. South Indian actress Ms. Khushboo publicly welcomed premarital and extramarital sex, which was also accepted by the Judiciary.

2. Dreadful ill-effects of extramarital relationships

A. Deterioration of moral values, meaning decline in cultural heritage of the society

The Vivahasanskar encompasses abiding by Dharma, fulfilling duties and social ties. In an extramarital relationship, emphasis is laid only on the physical relationship. As a result, social values, meaning the culture deteriorates. This has been experienced by western countries, especially in the USA and Europe. 

B. Destruction of the family system infrastructure

So far, live-in relationships, premarital and extramarital sexual relationships have all been proved disastrous. Since developed countries in the American and European continents have followed these immoral paths, the family system in these continents has collapsed. The number of illegitimate children is high. The father does not know who his child is, so where is the question of other relationships of a paternal uncle, grandparents or a paternal aunt etc.? How will a generation, which has no attachment to relatives, become aware of how to become a good neighbor, maintain social ties etc.? 

C.The grave problem of teenage pregnancies

In western countries, at puberty itself girls and boys openly indulge in immoral sexual activity. There is a fear that this may happen in Bharat as well. This is the cause for the grave problem of teenage pregnancies in western countries. In Bharat, there is no law that permits minor boys and girls to have sex; yet, in the month following celebration of Navaratri festival, the number of abortions amongst teenage girls is frighteningly large. If a Bill on permitting consensual non-penetrative sex is passed, then the problems of abortions in teenagers, unwed mothers, illegitimate child issues etc. will increase in frighteningly large proportion.

3. Western countries are turning to the family system once again !

        Politicians from western countries have opened independent homes to solve problems of nurturing and upbringing of illegitimate children. In fact, to help children who have developed depression or mental illnesses due to emotional shock that ‘I am illegitimate’ or ‘abandoned’, counseling centre’s have been set up. This has put a big burden on the economy of those countries. Due to mental illnesses and lack of family support, these children are prone to addictions and turning to crime, which have compounded the already existing problem of social instability. Western countries have invited all the above mentioned problems simply because they have not honoured the institution of marriage. To overcome these problems, politicians in USA, UK etc. are once again encouraging the family system. It is high time that we ponder on whether it is worth running after unrestrained sexual pleasures, something that the westerners are repenting about, and add on to the already existing vast number of problems before the Nation.

4. As advocated by the Hindu Dharma,

preserving the system of marriage is the only solution

        Based on the present times, the age group of twenty-five to thirty years for men and twenty to twenty-five years for women is considered the most appropriate age for marriage. This is ideal from the viewpoint of both, physical and mental health. Vivahasanskar imposes Dharma based and social restrictions, and as a result the proportion of immorality or extramarital relationships reduces. In short, Vivahasanskar in the Hindu Dharma has not been advised for fulfilment of desires. It is advised fundamentally for an individual to gradually attain ‘kama’ (Desire), the third of the four Purusharthas and steadily move towards the fourth Purushartha of ‘Moksha’ (Final Liberation). ‘The Vivahasanskar or the gruhasthadharma (Stage of householder) has been created to give birth to good progeny so as to maintain the existing society and to bring about its prosperity. The comprehensive welfare of the society, and alternatively that of the Nation, lies in preserving the system of marriage.

5. People must unitedly fight against

the perversions related to extramarital relationships!

        If the perversions related to extramarital relations are to be stopped, then it is high time that the encouragement it receives from the Government, media and famous personalities is stopped. For this –

• Oppose judgments favouring extramarital relations, by sending letters or joint memorandums to the Government and also compel it to make laws against extramarital relationships!

• Socially boycott television serials which encourage extramarital relationships and well known personalities indulging in it!

• Send your children to Dharmasatsangs (Spiritual meetings) so that they imbibe moral values through education on Dharma and as a result, refrain from unrighteous conduct.

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy text ‘Marriage sanskar’