Hindu Ceremonial Animal Marriages

1932 report here.

The practice of having a human marry an animal for various mystical reasons has been a part of Hindu religion for who-knows-how-long, and continues to the present.

Full article here.

And then of course there is marrying a tree as well.

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Comments

I married a dragon. She's made my life a hot-tempered, paranoid hell.
Oh sorry, thought this was a different meeting.

Posted by Greg on 09/10/16 at 08:42 AM

I feel ya Greg! I married a rat bastard pervert but I found the solution, D I V O R C E.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/10/16 at 02:17 PM

I don't get how it's insulting to Indian women to marry animals or plants. It's not like they are expected to have intercourse with the dog, or tree, or whatever. They find a husband that doesn't chase skirts, doesn't drink, doesn't waste all the family's money, let them work outside in peace and will never beat or rape them and the society is like "The woman is being disrespected" just because the husband happens to grow leaves or to lick his testicles in public. Looks like the woman is more respected in this kind of marriage than in a traditional one.

Posted by Yudith on 09/10/16 at 03:53 PM

I'm a snake (Chinese zodiac), so I wonder how I'd fit into their scheme.

Posted by Phideaux on 09/10/16 at 05:04 PM

@Phideaux - Being a snake might be a little more fulfilling for the woman than a scratchy old tree.

Those Hindu's do tend to treat all creatures equally. You never know when you might be accidently stepping on the reincarnated uncle Joe.

Posted by GFinKS on 09/13/16 at 02:22 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.