Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.101.1

v2.c11.101.1

The first and main reason for this phenomenon, as also for the so-called “romantic reserve” of the newly wedded connected therewith, that is, the secret visits of the young husband, is to be sought, however, elsewhere than in that union of spirit-beings with the earthly woman. Nor does “marriage by capture” (McLennan and others), “paying the price of maidenhead” (Ploss-Bartels and others), “furthering fruitfulness” (Günther, 85-86), or the various other suggestions of this kind meet the case. The feeling of the sinfulness of coition which Westermarck calls in is too little prevalent, and also in the main of too late a period to give an explanation. Thus we ask: Why is coition outside wedlock not dangerous because of its uncleanness? And why is continence only kept for so short a time? To me the matter presents itself thus: The coition which we call unlawful, lechery or fornication, is in general practised without any hesitation among very many peoples and tribes. It is no more than a pleasant sport, and of no importance. Thus the mysterious powers do not give any heed to it, either. But marriage is a thing of great importance, indeed it is a downright injury done to nature and the beings which hold sway in the darkness of nature, and especially in woman. Up to now they have been the owners of the woman. Now a man becomes her private owner. This is a robbery done to them.