“The initial checklist i’ve of polyandry among the Sinhalese was possibly the Magul Mahavihara inscription out-of Vihara-maha-devi owned by about the 14th century in which we find the new queen contacting herself the principle consort of the two sis leaders entitled Perakumba (Perakumba de-be-raja-daruvan de-denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). The brother leaders referred to in the epigraph was plainly one or two petty leaders whom wielded separate power throughout the Ruhuna nation on committed. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Sunday Observer]
New English copywriter Robert Knox states inside the Historical Family members from Ceylon (1681): “Within this country for each and every man, probably the better, hath but one wife; but a female have a tendency to possess a couple of husbands
This new habit failed to stay away from new notice of the European publishers of one’s colonial period that kept you vibrant meanings out-of the latest individualized because it stayed upcoming. The fresh new Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro states in his Fatalidado Historica weil Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that when the marriage ceremony try ended, the original nights consummation is allotted to new partner, next to their brother, the third to the next cousin, etc so far as the latest seventh night, whenever if the indeed there be more brothers, the others commonly permitted the brand new privilege of oldest six. “These types of first days becoming early in the day, brand new partner does not have any deeper allege towards the his wife than just their brothers provides; if the he discovers their by yourself, the guy takes their particular so you can themselves, but if one of his brothers be together with her, the guy dont interrupt them. It promote its income on the a standard inventory, and also the people label all the brothers indifferently its dads”.
“The latest Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in his Malfunction out of Ceylon (1672) claims your Sinhalese recommend that new conjugal responsibility be done from the their particular brothers and alludes to your situation off a woman resident away from Galle exactly who “got trust adequate to whine of wanted off obligation into the their unique husband’s sis thereon membership”. For this is legal and you may normal with all of them for a couple of brothers to store domestic and additionally one wife, plus the children do recognize and you will phone call both fathers”.
“The very last large membership of the habit could very well be that of Sir James Emerson Tennent within his monumental really works Ceylon (1859) where according to him you to definitely polyandry prevails on interior of Ceylon, mainly within wealthier kinds; of exactly who, one to woman has actually seem to three or four husbands, and often possibly 7. He notes you to typically, the husbands try people in a comparable members of the family, and most frequently brothers. New customized is actually however not to are nevertheless judge for very long to possess the british banned they the same 12 months, though it could have live to possess a considerable months thereafter.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam seen in Twentieth-century Impressions off Ceylon (1907) one “Polyandry, regardless if illegal, will continue to exists among the many Kandyan peasantry, especially in the actual situation regarding brothers. What the law states up against polyandry is actually evaded of the perhaps not joining the new partnership at all otherwise of the joining it as with you to cousin just”.”
As to the reasons Polyandry Resided in Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein had written: “How which unusual individualized possess survived to possess thus enough time is not a difficult concern to resolve, considering the character of your Kandyan and almost every other societies where we know getting prevailed. Impoverishment, an aspire to restrict nearest and dearest size in order to remain possessions undivided inside household have been completely the major points that have triggered new success and possibly probably the introduction out-of polyandry during these societies. One significant component that appears to have lead to its dominance regarding days of the latest Kandyan Leaders are obviously the newest habit from Rajakariya or necessary solution to your state exacted regarding the land-holding male society. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]
Geen reactie's