Bigamy

A few days back we received a marriage invitation.The brides' grandfather had sent the invitation.He was my husband's friend, belonging to an agriculturalist family.It was observed with amazement that there were two brides and a single bridegroom, the brides being granddaughters of my husband's friend.The girls' parents seemed to have no objection in giving both their daughters to the same bridegroom.The brides ( sisters) also gave their consent or not, it was not known.
As there was a hue and cry from the villagers, the younger sister gave a formal complaint to the police.The marriage was conducted for the elder sister only on the appointed day.Of course the other marriage also was performed two days later in another temple as planned earlier.

Will there be harmony in such marriages?Is it not like a cine story? Lord Vishnu and Muruga are famous for bigamy.Shiva also is stated to have some relationship with river Ganga in addition to Parvathi.Bhakthas follow suit.

In many banks they allow Leave fare concession to the first wife and the children of second wife, but not to the second spouse.
I remember a court judgement long ago in the case of A.L.Srinivasan and Varalakshmi.( 2nd wife) Court denied any right to Varalakshmi in the properties of deceased Srinivasan but said that her children might lay claim right on these properties.

A quick go-through of earlier history reveals that the bigamy issue is evergreen in our society. For that matter polyandry is not so. That was present and was considered natural
in the early period of civilization. Sociologists and psychologists are of the opinion that both polygamy and polyandry are very much natural of human psyche and not the so called one man - one woman relationship which is of latter emergence.

In Tamilnadu, Mr.Karunanidhi,( Ex CM ) Kannadasan, Gemini Ganesan,Kamalahasan are some of the famous bigamists we adore, of course for different reasons.
Karunanidhi very cleverly described his bigamous relationship by declaring that one of the women is Manaivi( wife) and the other Thunaivi( companion) Kannadasan was in an ugly situation when he tried for a third marriage. Both his elder wives jointly threatened him of their proposal to file a criminal complaint. He nonchalantly replied- "Ok .Proceed. I go to prison and remaining there write and earn. Without me at home, how could you manage the household." Luckily, wise counsel prevailed and the unpleasant situation was averted.

Now we shun bigamy. That was prevalent throughout the world much before the advent of civilization and the anti bigamy act was passed only in 1954, that too to be clandestinely to be violated by clever manipulators of law, thereby causing untold misery and an equal amount of jealousy among those deprived of that luxury.
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The following comments are based on legal provision as it stands today, avoiding all legal jargons or terminologies, to make it legally understandable.

The Hindu Marriages Act strictly prohibits any bigamous marriage when the other legally wedded spouse is living. The second marriage during the subsistence of the first marriage is definitely considered illegal and the peculiar feature of this provision is that it does not distinguish between husband and wife who is committing the offence. That means even if the wife indulges in bigamy when her legally wedded husband is alive, her act will also attract the punishment prescribed under the relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code.( IPC).

Legal separation alone entitles one to marry someone else. In some cases, the law provides for an exemption when one of the spouses is reported to be missing and not traceable for a period of seven years in which case it may not be possible for obtaining legal separation by the other spouse.

Further, some loopholes to circumvent the offence is also available in bigamy. The Act insists on the performance of marriage following all rituals and customs prescribed such as Sapthapathi, etc. Mostly in second marriages, all these rituals are given a go by and therefore difficult to prove in a court of law.

Only the aggrieved can invoke the provisions of the law and the past cases reveal that in such bigamous marriages, the second wife’s rights are mostly dependent on judges’ discretion. Proving the offence of bigamy is something that discourages the aggrieved from going to courts. As it is not a cognizable offence, the police will not take suo motu action of such offences.

In this context, an interesting compromise formula reached between two warring wives at the intervention of police some time back is of great interest.

The concluding line that “ the man will stay for three days with one woman and next three days with the second woman and the 7th day he would stay alone. This staying alone on the 7th day” would have prompted him to immediately accept the compromise formula that he can find peace at least for a day.

Polygamy occurs when someone engages in marriages to more than one partner; in most polygamous marriages, there is still an expectation of fidelity within the marriage.

A non-monogamous relationship is simply one in which there is no one-to-one commitment; the specifics of the relationship are up to the definition of the parties involved. Non-monogamous relationships may or may not involve expectations of fidelity among the partners involved.

Though Western culture is criticized by Indians on so many accounts, especially by Hindus, it cannot be denied that Christianity is the central driving force in the shaping of western civilization in Europe and due to Church's belief in monogamy, polygamy and polyandry were shunned.

If you roll back 500 years from now, there were very poor medical facilities available, especially in India. So the mortality of infants were very high, many used to die before their adolescence, but wait !The mortality rate was not evenly distributed between the male and female babies, it’s statistical fact that baby girls were more resistant to diseases when compared to their male counterparts and had lesser mortality rate.

Second point, back then the frequency of wars and battles were too high, and we all know in wars mostly men participated, and in every such fight thousands of men died.

Third point, this is considerably less important, but one cannot neglect it’s effect, MEN going after religion, were too high in number, especially at 500 AD, where Buddhism was at its peak in terms of following in India, and men went on becoming celibates.

Now all the three caused a huge inversion in the ratio of men and women, where there were less marriable men, and many marriable women, now the choice was staying single all life, which was very difficult back then considering the social economical bodily sentimental needs, or by a little adjustment and understanding one could share a husband, which was very practical and ok and it was needed too. This necessity was later taken advantage of, distorted and exploited, and finally the Indian constitution put an end to it

But now, infant mortality is at its lowest, no wars and peace, atleast in India, where every one is engaged in word war and intellectual war and political war which is far better than killing thousands, and religious celibacy is low .Due to the horrible and inhuman act of female baby abortion, the ratio of men and women is now reciprocated, leaving behind more men and less women so by logic we can know what should we practice, polygyny? or polyandry?
In the present condition of the gender ratio,will there be a situation of polyandry? It is very funny, delicate and sad situation for men as well as women! How to solve this social problem?
Easily said that some men may take up celibacy.Perhaps Yoga Guru Jaggi Vasudev will be in a position to suggest some solutions !

Now for the obvious reasons polyandry seems some what too radical and impractical, and would cause much unease.We know how the brave woman Draupathi managed to live with five husbands, a situation forced on her.

wouldn’t it be just fine….if its one man for one woman.

Jayasala 42

 

Dear Cheeniya Sir,
Though much is talked about the chastity of women, polyandry seems to have had its sway in may parts of India.I have heard and known personally known many such cases in Kerala.
Jayasala 42

 

It is str

US Laws are strange. Polygamy is illegal;But gay marriage is legal in US because of legal complications. It is expected that within 50 years polygamy would become legal in US.
Jayasala 42

 

Thank you Thyagarajan Sir for tracing the earlier events.In interior villages, this is a common practice and no one talks ill of them. They take it as a matter of routine.
jayasala 42