The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s3.24

c7.s3.24

Marriages at a lower age began to be advocated from about the 4th century B. C. The writers of the Dharmasūtras, who flourished from *c.* 400 B. C. to *c.* 100 A. D., begin to advise that marriages of girls should not be delayed long after their puberty. Two of them, *viz.*, Vasiṣhṭha and Baudhāyana, are prepared to recommend that girls may be kept unmarried for a period of three years after their puberty, if there are difficulties in properly settling their marriages, and Manu and Kauṭilya (IV, 12) concur with them¹. But Gautama² and Vishṇu(24,41) insist that marriages must be celebrated within three months of the time of puberty. Opinion was obviously divided at this time. Some thinkers pointed out that life was transitory, and if marriage was intended to ensure the continuance of the family, the bride should not be too young when it is performed. Others contended that absolute chastity was to be most desired, and so we should select a bride, who should not have even dreamt of sexual love³. It is, however, necessary to point out that even those, who allowed a short period of three months after the puberty, do not shower any curses upon the guardians, if they fail to perform the marriages within the ninety days period of grace. Manu, who normally contemplates a pre-puberty marriage, goes to the extent of permitting the father to keep the daughter unmarried, even to the end of her life, if a suitable husband cannot be procured¹.