I and my girlfriend both love each other deeply and have decided to get married once we settle down properly in our respective careers. Since we are already committed to marriage in the future, is there any fault in getting physically involved with each other now to express our love? Don’t you think that if we are mentally wedded to each other, marriage is just a formality which will, in any way, happen in the future?

I and my girlfriend both love each other deeply and have decided to get married once we settle down properly in our respective careers. Since we are already committed to marriage in the future, is there any fault in getting physically involved with each other now to express our love? Don’t you think that if we are mentally wedded to each other, marriage is just a formality which will, in any way, happen in the future?

In the Vedic culture, marriage is not a mere technical formality. It is an auspicious ceremony during which, keeping the sacred fire as a witness, both the spouses commit to stay together until death to pursue the spiritual path of life while accepting sense gratification strictly under religious principles.

Any alternative method of co-habitation is only a sign of lust and not love. Any type of physical relationships devoid of spiritual awareness and without any devotional service to God is ultimately bound to lead one to frustration caused by illusion.

One should, therefore, undergo a properly conducted marriage ceremony with a firm commitment to lead a life of God-centered activities so that in the latter part of life, a person can totally engage in the transcendental loving service of God that awards the performer final liberation in the eternal spiritual realm, Shri Vaikuntha.