History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.677

v4.c63.t2.677

Customs of countries and families have been specially recognized from very ancient times in the sphere of marriage. The Āśv. gṛ. (I. 7. 1-2) has been already cited above (p. 856). The commentators on Āśv. gṛ., Haradatta and Nārāyaṇa, both mention that in certain countries sexual intercourse is commenced immediately after marriage, that this practice is opposed to the rule in Āśv. gṛ. I. 1. 10 that the married couple should be celibate after marriage for at least three nights (if not for a longer period) and that one should follow the rule laid down in the gṛhyasūtra and not the usage of the country. The Āp. gṛ. (II. 15) remarks,¹⁷¹⁹ 'people should understand from women (and others) what procedure is (to be followed according to the custom of the country)' and the commentator Sudarśanācārya notes that certain rites like the worship of planets, *aṅkurāropaṇa* and the tying of *pratisara* (a string or ribbon tied round the wrist) are usual and are performed with Vedic Mantras. The Kāṭhakagṛhya (25. 7) allows the usages of countries and families to be observed in marriage and the commentators mention some usages, viz. Devapāla refers to stating the purpose of the visit, announcing the name of the maiden, worship of family deity, striking with flowers and creepers. The com. Brāhmaṇabala states that in Kashmir at the time of marriage the mother-in-law or some other woman whose husband is alive ties an auspicious wreath on the heads of the bride and the bridegroom, that the mother-in-law places flowers on the feet, knees, shoulders and head of the bridegroom and on the same seven places of the bride's body flowers are placed but in the reverse order (i. e. first on the left limb and then on the right).