Vivah

As per classics there are 8 kinds of marriages
1)Brahma Vivah – In ancient times when boy completes its studies,his parents select the eligible girl for him. Only the kanya daan ceremony was performed at that time.
2)Daiva Vivah - A bride when married to a Groom in return for a service or favour done by him regardless of the bride’s consent, its termed as “Daiva Vivaha”.
3)Arsha Vivah – In this type, the girl marries with a sage.
4)Prajapatya Vivah – Father of a girl searches for a suitable groom.
5)Gandharva Vivah – It is similar to love marriage.
6)Asura Vivah – In this type of marriage,unsuitable boy approaches the parents of girl with considerable wealth in exchange of bride.
7)Rakshasa Vivah – A kind of forceful marriage in which groom fights battle with bride’s family.
8)Paishacha Vivah – Marriage against the wishes of girl.
Our classics accepts only first 4 types of marriage

Vivah kundli

The time at which marriage is actually performed has a special meaning. Now a days people rarely pay importance to the time at which marriage ceremony starts. This ignorance can prove costly.According to sages, the lagna at the time of marriage gives sufficient hint about the happenings in post married life. For a female native, in chart of muhurat, following planets represent the relatives respectively-
1)sun-father in law
2)venus-mother in law
3)7th lord-husband
4) lagna- health
5) Moon-mind/psychology
and for a male native the representations changes a little bit as follows
1)Moon – Wife
2)Mars-Wealth
3)Mercury-comforts
4)Jupiter- sons
5)Venus-dharma
6) Saturn-domestic comforts
In a muhurat kundli when a particular planet is weak,then the significations of that planet looses.For example if in muhurat chart Moon is deblitated,then the female will deprive of the happiness from the mother-in-law.Apart from that one has to make sure that 7th house of muhurat kundli contains no planet.Other wise a dosha called “Jamitra Dosham “ will be created if the following planets are found in the 7th house. The corresponding result is given below-
1)moon- trouble
2)sun-sepration
3)mars-failure of marriage
4)mercury-indifference in opinion
5)Jupiter-brings disgrace
6)venus-bad conduct
7)Saturn-adverse effect to children
8)Rahu-poverty
9)ketu- lunatic
So, to ward off the evil effect on should perform marriage in a muhurat as selected by qualified astrologer

Gotra- Ek Pehchaan

Gotra mean a name given to lineage . All Hindu ceremonies require a statement of the gotra. It is very important to pronounce the “Gotra” while performing sanskaars. A Gotra relates to the original seven Rishis called “Saptarishis” and Sage Agastya making the total 8. The sapta rishis were Gautama, Bhardwaja, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Vasistha, Kashyapa, Atri. In olden times, every gotra had a definite task to perform. Certain sacrifices require priests of a specific gotra only. All members of a particular gotra are believed to possess certain common characteristics by way of nature or profession. Currently there are 49 established Hindu gotras which evolves from eight sages. The members of a gotra however need not necessarily be blood relations. There is a difference between “gotra” and “Kula”. A kula is a group of people following similar rituals.One can change its Kula, based on his faith on ista devatha. In society it is prohibited to perform marriage between persons belonging to same gotra. The idea behind this concept to prevent transfer of genetic disorders to next generation. Also marriages between certain gotras are also not allowed.For Example marriages between persons of the Vasishtha and Vishvamitra gotras are not permitted. The reason is that these two sages were opponents and their descendants are traditional enemies . So the concept of gotra has the logic.

Tulsi-Ek Shakti

In the Hinduism, Tulsi(a plant,basil) is very dear to Lord Vishnu. It is believe that one who worship lord Vishnu with Tulsi leaves, is dear to lord Vishnu. That is why Tulsi is also known as “Vishnu priya”.The month of Kaartik is very important for tulsi pooja. On ekadashi tithi of kaartik shukal paksh devotees celebrates the marriage ceremony of Tulsi with lord Vishnu. This is called Tulsi vivah. Lord Vishnu granted boon to Tulsi that a place is considered to be the most sacred pilgrimage where exists the holy Tulsi plant. It is believed that the lord of death does not dare to enter a place, where exists a holy basil plant. If one take bath with water, in which basil leaves have been mixed, gives virtues similar to that of all the pilgrimage. The deities and all the places of pilgrimages have their dwelling places in whole of the basil-plant. Even the soil underneath the holy basil plant is of such great importance, that if it is applied on the forehead, all the sins of a man gets destroyed. Wearing a string of beads consisting of basil-seeds makes a man free from the fears of death. Medically it is proved that the Tulsi plant is helpful in curing many diseases. Some important consideration has to be kept in mind while doing Tulsi pooja.There are some days during which it is prohibited to pluck or water Tulsi leaves. They are Sundays,Amavasya,Dwadashi,Sakraanti(Transit of sun into new sign). The leaves should be collected before the prohibited time.