Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c7.54

v1.c7.54

¹ Bhandarkar in ZDMG, Bd. 47, “History of Child Marriage,” has very skilfully defended the statement that “in the time of Āçvalāyana and many other authors of Gṛihyasūtras marriages after puberty were a matter of course” (p. 153). Mahānirvāṇatantra, viii, 107, seems to be opposed to the marrying of the daughter before she has reached ripeness of understanding; and Nārada, who in matters of women otherwise shows a remarkably open mind, says she must be given away when the monthly flow has shown itself (pravṛitte rajasi); but what goes before teaches that then this is to be at once (xii, 24–27).