The Elements, five of them come together to bless and consecrate an union; in the prehistoric days this was the only way two souls could be united prior to all the legalese and society's traditions hit the relationship parlance. Marriage as a document or institution never existed to begin with. The sanction of marriage that the church. the society, the establishment usurped to solemnize an association or union between two individuals to co-exist was to gain power over the rights of individuals and to contain them within a specific boundary of engagement.
Nowhere does it say, what you cannot constitute to be a marriage, except in law and religious texts. Should that stop us from considering human associations, relationships that do not fall under the text book definition to be lacking in sanctity, and desecrate them?
In Indian Television, quite a few shows have tried to give importance to the rich tradition of Gandharva Vivaah that was prevalent in Indian society for a long time and was considered absolutely aboveboard.
It was left to Life Ok's Ek Boond Ishq to truly showcase that Gandharva Vivah scenario in all it's intrinsic beauty and elegance by conceiving an episode that brings together all the elements or the panchamahabhutas in consecrating the union or the two main protagonists with the reavowal of vows in the presence of Pritvi, Akash, Vayu, Jal, Agni in the form of Sun's rays and reflection in the water.
You just have to watch with what detailing and elegance the makers of Ek Book Ishq presented us the core philosophy at the heart of all Zen and Hinduism, and all philosophies in defining the union of souls.
"The Pond" itself has a very unique presence of it's own, as it brings together water that stays still and still water is a Zen state. All Zen and Taoist philosophy features a Zen Japanese Garden with a prominent pond in the middle. "Water as a design element in the garden is crucial. One of the most popular styles of garden is called chisen, in which a pond or lake occupies the most significant portion of the garden. Water's importance is not as a substance but as a symbol and expression of the sea. (Since Japan is an island surrounded by sea). Even the quantity of water present is unimportant. If space is a problem, one is supposed to be able to enjoy the tranquility of the sea in contemplation of a bucketful of water contained in a stone water basin.
The stones also represent something unique in a zen garden. The proper placement of a few rocks and trimmed shrubs symbolizes the grandeur of mountains and nature compressed into a small cosmos.
Simplicity, naturalness, refined elegance, subtlety and the use of the suggestive rather than the descriptive mode of communication are products of Zen thought" (quoted from 'The Zen Garden") and have been amply used in conceiving the Gandharva Vivaah scene in Ek Boond Ishq. Esthetically, we can without a doubt applaud the creative team for their Wabi, sabi, and shibui translated as austerity, elegant simplicity, and tastefulness. (from the Zen Garden)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV_qTzPBnQA
PS: Edited to include source of the quotes
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kumkum Bhagya
