The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s3.40

c7.s3.40

It was not always possible to celebrate a marriage in every case just on the eve of puberty. If it was postponed to the last moment, there was the danger of crossing the fateful line. Not content, therefore, with prohibiting post-puberty marriages, Smṛiti writers of the period 500-1000 A. D. began to encourage marriages *much before* the time of puberty. They held that a girl should be regarded as having attained puberty at the age of 10 and therefore her marriage should not be postponed beyond that age¹. At this time the ritual of marriage in the case of girls was regarded as corresponding to that of *upanayana* in the case of boys; if the eighth year was the proper time for the latter, it ought to be the ideal time for the former also. A girl of 8 was Gaurī and was therefore the most suitable one for marriage.