In ancient Hindu tradition, the form of marriage based on the mutual love and consent of the bride and groom, without the formal arrangement of the families, is called:

In ancient Hindu tradition, the "Gandharva" form of marriage was a marriage based on the mutual love and consent of the man and woman, without the formal arrangement of their families or elaborate rituals.

About the Gandharva marriage:

• It is named after the Gandharvas, celestial musicians of Hindu mythology, who were associated with love and romance.
• It was a love marriage, in which the couple chose each other and married by mutual agreement.
• It was often performed secretly, without the knowledge or consent of the parents.
• The most famous example is the marriage of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala, described in the Mahabharata and in Kalidasa's play "Abhijnanashakuntalam".
• Some texts considered it suitable for the Kshatriyas (warriors).

The eight forms of marriage (according to the Dharmashastras, such as the Manusmriti):

• Brahma: the father gives his daughter, adorned and with gifts, to a learned man of good character; considered the best form.
• Daiva: the daughter is given to a priest who performs a sacrifice.
• Arsha: the bridegroom gives a cow and a bull to the bride's father.
• Prajapatya: the father gives his daughter with the blessing, "May both of you perform your duties together".
• Asura: the bridegroom pays a price (bride-price) to the bride's family.
• Gandharva: marriage by mutual love and consent.
• Rakshasa: marriage by forcible abduction of the bride.
• Paishacha: marriage by deceit, when the woman is asleep, intoxicated or unconscious; considered the worst form.

Approved and disapproved forms:

The first four (Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya) were considered approved (prashasta) forms, and the last four were considered less approved or disapproved.

NCERT on forms of marriage:

NCERT notes that the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras recognised as many as eight forms of marriage, of which the first four were considered "good" while the remaining were condemned; it is possible that these were practised by those who did not accept Brahmanical norms.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Brahma, Asura and Prajapatya were other forms of marriage.