Hampi is declared a World Heritage Site and is renowned all over the world for its ruins. These ruins belong to the Hindu Kingdom of Vijaynagar of the erstwhile medieval period. The travelers get attracted to the temples, the monolithic monuments, and sculptures, as they portray the amazing workmanship. The Hindu style adapted for the architecture of these structures helps to showcase the glory of the Vijaynagar Empire. The cherry on the cake for visiting this Historic and heritage site is the rugged landscape.

Let’s know more about Hampi

Hampi is sometimes also called Hampe. UNESCO considers the ‘Groups of Monuments’ at Hampi as a World Heritage Site. During the 14th century, Hampi was considered to be the capital city of the Vijayanagara empire.

The Archaeological Survey of India and other historical and geographical teams from all over the world do to numerous excavations, study-excursions, architectural study, and archaeological study, these splendid and beautiful temples, and ruins. 

History of Hampi

 The city of Hampi is not only an architectural symbol but also a reminder of the great Vijayanagara empire. As Hampi was considered to be the city of the Empire,  this place has become a symbol for the same. The Empire was defeated by the equation formed by the Muslim sultanates and the capital city was conquered.  many of the architectures were destroyed by the armies of the Sultanate,  believe to be in 1565. After this incident, it infamously got its name “The Land of Ruins”.

Colin Mackenzie, the Great British interpreter, and a  Scottish army officer was the person who founded the city of Hampi. 

Located near the Tungabhadra river, this city since ancient times was a great attraction for several travelers, especially the Portuguese and Europeans. The city is considered to be the second-largest one, in the medieval era after Beijing.

Even in ancient times, this city was ahead by many generations. It had well-organized trading markets, farms,  and numerous temples with splendid architecture and designs.

Moreover,  Hampi is considered to be India’s one of the richest cities at that time. It attracted several well influential traders from Persia and Portugal.

How did Hampi get its name-

There is an interesting story behind the naming of the city. Hampi or as traditionally known as “Pampa-kshetra”, or “Bhaskara-kshetra” was derived from one of the names of the Hindu Goddess Parvati. The name was Pampa.  

The story is according to the mythology that, Goddess Parvati wanted to marry Lord Shiva. She was actually the incarnations of Sati. In the beginning, when her parents got to know about her wish discouraged her. But she anyways persuaded that.

Lord Shiva was always lost in the world of meditation and for this reason, Goddess Parvati appeal to God for help in order to get his attention. Lord Indra sent Kamadev,  who is considered to be the Hindu God of love to awake the lord from his deep meditation.

But when Kama shot an arrow of desire at Lord Shiva he was extremely enraged and he opened his third eye in his forehead and burnt Lord Kama to ashes.

But still, the Goddess didn’t lose her hope And she herself starts living like an asceticism in order to attract his interest. 

It is Courage the Goddess Shiva disguised himself and tried to discourage her by explaining the weaknesses. But Parvati refused to listen to him and stayed stubborn. After saying so much determination love and affection for him,  from Parvati,  he finally accepted her.  later after the marriage of God and Goddess, Kama was also brought back to life. 

It is believed that Parvati persuaded her Yogini lifestyle on the Hemakuta hill, which is now part of Hampi.

Also read

Fun Things To Do At Hampi

Hampi – The Backpacker’s Paradise

Location:

Hampi is in the middle of Karnataka, located in the southern part of India.

Hampi is a long-distance car route as it is just 353 km away from Bangalore. Hampi is 467m above sea level and the famous Tungabhadra River flows through the land. The whole place is located on rugged terrain.

Hosapete, also known as Hospet Is the nearest railway station,  which is approximately 13 km away. There are many connective overnight buses and trains that also connect the city with Goa and Bengaluru. 

If you want to visit this place during the summer season then go from April to June. And if you want to enjoy the place during the winters then visit from October to February. And you might want to avoid the southwestern monsoon rains from June to August.

7 unforgettable experiences you can only have on the Hampi trip:

Hampi is a place full of monuments and sculptures but there are a few additional incentives in this trip which is going to make it an unforgettable one! 

