Many are taken aback on knowing that a 65-year-old Anup Jalota has a love affair with Jaslin Mathura, a young woman of 28. But we come across instances of the above kind in our Puranas and also in the annals of history.
King Shantanu of Mahabharata was an aged person. He had a wife and grown up children. But he fell in love with a young fisherwoman named Matsyagandha and wished to marry her. Interestingly, his adult son, Bhishma took initiative in bringing about this second marriage of his old father. There is no any hard and fast rule as regards the difference of ages between the wedding partners. In this regard, English natural historian Charles Darwin opines that the bride should be capable enough to procreate and the groom should earn enough to feed his family.
In puranas we find different types of marriages. These include the ‘Swayamvaras’ of two extra-ordinary brides – Seeta and Dropadi. ‘Swayamvar’ means the practice of selection of bridegroom by the bride from among her suiters. But in these customs also ages were not any preconditions. It is interesting to note that during Seeta’s Swayamvar, Ravana, a married person was present as one of the contestants!
The Law of our country does not allow any person to get married unless he or she completes a specific minimum age. But this law does not put any limit upon the maximum age. Also, there is no any mention in this law as regards the differences between the ages of brides and grooms. In the animal world too, ages do not matter.
Lord Srikrishna had two wives. Rukmini and Satyabhama. Radha was his sweetheart – the most beloved Gopi. After killing demon Narkasur, Krishna married with all the sixteen thousand and one hundred women whom the wicked demon had imprisoned. Here too age factor had little significance. In fact marriage need not have any relation with age. Because it is an union of man and woman. Thus marriage is a kind of love. Love has relation with heart and mind. Not body. And only physical body has age. Mind and heart are not affected by age. This is why an old man can remain younger at heart.
Mirabai was a woman of 15th Century. She was younger than Srikrishna by at least five thousand years. Yet she loved and adored Lord Krishna intensely. Just as Radha did. Mira regarded Krishna as her husband and moved from place to place chanting the glories of her Lord.
The above mentioned Anup Jalota is not any ordinary person. He is a great singer and recipient of prestigious Padmasree Award. He is lovingly called by his fans as “Bhajan Samrat”.
We can appreciate the relation of Anup and Jaslin in a different perspective. During old age, the bodies get tired and both husband and wife need each other more than ever before. And if one of them happens to be younger, then it is a pleasing thing. But always female should not be younger than males. It should be the other way round also.
