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.