History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c9.6

v1.c9.6

We will now go on to describe the manners and customs of the Indian people and will speak first of their marriage customs. The foremost observation to make in this respect is that the custom of child-marriages had yet not arisen in India. Had it been otherwise Hiuen Tsang would undoubtedly have mentioned it as he mentions the custom of the prohibition of widow marriage. From Bāṇa's description of the marriage of Rājyaśrī also the same inference can be drawn. Rājyaśrī was married when she was physically fit to be married and consummation of marriage is spoken of on the day of marriage itself. Perhaps it may be argued that this was Kshatriya fashion but apparently there was no difference between Brahmins and Kshatriyas in this respect. Bāṇa himself married the grown up sister of Mayūra as tradition relates. In this matter also Harsha's times thus are the parting link between ancient and modern India as hereafter we shall see that child marriage was gradually introduced.