Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c8.60

c8.60

The truth seems to be that marriage took place of both tender girls before puberty as well as of those more advanced in years. In the earlier Vedic times, including the *Ṛgvedic* age, both these forms of marriage seem to have been in vogue. While on the one hand, there were virgins considerably advanced in years like Ghoṣā, there were others like Romāśā for example, who were evidently married before puberty. In a hymn addressed to the Aśvins, the father of Ghoṣā, Kakṣīvat who is supposed to have been the author, says, "You bestowed, Aśvins, a husband upon Ghoṣā growing old, and tarrying in her father's dwelling".² Ghoṣā in a hymn of her own also says addressing the Aśvins, "You Nāsatya, are the good fortune of a damsel growing old in (her father's) mansion"³ and the *Bṛhaddevatā* adds that "in the days of old she remained in her father's house for sixty years, when she in two hymns⁴ praised the Aśvins who gave her a husband."⁵ Romāśā was jeered at by her husband, the king Bhāvayavya for her immaturity in years.⁶ The story of Uṣasti Cākrāyaṇa who lived in a village with his child-wife when there was a great famine, is also well-known.¹ Girls that were given away at the svayaṃvara must have reached youth. Sāvitrī is spoken of as Yauvanasthā at the time of marriage and Damayantī as Prāptayauvanā. Yaśodharā is said to have been born on the same day as Prince Siddhārtha.³