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Thread: Polygamy and Hinduism

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  1. #1
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    Polygamy and Hinduism

    I know that in ancient Vedic times, polygamy was practiced and men had multiple wives (like King Dasaratha with his three wives). Polygamy has also been practiced in ancient Judaism, Imperial China and throughout the Islamic world (where it is still practiced).

    I know that Hindus today don't practice polygamy, but is this simply because of social customs influenced by the West, or are there later Scriptures which prohibit a man from having multiple wives?

    Would it be possible for a Hindu man to marry two or three wives today (in both India and the West)? I know it is not legally possible (marriage is one man and one woman) but would there be any religious restrictions on a Hindu man marrying three women in three separate Hindu wedding ceremonies presided over by a priest and then living together with all three women without being legally married (like many couples do in New Zealand)? Would a Hindu priest agree to perform such ceremonies?

    (By the way, this question comes completely out of curiosity - I am not considering marrying another woman or women).

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Namaste Scott,
    I don't know about New Zealand but in India according to the Indian Marriage act, it is illegal to have multiple wives. There is an exception to this law for muslims i.e. if you are muslim in India, then according to the Marriage act, you can have multiple wives. Religious freedom!

    I think you already knew the legal position. Now, you gave an example of King having multiple wives. That's true in cases of most kings, isn't it? I mean, if you are "KING" you can afford to have multiple wives.

    For the rest of us, could we really even dream of having multiple wives? That would be a financial disaster for one. One might as well say good bye to one's left over sanity, that's assuming one has any sanity left with a single wife.


    Regardless of what sastra might say on this issue, we just have to use some common sense and be practical.

    disclaimer to all members: please do not PM me if you are offended. I meant this post as a joke. If you are offended, lighten up and go have an ice cream with your loved ones.
    satay

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Quote Originally Posted by satay View Post

    For the rest of us, could we really even dream of having multiple wives? That would be a financial disaster for one. One might as well say good bye to one's left over sanity, that's assuming one has any sanity left with a single wife.


    Regardless of what sastra might say on this issue, we just have to use some common sense and be practical.

    disclaimer to all members: please do not PM me if you are offended. I meant this post as a joke. If you are offended, lighten up and go have an ice cream with your loved ones.
    This is not a joke, at least not in Nepal as a Hindu you could maybe still can today, i am not shure, have more than one wife provided you have enough money to built one house for each wife and sustain two households.

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Thanks for the replies so far.

    As I mentioned in the original post, I'm not questioning the legality of such marriages. I know that it is illegal to marry more than one wife legally in New Zealand, as well as for non-Muslims in Malaysia and India.

    The situation I'm asking about is where a Hindu man marries two (or more) women in a Hindu marriage ceremony presided over by a priest. There is nothing legal about the ceremony and legally, the women are his "girlfriends" or "partners". In New Zealand it's common for a man and a woman to live together and not get married, and each refers to the other as his or her partner. After they have lived together for three years, the property must be divided evenly if they break up, the same as it would in a divorce.

    Would there be a problem with the above scenario today according to the Hindu religion? Would a Hindu priest agree to marry a man and a woman if the man was already married and his wife was okay with him having another wife?

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Vannakkam Scott:

    Given the financial situation of a lot of priests in India, I'm sure there is one somewhere that would be willing to do it. Also, given the diversity of our faith, there is probably a sect or sampradaya or village somewhere where a priest would see no ethical or scriptural code against it.

    As far as the mainstream goes, its one life, one wife predominantly.

    We do have an ongoing situation here in Canada with a breakaway sect of the Mormon church. Polygamy is illegal in Canada, yet this group is allowed, or is yet to be prosecuted on polygamy. It has been prosecuted on child trafficking though. The government seems not to want to open the can of worms as the defense would be based on 'religious freedom'.

    There are many other legal versus freedom of religion issues such as the Islamic veil, and Sikh turban issues that vary widely from country to country. If there is interest to discuss those and the implications it may have for Hindus, we should start new threads, I think. I know New Zealand is just in the process of the turban debate, which went on here several years back.

    Aum Namasivaya

  6. #6

    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Technically, a Hindu man in India can have multiple wives through a loophole in the law. For example, a Muslim man has four wives and he decides to convert to Hinduism. Since he married them while he was still Muslim, the marriages are still legal. I believe the Indian actor Dharmendra did something like that, but I'm not sure.

