Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-20
SAYS MARRIAGES
ARE A FAILURE
BABA BHARATl Tells OF THE
HINDoo PLAN
Describes Methods In India and De-
elares Western World Could
Profit by Following Exc
ample Of Orient

Baba Bharatl gave a sermon last
night In the Temple of the Krishna
Home on the subject Of THE Science
of Marriage" He said in part:
In a country where marriage has
been pronounced failure, or, per-
haps, a dangerous trap; where It is
daily ceasing to be considered neces-
sity and fails to evoke the interest
evinced even in art; in such a country
to call It a science is to provoke
the blandest smile But tLis country
Is the greatest country for paradox.
Hence l have hoped that this paradox
sounding might attract you paradox
loving people to hear what people
only few years ago in the west and
what people even now in the east
especially In the heart of the east,
India-thought and think of marriage
Marriage in India is regarded as the
union of souls. So 1t is regarded by all
people of the east. except Moham-
medans, who are regarded as the out
casts of the east. So it was regarded
In the west only few generations
ago. In India 1t takes a long time to
bring about a marriage, for marriage
in India is brought about and not
contracted by the passion-r ridden, un-
disciplined desires of young men and
women.
1T is the mature experience ripe
wisdom and loving concern of parents
or guardians which combine in select
ing a bride or bridegroom for their
charges. 1t is the most delicate and
responsible task for these guardians
and parents, and involves most con-
scientious duties Hence the proverb
in India that no marriage can take
place without spending at least 100000
words over it,
Stars Play Part
But the conditions of the eligibility
of a marriage are examined and con-
sidered carefully before word is spent
on 1t by the guardians of the marrying
parties. The first condition considered
is the spiritual, whether the boy or the
girl Is a believer in God or belongs to
a theistic family for atheism is the
worst of sins in that country of God
lovers
Then comes the examination of the
horoscopes of the boy and girl. If the
star under which the boy is born is
antagonistic to the natal star of the
girl, or the girls to the boys, no pro-
posal of marriage is made or enter
tanned. The influence of the heavenly
bodies on the mind of man is too real,
demonstrated as they are by the hap
penings in practical life, to be ignored
before the union of two human souls.
If the natal stars are harmonious, then
the health of the mind and body are
considered; if the mind is sound and
well educated. the character good, the
disposition kind and loving, these are
ascertained.
Health EsentiaI
"Then comes the body to be consid-
cred, whether it is healthy and good
looking, whether it is liable to have
any taint of hereditary disease, wheth-
er the family is moral and has been
so for generations. Then comes the
examinat ton of Material conditions,
whether the boy or his parents pos
sess ample means to provide for the
wife and children, the fruits of the
union, comfortably. Then comes the
question of dowers.
When all these points and condi-
tions are found satisfactory, then
comes the marriage, which is the most
solemn ceremony in the whole world.
The rite itself takes five to six hours
to be performed by the aid of learned
and spiritual priests. All of them,
priests. bridegroom and bride, have to
fast to impress upon them the impor-
tance and solemnity of the occasion.
Vows are made before the image of
God, the sacred fire and the sun, by
the bride and bridegroom. to love,
cherish, honor and obey each other in
their co-partnership for the life of
soul unfoldment which they are about
to enter; for married life in India is
called co-partnership in religion, it's
sole end and aim being to reach the
goal of human happiness-the develop
ment of unbroken God consciousness.
Love Born in Hndoo
Love for home, love for wife and
love for husband are inbirn within the
Hindoo heart. 1t is fostered by the at
mosphere and examples of the Hindoo
home. So the new-made man and wife
love each other with a holy love, born
of the soul, ripened by their religious
life. which is the chief business OF life
in India.
This same significance was attached
to marriage, this same eastern rule of
married life obtained in the west
little while ago, before material life
and material pleasures had become the
sole end and aim. Then, here also,
marriage was considered sacred, mar
ried life called holy matrimony. Reli-
anchor of earthly existence. God love
the sweetest fruit of the tree of life.
Conditions Work Change
THE reign of materialism in the
minds of men has changed all these
comforting ana cO1SOllnS aspects ana
enjoyments of life. Home is the nur-
sery of a nations happiness. and the
babe in the cradle of that nursery is
love between man and wife-not the
love born of the senses. not the love
born of the affinities of matter-fed
minds. but that love born out of soul
consciousness which is the same as
God d-consciousness as mans soul is the
part of God in him.
"A few generations ago marriage
even in this west was the fruit of we'll
tested. real love-courtship. tested by
experiences and length of time. When
a counting couple found that their love
for each other did not break or wane
under any circumstances, but became
sweeter and ripper with each day, then
they married.
"That love. that all-enduring, all
abiding, ever growing sweeter and
sweeter, richer and richer love, is God
himself, for God Is love and the attri-
butte of the soul, the part of God in us.
is love. And that love Is the real priest
of marriage and the only source and
sustainer of matrimonial happiness,
with such love marriage cannot be
a failure, and marriage life is bless
ing and divorce is out of the question.
Such love is the science OF marriage.
No Leisure to Repent
But nowadays some people are mar
In atrb haste that tbair Guffaf-