Saastram speaks -7
The following verse is from the ninth chapter of Manu smriti.
It says- Let a girl wait for three years, though she is of marriageable age. After that period she can choose a husband by herself who can be of equal caliber.
त्रीणि वर्षाण्युदीक्षेत कुमारी ऋतुमती सती।
ऊर्ध्वं तु कालात् एतस्मात् विन्देत सदृशं पतिम् ।। (9- 90)
trīṇi varṣāṇyudīkṣeta kumārī ṛtumatī satī
ūrdhvaṁ tu kālāt etasmāt vindeta sadṛśaṁ patim (9- 90)
कुमारी – A girl, ऋतुमती सती – after attaining the suitable age, त्रीणि- three, वर्षाणि- years, उदीक्षेत- wait, ऊर्ध्वं – above, एतस्मात् – that, कालात् – time or period, सदृशं- suitable or equal, पतिम्- husband, विन्देत –select or choose.
7 comments:
It proves that our ancestors possessed the thinking of equality. This quality, though, is not exhibited by their predecessors who claim to be worshiping and following them.
Wow! How I wish this practise had continued! We would have been saved from watching hundreds of movies based on love marriages and the struggles associated :-)
Humour apart, I agree with R.K. that this proves how people were quite broadminded in those days.
Along with that, its also raises a question. Could the writer please refer to something that defines "marriageable age" of a girl, and a boy too.
Not 33% quota, 100% were given by the Manu it seems!!!!!!!!
The word ऋतुमती (ritumatI) actually means 'a girl who has attained puberty'.She can choose a suitable husband after three from her puberty. Hence,Manu indirectly hints that the marriageable for a girl is between 16 and 19. (Child marriage is accepeted according to manu smriti)
To clarify PRG's comment and the sloka - In Manu's times child marriage was accepted hence the marriageable age was not clearly defined. A second look at the sloka reveals that "A girl can wait up to three years after attaining puberty for her parents to choose a groom. (Manu gives her the license that) After that period, she can choose her own."
sorry, It is three YEARS after her puberty.
And marriageable AGE.
I missed the words YEARS and AGE in my previous comment.
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