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Social Conditions
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Formerly, the father had extraordinary powers. There was a time when the gift or a sale of a son was not regarded as beyond the power of the father. These practices came to be disallowed during this period, no matter whether this was due to a Sastric prohibition in the proper sense of the term or to an alteration in the conception about the extent of the father's right over the son. With the beginning of the Vanaprastha system, the joint-family system began to crumble. Before becoming a Vānaprasthi, the father had to divide his property among his sons. Sometimes he had to divide his property among his sons against his will. The son started demanding his legitimate share in the property even against the wishes of the father. Some of the Dharmasutras declared that a son, who would force a partition upon his father should not be invited to perfom the latter's Srāddha. This shows that such a procedure was disapproved by the society, but the son had legal rights and could get them enforced through the court of law. Gautama says that sons have rights by birth. Āpastamba opines that the connection of the son with inheritance cannot be broken. MARRIAGE
In the sixth century B.C., marriage was generally regarded as necessary and desirable for all. There are also exccptional cases where both males and females thought of leading an unmarried life by renouncing the world under the influence of religion. Sometimes such persons were unable to live up to their high idcals, and their lapses were furiously commented upon by the public. Hence it was the married who cnjoyed rcal respect in society and felt clcvated and dignified. FORMS OF MARRIAGES
From the Jaina and Buddhist sources, it appears that Brāhma, Prājāpatja, Āsura, Gandharia, and Rūkshasa marriages were common during this period. Varriages rcferred to in the Dharmasutras arc of cight forms, viz., Brah:6. Daira, Arsho, Prajāpntra, Asura, Gandharra, Rakshasa and Paitario. Brühre and Prūjāpalja marriages were the most popular: In these two forms, marriage was settled by parents. Auspicious days