• The first and the most obvious one in the list are the various temples that are scattered over the whole land. A few of the temples which you need to visit when you go to Hampi are as follows:

•  Virupaksha Temple 
• Vithala Temple 
• Lakshmi Narashima Temple 
• Achyutraya Temple 
• Hazara Rama Temple
• One of the main reasons to visit these temples is to witness the excellent art and architecture work of the workmen of the medieval period. However, there is another reason too. It is to be close and learn about your history.

• The second one, Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple is also a temple but is counted separately from the previous list. It is so because it is the view from this mountain-top temple that mesmerizes the travelers. Located on the top of Anjenaya Hill, this temple is of Lord Hanuman and the travelers as well the devotees are required to climb 567 steps to get to the temple. 

• The third place is occupied by the famous Coracle Ride of Hampi. It is a very rare ride and amongst the rare count where this ride is available, Hampi is one! These rides are extremely economically feasible and can be just 50 to 60 rupees for each ride. 
• These rides are available in the Sanapur Lake, or Sanapur waterfalls, or at the Tungabhadra River boating area. You can even go to Hippie Island on these.

• The fourth on our list is the Matanga Hills Sunset Point. One of the mountain points in Hampi from where the perfect sunset can be captured. This place also has historical importance and is described as a hermitage site of Saint Matanga.

• The Daroji Bear Sanctuary occupies the fifth spot on this list. A mini- picnic spot during the trip. This sanctuary was established in 1944 and the thorny forest was converted into the present green forest which is inhabited by the Sloth Bears.

• After the sunset, a must-go place is our sixth place occupier, the Hampi Festival. Also known as the Vijaya Festival is one of the biggest festivals of the ancient Vijayanagar empire. This festival happens every year at the Virupaksha Temple. In the backdrop of the beautifully made structures, the performance of rich folk dance and music is a heaven-like feeling. Janapada Kalavahini or as known as “The concert of the folk” is the star attraction of the Festival. 

• Last but not the least, the seventh on the list is Cliff Jumping in Hampi. Giving your historical tour a special touch, this activity is a must! An extremely popular activity amongst adventure lovers, Hampi Lake and the Sanapur Lake are the popular sites for Cliff Jumping.

Apart from all these listed activities and places, there are a lot of things to do and visit several places in Hampi. After reaching Hampi, the locals can guide you to places as they are the best advisors there. Hampi is indeed is a quick weekend getaway spot!

Marriage is considered to be one of the oldest Institutions of Hindus all over the world. It has an extremely Important status in their social life. 

Marriage is considered to be a social institution.

Marriage is also sometimes referred to as wedlock or matrimony. The parties after the marriage ceremony are called each other‘ Spouse’. The female gets the status of being the wife of the groom, whereas the male gets the status of being the husband of the bride. 

This social institution helps in establishing relations with each other’s families. The children which are born out of this union are considered to be Legitimate. They get the legal right of succession according to the law.

Marriage helps in the further establishment of several kinds of rights and obligations on each other.  

History of Hindu Marriage

The very first time where this whole concept of Hindu Marriage was stated was in the holy scriptures of the Veda and Smriti. Since the old times, it is considered to be the “Holy union”. 

Caste Division

According to the manusmriti, there is a division of the caste system amongst the Hindus. There are several castes. The major and prominent ones are as follows:

• Brahmin
• Sudras
• Kstariya
• Vyaishyas

Types of Hindu Marriages

There are has been various types of marriage that have been observed over the past centuries. A few of them are still practiced nowadays, but if have become obsolete. The following are the types of Hindu marriage:

• Brahma
• Daiva
• Prajapati
• Asura
• Gandharva
• Rakshasa
• Paishacha

The Ceremonies of a Valid Hindu marriage 

There are certain rituals and Customs which are to be followed and fulfilled by both parties of the marriage to make it a valid one. 

Apart from all the rituals, the most important one is the “Saptapadi”. It means taking 7 steps together before and around the sacred fire. These steps are meant to be walked together by the bride and the bridegroom. The marriage is declared to be valid and complete once the seventh step is taken.

