________________
Vol XXII, 1998
SOME MODERN CONCEPTS OF
103
marriage
The other cause of nullification of marriage is, when husband has gone abroad immediately after marriage and does not return within the three months In such a situation she can marry to another suitor40 Nullification of marriage and instance of remarriage is very clear in these cases
If a maiden is abandoned by her husband immediately after marnage ceremony for whatsoever reason, then she should be remarried with another suitor with proper Vedic rituals again" The social justice in this rule is obvious
(7) Remarriage
Remarriage is advocated for women in the following five classic situations -, viz, (1) If husband is lost and not heard of for a specific period of time, (2) f dead, (3) if he becomes a religious ascetic, (4) if he is impotent and (5) if he is expelled from the caste for heinous crime or sinful actions42
Among them, apart from death, the other four are genuine reasons for divorce and remarriage In all these five cases, a woman's future becomes bleak In act, according to (levirate) Nyoga such women can beget sons to support herself in their old age It is sheer irresponsibility on the men's part in the other cases, except death Begetting a son for a husband who has done no justice to 11s wife, nor cared for her, is not proper The best thing is that she should live her life happily and normally with another man If a man starts leading ascetic ife ignoring worldly responsibilities or does something which makes him outcaste or one who is impotent and knowingly deceives the maiden, do not need any consideration or justice by creating a ksetraja son for him.
In case husband is lost, 1e he goes abroad and is not heard for a considerable ength of time, then his wife is supposed to remarry after stipulated period of waiting This waiting period is different for the women of different varnas Waiting period for the women having sons is longer than those not having
sons
--Brahmana woman should wait for eight years if she is having son, and four years, if she does not have son
-Ksatriya woman having son should wait for six years and three years if she has no son
-Vaiya woman with son should wait four for years and two years if she is
