Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 236

Sec. 1V1 STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA 211 treated in the chapter on the 'Economic conditions' under the topics Agriculture', 'Dairy farming', 'Metallurgy', 'Currency' and 'Transport' respectively.
The marriage gifts and other necessaries of life presented to the eight brides were divided by their husband, prince Mahābala into eight equal shares and each one of them was given to his individual wife.
The account of the marriage ceremony, its form, social customs connected with it and presents to the brides as revealed in the BhS is corroborated by other Jaina texts.
In regard to the marriageable age they also laid stress on the maturity of the boy and girl capable enough to lead and enjoy the worldly life. But the Pinda-Niryukti' warns the guardians thus that if they cannot give their daughter in marriage just after the reaching of the stage of her puberty, they will be born in hell on their deaths.
The same sentiment of this work on the marriageable age is echoed by the Manu-Smrti".
Like the Bhs the Nayādhammakahāo also reveals that the negotiated form of marriage of the boy and girl belonging to the families of equal status was the general custom of the society as prevalent during its period. It was arranged and performed by the parents of the boy by bringing the girl to their house from that of her parents, as it is evidenced in the case of the marriage of prince Meghakumāra, the son of king Śreņika and queen Dhāriņi.
Besides this one, there are in the Jaina texts some ins. tances of Sayamvara* (marriage by self-choice), Gandharva
1 Nayadhammakahão, 1, 24. 2 Pindu-Niryukli, 509. 3 Manu-Smrti, IX, 88. 4 Nāyādhammakahão 16, p. 169. 5 Panha Tika 4, 16, p. 85; Uttaradhyayana [ikā 9, p. 141 ;
13, p. 190.