Although Divorce and marriage are extremely uncommon acts in Hinduism, it is disapproved by the religion. However, it still does occur, the main grounds being cruelty or not having children after 15 years of marriage. In Hinduism, marriage is considered, as a sacred relationship, and a sacrament, therefore it cannot be broken under simple circumstances. .
When Hinduism was first put into practice, society had a certain extent of freedom only, and the modern idea of divorce wasn't introduced then. Once women left the house she was born in, she was bound to her husband no matter what came later in the marriage. If her husband found her incompatible, unattractive or simply didn't like her, she wouldn't be allowed to have a divorce, to remarry or leave her husband, without her husband's approval. When it came to men, it was a very different situation. Men had more rights and the privilege to make decisions with situations occurring in the name of name of religion, family or expediency.
Many Hindu women turn to their religion and learn to cope with the unexpected and difficult situations after marriage no matter how bad the circumstances are. The reason for this being: fear of pubic humiliation, society disapproval, extended family or the love of children.
In the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (India), divorce can be permitted on a number of grounds such as: adultery, cruelty, desertion for two years, religious conversion, mental abnormality, venereal disease, leprosy, renunciation of the world, physical separation and absence of communication for more than seven years and so on. A woman gets extra privilege to divorce her husband if he is guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality. A member of the couple (either male or female) is also allowed to petition the court for alimony. When it comes to children, there is no clear-cut law. The court decides which parent deserves the child more with the individual merits of each case.
