The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.157

c14.157

In the Nakkhatta Jâtaka we become acquainted with a "family ascetic" (kulûpaka âjîvika, I. 257) who is asked by a family living in the city, who wants to marry the son of the house to a country girl, on the day fixed for the marriage whether the position of the stars is favourable. Angry at the circumstance that the day was chosen beforehand and that people consulted him afterwards, the Brâhmaṇa determines to spoil the festivities and says, "To-day the constellation is unfavourable; if in spite of this, you perform the marriage, it will bring you evil." The people believe in him and remain at home. Those who were in the country waited in vain for them and finally reflected: "They have fixed the marriage for to-day and have not yet come: what do we care any more for them?"—and married the girl elsewhere. Next day the townspeople came to fetch the girl. The country people received them with the words, "You townsmen are a shameless people, you fix the day and don't take the bride. As you did not come, we have given her to somebody else." "We asked the ascetic and did not come because he told us that the stars were unfavourable; give us the girl." "As you did not come, we have given her to somebody else, how can we