समधनSamdhanCo-Mother-in-law (Child's spouse's mother)
Samdhan (समधन) is your co-mother-in-law — the mother of your child's spouse. The two mothers of a married couple are samdhan to each other, a reciprocal title created the day their children wed.
Who is your Samdhan?
How the two samdhans get along often decides how easily two families blend, since it is the mothers who trade the festival gifts, negotiate the visits, and smooth the small frictions after a wedding. North Indian wedding tradition even hands the samdhan a starring comic role: the bride's side sings gaali geet, affectionate mock-insult songs, teasing the groom's family — samdhan included — a licensed mischief that breaks the ice between households meeting as new relatives. Behind the ritual joking is a serious idea: these two women now share grandchildren.
How it's used
The mothers call each other samdhan or samdhan ji, in reference and in direct address alike. For example: "मेरी समधन ने तीज पर पूरे परिवार के लिए उपहार भेजे" — "My samdhan (co-mother-in-law) sent gifts for the whole family on Teej."
Samdhan vs similar terms
Your saas is your spouse's mother; your samdhan is your child's spouse's mother — learners mix these up constantly, but a person only ever gains a saas through their own marriage and a samdhan through their child's. Her husband is your samdhi, the co-father-in-law.
Frequently asked questions
What does Samdhan mean in Hindi?
Samdhan (समधन) means co-mother-in-law — the mother of your child's husband or wife. The mothers on both sides of a marriage use it for each other; the fathers are samdhi.
What is the difference between Samdhan and Saas?
A saas is your own mother-in-law, gained through your marriage. A samdhan is gained through your child's marriage: she is the mother of your son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Related terms
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