Marital Laws and you may Freedoms in Medieval Sri Lanka

This is because during the Kandyan society, sexual morality rarely mattered and you can polygyny (a man taking one or more partner),polyandry (a woman delivering one or more husband) and concubinage was basically all accepted because courtroom

Asiff Hussein penned: Like in Asia marriage ceremonies when you look at the status was in fact the fresh new recognized norm. Robert Knox, an English exile exactly who invested nearly 2 decades about Kandyan Empire (1660 – 1679) states inside the really works “Historical Family members off Ceylon” (1681): “This is not accounted any guilt or blame to possess one of higher types so you can put having a lady far second-rate to help you himself, nay of the very most lowest knowledge, offered he none consumes nor products along with her, nor requires their own the place to find his household as their wife.” [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you may early United kingdom time literary source of the Asiff Hussein, Digital Collection Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]

Knox”s report suggests that wedding, unlike mere cohabitation, got a routine worthy of. In fact other statements away from their demonstrate that Kandyan area was an extremely licentious one in which both males and females got full liberty so you can cohabit that have whomsoever they delighted save that in the case of women, they might perhaps not take action having one to lower inside status in order to themselves, eg an act entailing significant abuse. Says Knox, “Or no of your own lady would be thus deluded, as to commit folly with you to beneath by herself, when she would be to frequently the sight away from their family members, they’d yes kill their own, here are no other way so you’re able to wipe off the new dishonour she hath over the family however, from the her very own bloodstream.”

Kandyan law together with blocked marriage ceremonies anywhere between intimate family relations. So it incorporated men”s daughter (duva), sister (sahodari; this integrated the newest child of one”s dad”s sister otherwise one”s mom”s sister) and nenda (paternal sibling), even though he could ma, kudamma). To own a marriage become appropriate, new people and required the objective of creating an effective relationship relationship. Additionally, Buddhism spotted to they one to e a beneficial secular bargain rather than a rigorous sacrament as in Hindu laws, so relationships in itself got “absolutely nothing force otherwise validity” since detailed because of the Knox.

Trial ong the new Kandyans. Davy (Account of your own inside of Ceylon 1821) claims your first two weeks of one’s bride-to-be”s cohabitation together with her partner was a period of demo in the the end of that the relationships was both annulled otherwise confirmed. For concubinage, though it was enabled, inside after moments, it appears to have started frowned upon, particularly within nobility. John D”oyly (Drawing of one’s composition of Kandyan Kingdom 1835) states that last Kandyan queen reprimanded Migastenne Adigar for staying a good concubine of your own “Berava” (drummer) status. The latest woman try flogged and you will sent across the river, which means that banished off Kandy.

Polyandry (Multiple Husbands) from inside the Sri Lanka

Polyandry (a lady with multiple husbands) is actually judge in the Kingdom regarding Kandy, which resided on the 15th so you’re able to nineteenth century. It absolutely was euphemistically titled “eka-ge-kema” (“restaurants in a single domestic”).Asiff Hussein blogged: Claims Knox, “Inside country, probably the ideal hath but you to definitely spouse, however, a female often possess two husbands.” The new polyandry experienced within the Kandyan moments is constantly of fraternal variety of and you will is actually known from the euphemism eka-ge-kama (lit. food in one home). [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you will early United kingdom era literary sources by the Asiff Hussein, Digital Collection Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]

Joao Riberio (1685) claims of your Sinhalese in the course of Portuguese code (17th century): “An effective girl produces an agreement in order to wed a person of their unique individual status (to have she cannot get married outside they), and when the fresh new family relations was agreeable they provide a feast and you can unite the new betrothed couple. The next day a cousin of your own husband requires his place, of course you’ll find 7 brothers she is the newest wife out-of all of them, submitting new evening by turns, with no partner with an elevated correct than any out-of his brothers. In ValkovenГ¤jГ¤ naiset the event the each day, any of them finds new chamber unoccupied, they can retire into the lady in the event the the guy believes complement. she can refute by herself to help you none of them; any sister it can be one deals the wedding, she actually is the fresh new wife of all.” He adds: “the new lady who’s married to a spouse that have a huge number of brothers is regarded as very fortunate, for everyone toil and nurture having her and you can provide whatever they earn towards family, and she lives much honoured and you will well supported and also for that it reasoning the children call most of the brothers its dads.”