Daiva Vivaha is one of the eight types of marriage legally valid in Hindu religion. In Daiva Vivah, the father gives away his daughter, dressed in silk and embellished with ornaments and so on, to the ritvik (priest in charge) of the yajna.
According to Baudhayana Sutra, the girl was given away as dakshina to him during a Daiva Yajna, and hence it was called daiva vivaha.
In consideration of services rendered during the yajna, the priest often asked his patron king to give away as brides, pretty girls or maids who were known as vadhu. However, it was not a proper marriage. This custom was prevalent among the three varnas or classes of Hindus, as kanyadana to the priests.