Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c8.88

c8.88

The signs observed at the time of *varaṇa*, that is, when the bridegroom's party went to the parents of the girl to formally present their suit, were considered as very important factors in the final choice and hence Vātsyāyana quotes from Āpastamba the rule that at the time of *varaṇa*, a girl who is found sleeping or weeping or has gone out of the house should be given up,³ these being considered as inauspicious portents; then follow rules about the name borne by the girl and similar other things that we have already referred to before⁴. However, many of these defects are insignificant, artificial or accidental and Vātsyāyana was too astute an observer of the world to be led merely by such meaningless portents, and he at last quotes a simple rule, as we have seen before,⁵ from the same legal authority, that happiness and prosperity attend the choice of a girl in whom the heart and the eyes are pleased and none other should be favoured. To capture the heart and the eyes of the wooers therefore, Vātsyāyana prescribes that the parents and relatives of a marriageable girl would be best advised to show her off in beautiful dress and ornaments and that thus got up, she should sport with her playmates every afternoon, and attend all festive gatherings¹.