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१६७
through the matrilarchal society. The method adopted by the author was materialistic, historical, economic and anthropological based on the analysis of the pattern of sexual relationship of the time as well as mode and ownership of production such as food etc. This new method changed the, understanding, of the 19th century Europe, which was based primarily, on scriptures such as five books of Moses and so on. This new approach for sociological studies gathered strength in course of time and became dominant mode of understanding society. Now, resent tremendous technological revolution has added as new dimension. Contemporary Post-modern Scenario is frightful with the danger of gradual disintegration of the family-institution itself. The idea of Empowerment of the women and other marginalised sections of society and the notion of liberation of women-both the ideas are lofty ones, but-weakening of the family-institution, which is happening fast in Post-modern society can never be accepted, if we have to attain a healthy growth of humanity.
These developments necessitate our search for already existing alternative approach towards family-institution, i.e. the notion of ideal family as taught and reflected in Dharmaśāstra or Religious scriptural texts, especially in Indian Dharmaśāstric tradition which not only postulates the ideal state of family, but visualizes entire universe, in terms of a family -- :
"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" Entire globe is a family
It sounds so paradoxical that we have now, the physical basis for a unified world with the advancement of communication and technology which may open the gate for turning entire globe into one family, but in reality, it has sounded the note of alarm in threatening the very institution of family itself. Thus, it is natural for wg to turn towards our tradition and reiterate the notion of ideal family as put forward in the ancient scripture.
The institution of family has been viewed in religious texts primarily from the angle of certain value-system. The institution of marriage has not been viewed simply from the angle confirac of mode of sexual relationship and gradual and ultimate male-domination in
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