The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s4.7

c7.s4.7

When society had conceded to grown up brides the right to choose their own husbands, it was but natural that love marriages, arranged by the parties themselves, should have taken place with fair frequency. Some theorists went to the extent of advocating that it is not the father or the mother, but the bride herself, who has the right of giving herself away in marriage¹. This theory did not find general acceptance, but forward girls like Devayānī of Kuraṅgī took full advantage of it and proposed themselves. Sometimes love marriages were consummated before the performance of the ritual; these were known as Gāndharva marriages; we have discussed them already before (*ante*. pp. 50-2).