Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s10.t7: Gāndharva Marriage
Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s10.t7
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Gāndharva Marriage
c12.s10.t7.1
The third type of marriage is the *Gāndharva* marriage. In this marriage the bride and bridegroom made their own choice without the knowledge of their guardians and were married without rites or ceremonies. Thus Raktasubhadrā married Arjuna without the consent of her parents.⁴⁰ We hear of king Siharaha of Puṇḍavaddhana, who married a girl by *Gāndharva* marriage.⁴¹
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⁴⁰ *Panha Ti* 4, 16, p 85.
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⁴¹ *Uttarā Ti* 9, p 141, also 13, p. 190.
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There were also many instances of elopement and abduction. The story of the elopement of Vāsavadattā with Udayana is well-known; then Suvarṇāṅulikā, a maid servant of Udayana was abducted by king Pajjoya, Ruppiṇī by Kaṇha, Kamalāmelā by Sāgaracaṇḍa,⁴² and Cellaṇā was abducted by king Seṇiya. Regarding abduction, besides the well-known case of Sītā, the Jain texts refer to the abduction of Dovaī by king Paumaṇāha of Amārakankā⁴³
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⁴² *Brh. Bhā Pi*, p 57.
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⁴³ *Nāyā.* 16, p 186
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Mention may be made of bringing up women for immoral purposes (*asatipoṣaṇa*) which was in vogue in the country of Golla⁴⁴
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⁴⁴ *Ava. Ti.* (Hari), p. 829 a.
Linked texts (3)
- Nāyādhammakahāo — Sudharman, Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
- Bṛhatkalpalaghubhāṣya — Saṅghadāsagaṇi Kṣamāśramaṇa, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit
- Uttarādhyayanaśiṣyahitā — Śāntisūri, Sanskrit