SACRAMENTAL ELEMENT AND CHARACTER IN THE MARRIAGE OF THE MEITEI IN BYGONE DAYS

In the early days, man lived more or less like any other animal. At that time, sex life was absolutely free. Hence it was only maternity alone could be judged and paternity could not be determined. It was only practicable to know the paternity of children if sex relationship could be made an exclusive union of man and women. In men's aim to understand the paternity of children lie the seeds of the institution of marriage. And the concept of marriage as a sacrament came into existence with the emergence of the marriage institution. Marriage is an institution which permits man and woman to family life. A man and woman are socially permitted to become husband and wife and to have children by involving the right of sexual relations. At different places and various stages of human development, marriage came into existence in different forms. In this paper, a humble attempt is made to bring to light the sacramental element and character in the marriage of the Meitei.