Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.703

c7.703

Even to this day the harsh treatment of the widow and the widowed bride calls for sympathy. She has to lay down all the ornaments she has worn hitherto, observe complete fast on each ekādaśī, that is, twice a month and eat but once a day ; she eats no fish nor any food prepared outside the house, the hair of the head is often smoothly shaved, she has to wear only plain clothes and if rich she has to go on pilgrimage to Benares and other sacred places, etc. Remarriage or entering into a love affair, to say the least, is as much resented as it was before and the reform movement started by Īśvaracandra Vidyāsāgara in favour of widow remarriage has had till now but little success. Yet however the English legislature has given a general sanction to the remarriage of widows and in connection with the law of property it has been taken as a maxim that the property which has once devolved upon a widow cannot again be taken away from her on account of subsequent unchastity.