The bridegroom gives red sindur on the forehead of the bride at the end of all the rituals. In some cases, the groom gives the bride a necklace, called mangalsutra. It is recognized as a symbol of the union of the two and it is also considered to be a symbol of good luck. Both of them have great spiritual and auspicious values.

The whole marriage ceremony is done with the help of a Vedic priest.

Conditions of a Hindu Marriage

Under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, there are a plethora of conditions that are necessary for making a Hindu Marriage valid. Those essential conditions have been stated in Section 5 and section 7 of the said act.

According to Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955,  a Hindu Marriage will only be valid if both the parties are Hindus by religion. But if any one of them belongs to any other religion for example Christianity or Muslim then that particular marriage will not be a valid Hindu marriage.

The other conditions as stated in the Act which needs to be fulfilled for a Hindu Marriage to be valid are as follows:

1. At the time of marriage, neither of the parties should have a spouse living.
2. Neither of the parties should be of unsound mind.
3. Neither party should be incapable of giving valid consent during the marriage.
4. Neither party e E has been subject to recurrent attacks of epilepsy or Insanity.
5. Neither party e should be suffering from any kind of mental disorder.
6. Neither party should be incapable of the procreation of children.
7. The parties should not be within the degrees of prohibited relationship unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits marriage between the two.
8. Both the parties should not be “Sapindas”.

The Five Essential Conditions for a valid Hindu marriage

 The five essential conditions of a valid Hindu marriage are laid down in section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 are stated and explained as follows:

Monogamy

Monogamy is explained in section 5 clause 1 of the said act. This provision prohibits all kinds of bigamy. The marriage which will be happening should be monogamous in all forms. 

Under the said act a person can marry very early only if he or she is either and married or a widow or a widower or a divorcee. If during the marriage either party has a living spouse for the earlier marriage has not been set aside already then the later marriage will be declared as void. A bigamous is declared marriage is Null and void And whoever is performing it will be punished. 

Age Restrictions 

As stated in section 5 clause 3 of the said Act,  there is an age restriction for a Hindu Marriage to be declared valid.  at the time of the marriage, it is compulsory for the bridegroom to have completed the age of 21 years. Whereas, in the case of the bride it is necessary that she has completed the age of 18 years.

If this restriction is not followed then the marriage will be either void or voidable.

Mental Health and Capacity 

According to Section 5 clause 2 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 the parties to the marriage,  should not suffer from unsoundness of mind, insanity, or any kind of mental disorder. 

If one of the parties who solemnize the marriage is suffering from any kind of mental disorder as described in the clause,  the marriage will be voidable at the option of the other party.

Degrees of Prohibited Relationship

For Hindu marriage to be valid,  the parties to the marriage should not come within the degrees of the prohibited relationship under any circumstances. 

Two persons are said to be within the degrees of prohibited relationship if the following situation arises:

1. If either one of the parties is having the relationship of a father-daughter or son-mother.
2. If one was the wife or husband of linear ascendant or descendant of the other.
3.  If one was the wife of the brother or of the father’s on mother’s brother or of the grandfather’s or grandmother’s brother of the other.
4. If the two are brother and sister, or aunt and nephew, or uncle and niece, or even the children of sister and brother,  or of two brothers or two sisters.

If a marriage is found to be within the degrees of prohibited relationship then it will be void. But there are some exceptions in this case. If a custom permits any kind of marriage within the prohibited relationship then it will be allowed. 

Sapinda Relationship

The parties to the marriage should not be related to each other as Shapindas does under any circumstances. A marriage between two Shapindas is declared void. 

Also Read

Marriage – A necessity or societal pressure

Changing Trends In Indian Marriages

7 Things to Ask Your Partner Before Marriage

The bonding called marriage

Bottom Line

Since the passage of time, there has been a lot of changes and development in this whole concept of marriage. Before as we have seen in the epic books Mahabharata and Ramayana, the concepts of child marriage and polyandry were observed.

But with time both of these concepts were obsoleted. 

In India, the Acts of law that help in administering and govern marriage are the “Hindu Marriage Act, 1955” and “Hindu Special Marriage Act”. Both of these said acts help in giving, reserving, and protecting the rights and interests of the parties to the marriage and their respective families.

