Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c8.56

c8.56

Though Vātsyāyana in the rule quoted from Āpastamba prohibits the marriage of a rākā or a phalinī¹, that is, a girl who has reached the age of puberty, yet many other passages in his book seem to show that he is speaking of virgins who have passed that age and were considerably advanced in youth; for example, he speaks of a wife just after marriage as Vigādha-yauvanā or advanced in youth² and many passages in his chapter on courtship presuppose a virgin who is of sufficient age to respond to offers of love. The rule of Āpastamba quoted by Vātsyāyana also appears to suggest that the bride has passed the age of puberty³—and again the rule held in common by Baudhāyana and Vātsyāyana that the gāndharva was the best form of marriage⁴, seems to indicate that both the parties had passed the age of puberty. It is impossible to conceive of Gāndharva marriage before the couple could feel mutual love.