Jain Journal 1991 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 30

OCTOBER, 1991
community at present are the Brahma or Prajapatya. There is no marked distinction between these two forms of marriage and they can perhaps be considered one and the same. It has been observed that this marriage is contracted without any exchange of money and the bride is given by her father as a gift to the bridegroom. To give away a daugher to the best available bridegroom out of sole regard for her happiness without receiving any consideration whatsoever recorded a marked ethical advance and definitely helped in making the status of both the parties equal. As regards the age of marriage in Jaina community it can be noticed that in ancient times marriage was recommended only for grown-up persons; that the age-limit was lowered in medieval times and that at present adult marriage is the order of the day. In this respect it can be said that these are the very stages through which the Hindus also have passed. The part to played by a bride in the settlement of her marriage depends on the age of the bride at the time of marriage. As the child marriage was not favoured by Jaina law-givers, it could be maintained that the brides have a more or less effective voice, in the selection of their partners in life. That is why the Svayamvara form of marriage was considered as the ancient and the best form of marriage. While determining the qualificiations of parties to the marital union utmost care was taken to see that a bride was given to a person who was free from all sorts of bodily deformities and diseases and endowed with virtues and good family connections.
be
113
In the married life sufficient importance is given to the wife for the valuable role she plays in bringing family happiness. A wife is regarded as the keystone of the arch of the happiness of the home. It is emphatically said that a compound of brick and mortar does not make a home but the wife who follows the family traditions constitutes a home. In the domestic sphere she wielded all powers and was regarded as the presiding mistress of the house. It will be noticed from Mahāpurāṇa, Santipurana, Padmapurana, Harivamsapurana and other Puranas that when the queens used to visit the Durbars, the kings themselves used to welcome them by standing and to allow them to sit by their side on the thrones. Even though polygamy was allowed, monogamy was the rule and polygamy the exception. As only a small rich and ruling section of the society followed polygamy, there was no general deterioration in the position of a woman. With a view to counteract illicit relations complete fidelity between husband and wife was regarded as the ideal of married life and for that purpose at the time of entering the householder's stage both the husband and wife have to take a vow of not keeping extra conjugal sexual relations.