A lot of people find themselves undergoing an emotional crisis when they begin to approach retirement. If you’ve been working since your early 20’s, you may wonder what your next step will be after you finish working. Even the thought of it may freak you out. However, if you are privileged enough to get to this stage of your life, the transition to retirement doesn’t have to be a difficult experience.

With good preparation, you can overcome the “trauma” of thinking retirement is a dull or scary time. It is stunning how much one can enjoy those senior years if they properly prepare for them. Here is some first-hand advice on how you can prepare for your retirement for that smooth transition:

1.   Know How Long You Have Before Retirement

Despite having a mandatory retirement age of 66 years, some careers may require employees to retire earlier than others. In many industries, youth is valued for being agile and adaptable, while older professionals can be seen as stuck in their ways. You never want to be forced out of your position at a certain age.

Furthermore, you want to make sure that you have enough money to fund your retirement, which may require working a few extra years. You must think about how long you need to keep working before you can actually retire.

2.   Talk to an Investment Professional

Many times, people are fooled by the latest investment craze, which doesn’t last for long. If you’re closer to your retirement years, moving with the wave wouldn’t be ideal. If you’re older, your potential risk avenues are much limited as compared to the younglings. You can’t afford to gamble at this time of your life. Please consider a more stable, long-term, passive investment plan that will sustain you for long, even after retirement.

Fortunately, in this time and age, many people have specialized in advising on investments. Thanks to legitimate online platforms or friends, you can get the best reviews on who to consult about where to invest. They will also assist you in developing a budget for managing your expenses efficiently and set realistic financial goals that you can follow.

3.   Extend Your Working Years

Doing this doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to your full-time job. If your employer still considers you competent enough, they may be kind enough to fix you into a part-time routine that’s less stressful. Significantly, people will judge you based on your work ethic and how much impact you brought into the company.

Alternatively, you can also decide to shift to a hobby that you have always wanted to do but one that earns you some extra income. For example, you can get into volunteering firms that consider seniors and still pay them for their efforts. It doesn’t have to be much, but it’s fun for you and, most importantly, gives you fulfillment in your senior years.

4.   Eliminate Huge Expenses Early

It’s inevitable to live off expenses. Even for a toddler to live a good life requires a hardworking adult to take care of them through every stage of life until they can fend for themselves. That said, it’s not ideal to think that an older person won’t have many expenses.

It will be sad if you get into retirement with costs hanging over your head with no stable income. Therefore, to save yourself the stress of such times, try and pay off these expenses while still having that steady income source. The most common of these expenses include:

• Loans- Mortgages, Car loans
• Unpaid credits

This way, you can eliminate more considerable expenses, and you will have better planning on your finances and a less stressful and less financially stricken retirement life.

5.   Plan On Your Lifestyle Retirement Routine

“Me time” is essential in every stage of life. The last thing you need to do is to deny yourself some fun after years of hard work. It would be best if you plan activities that will keep you active. You do not have to knock everything off of your bucket list in your first year of retirement, but now is the time to pursue the passions you have been putting off.

It will be easier if you start or at least express interest in some of these activities when you are much younger. When you begin that transition into retirement, you can find the time to pick up hiking or reading or anything else you can think of to try. Considering these hobbies before your retirement will also help you plan your finances better.

As you get older, it may behoove you to find an assisted living community where you can pursue these interests, maintain some independence while still having other seniors with whom you can socialize and interact. At least, even after retirement, your life will have some form of continuity.

6.   Consider A Future Health Care Plan

Unfortunately, health is one thing that breeds trouble in a senior’s life, thus the need to have an active lifestyle, as previously discussed. However, there are moments when a senior’s health will fail, and the health care expenses can be crazy and not affordable at the time. Therefore, it would be wise to start paying for a long-term medical insurance cover early enough to take care of such times.

It’s beautiful to have one time of our lives where we critically think about our lives and align ourselves while we still can. The thought of transitioning to retirement is one of those times. Simple baby steps and adjustments here and there, and you’re bound to enjoy your retirement life without much pressure.