Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.600

c7.600

§ 18. *The hindrances of marriage.* The favourite enumerations of the defects in a bride (*kanyādoṣa*) or of girls who should be avoided when choosing a bride, contain much that is strange and obscure and even the commentaries give us no sufficient help for the clearing up of this long list covering so many as 27 points ¹. The injunctions to avoid a gossiping, hunch-backed, dwarfish, too old, baldheaded, or squint eyed girl and a girl bearing an ominous name etc. as well as recommending a beautiful girl who comes of a respectable family and has the gait of an elephant and a normal body etc., may naturally be considered as well-meaning advices. For the proper age of marriage see above. It is particularly emphasised not to attach too great importance to wealth. Also according to Kāmas. p. 225 the maidens should prefer a poor but devoted husband to a rich husband who has already been married several times.