Relationship Guidelines and you can Freedoms during the Medieval Sri Lanka
It was due to the fact that inside Kandyan community, sexual morality rarely mattered and polygyny (a man bringing one or more spouse),polyandry (a lady getting several spouse) and you can concubinage was indeed the recognised once the court
Asiff Hussein penned: As with India marriage ceremonies into the status was basically the fresh new recognized norm. Robert Knox, a keen English exile whom spent almost 20 years regarding the Kandyan Kingdom (1660 – 1679) claims within his functions “Historical Relation from Ceylon” (1681): “This is not accounted one shame or fault to have a person of one’s large types to lay that have a woman much substandard to himself, nay of the very most reasonable knowledge, considering the guy none consumes nor beverages along with her, neither requires their particular where you can find his household as the his wife.” [Source: Obtained from Sinhalese, Kandyan and early British day and age literary supplies by the Asiff Hussein, Virtual Collection Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Knox”s report shows that marriage, unlike mere cohabitation, had a routine really worth. Indeed most other comments regarding his show that Kandyan area are an enthusiastic most licentious one in which both men and women had full versatility to cohabit having whomsoever it pleased save you to definitely in the case of women, they could perhaps not take action which have one to second-rate during the status so you can on their own, like an operate entailing significant punishment. Says Knox, “Or no of your own women can be thus deluded, concerning to visit folly which have that underneath herself, if ever she would be to seem to the fresh new attention away from their relatives, they will indeed eliminate their particular, there getting no alternative way so you’re able to wipe-off this new dishonour she hath complete the family however, by the her very own blood.”
Kandyan rules also blocked marriage ceremonies ranging from close family. Which included a guy”s child (duva), sister (sahodari; which provided the latest daughter of a single”s dad”s sis otherwise that”s mother”s aunt) and nenda (paternal cousin), even in the event he could ma, kudamma). To own a marriage as valid, the brand new events and additionally required the goal of developing a beneficial relationship partnership. Furthermore, Buddhism saw so you can they that e a good secular deal and not a rigid sacrament as with Hindu legislation, so as that marriage alone got “nothing push otherwise legitimacy” due to the fact indexed from the Knox.
Trial ong the brand new Kandyans. Davy (Account of your own inside of Ceylon 1821) claims that the very first fourteen days of the fiance”s cohabitation with her partner try a time period of trial in the the termination of that wedding are often annulled otherwise confirmed. For concubinage, though it was permitted, from inside the later moments, it seems getting started frowned upon, especially between your nobility. John D”oyly (Drawing of your constitution of Kandyan Kingdom 1835) has stated that last Kandyan queen reprimanded Migastenne Adigar having remaining a good concubine of “Berava” https://getbride.org/no/puertorikanske-kvinner/ (drummer) caste. New lady was flogged and you may sent across the river, which means that banished off Kandy.
Polyandry (Numerous Husbands) in Sri Lanka
Polyandry (a female having multiple husbands) are court on the Kingdom from Kandy, and therefore resided from the 15th to help you nineteenth century. It absolutely was euphemistically titled “eka-ge-kema” (“restaurants in a single home”).Asiff Hussein composed: States Knox, “In this nation, even the better hath however, you to spouse, however, a lady usually have a couple of husbands.” The fresh polyandry skilled during the Kandyan times are constantly of your own fraternal type and is understood from the euphemism eka-ge-kama (illuminated. eating in a single home). [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you may very early Uk era literary provide from the Asiff Hussein, Virtual Collection Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Joao Riberio (1685) states of your Sinhalese at the time of Portuguese code (seventeenth century): “Good girl can make a binding agreement so you’re able to marry a man from her very own caste (to own she do not get married additional they), and if the family unit members was agreeable they offer a banquet and you will unite the newest betrothed couple. The next day a sibling of your own spouse requires their put, and when you can find 7 brothers this woman is the latest spouse out of them, posting the latest evening by turns, without the spouse that have a greater proper than just about any out of his brothers. When the during the day, them finds the latest chamber unoccupied, he can retire towards the lady if the the guy believes complement. she will be able to reject herself to not one of them; any type of sibling it could be one to agreements the marriage, this woman is the latest wife of all of the.” The guy adds: “new lady who’s partnered so you can a spouse that have a massive quantity of brothers represents most lucky, for everybody toil and you may cultivate to have their unique and you may give whatever they secure into the family, and she lifetime much honoured and well-supported and for that it need the children name all brothers its dads.”