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Quote Originally Posted by ScottMalaysia View Post
    I know that Hindus today don't practice polygamy, but is this simply because of social customs influenced by the West, or are there later Scriptures which prohibit a man from having multiple wives?
    Namaste Scott,

    I apologize that you had a serious question and the forum chose to convert it into a joke and most people jumped in with a bunch of 'non-answers'. I did a search on your enquiry and this is what I came up with....

    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    POLYGAMY IN VEDAS

    1. There is no single mantra in the entire 4 Vedas that even give a hint of supporting more than one wife or more than one husband.
    2. Three mantras of Rig Veda, 1.124.7, 4.3.2 and 10.71.4 contain “Jaayeva Patya Ushatee Suvaasaah”. This means that knowledge comes to the scholar in same manner as a dedicated joyous wife comes only to her husband. “Jaaya” means wife and “Pati” means husband. Both appearing in singular implies that only one husband-one wife relation is considered ideal.
    3. Rigveda 1.3.3 states that God is like a dedicated wife with high character and purity. This also implies that monogamy alone is considered ideal.
    4. Rigveda 10.149.4 compares love between God and devotee like that between dedicated wife and husband. Both “Jaaya” meaning wife and “Patim” meaning husband are used in singular number implying strict monogamy.
    5. Rigveda 10.85.20 appeals a bride to expand happiness for her husband. Again both husband and wife are referred in singular.
    6. Rigveda 10.85.23 appeals to wife and husband to always have self-control. Its obvious from reference to self-control and singular numbers for both wife and husband that monogamy alone is recommended.
    7. All mantras relating to marriage are addressed in dual number to a couple of husband-wife implying one wife for husband and one husband for wife. Some examples are Rig Veda 10.85.24, 10.85.42, 10.85.47 and almost entire 14th Chapter of Atharva Veda which deals with subject of marriage. Most mantras pray for faithful relation for entire life-time.
    Please note that Sanskrit has a dual number apart from singular and plural, specifically to remove this confusion that people may have.
    8. In Atharva Veda 7.35.4 both husband and wife state that, “You establish me in your heart so that our minds become one and same.”
    9. In Atharva Veda 7.38.4, wife says that “You should only be mine. You should not even discuss about other women.” What can be a more clear prohibition of polygamy than this!
    10. Atharva Ved 3.30.2 and 14.2.64 also appeal husband and wife to be devoted and faithful to each other.
    11. Perhaps Veda provider Ishwar knew that despite all this, some self-proclaimed experts may still find reasons to justify polygamy. Thus certain mantras in Vedas describe demerits of Polygamy.
    - Rig Veda 10.105.8 compares existence of multiple wives with multiple worldly miseries.
    - Rig Veda 10.101.11 states that a man with two wives is pressed from both sides and weeps like a horse that neighs when pressed from both sides by spokes while driving a chariot.
    - Rig Veda 10.101.11 state that two wives make life aimless.
    - Atharva Veda 3.18.2 prays that may a woman never face threat of another co-wife.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------

    First thing to keep in mind is that for spiritual beings, every activity including sex, is performed in the service of the Lord. This implies that intimacy is practiced only for procreation and not for pleasure. However, we, the mere mortals indulge in it with a gusto like animals. So, the closer the people are to God, the less is the desire to be occupied with that activity, even with one partner.

    Secondly, looking at the historical facts from the scriptures, it appears that in ancient times, polygamy in India was limited to 'some sections' of the royalty. For example, King Dasharath had four wives, but none of his sons followed that path. Some times multiple wives were the result of forming political alliances, or taking in an extra wife if the first one did not bear a heir to the throne.

    So by and large, Hindus have adhered to the scriptures and the general population has not practiced polygamy. However there might have been periods of ir-religiousness combined with material abundance when the populace went haywire. This is documented in the temples of Khajuraho from roughly 1100 AD, when indulging in extreme physical pleasure seems to have been the norm. Under those circumstances, hindus must have practiced what the hippies in the US practiced in the 60's and 70's - free love, or should we call it by its real name, unrestricted lust.

    Hope this satiates some of your curiosity about hindu practices.

    Regards.

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Not sure why part of the last post shows up twice. Perhaps the site moderator can fix the problem. Thanks.

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Admin Note

    namaskar,

    Quote Originally Posted by Believer View Post
    Not sure why part of the last post shows up twice. Perhaps the site moderator can fix the problem. Thanks.
    No, it's not showing up twice. The problem seems to be with firefox browser. Are you by any chance using firefox browser?
    satay

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    Re: Polygamy and Hinduism

    Yes, I am. Thanks for the info.

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