Polyandry and its practice in premodern Sri Lanka
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Date
2014
Authors
Wimalasena, N. A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
The history of human society is nothing but the description of the evolution and diffusion of various institutions designed toward perpetuation, maintenance and survival of society. The institution of marriage occupies a unique place in the realm of institutions and it is this institution which is instrumental in perpetuating human society through regulations of conjugal and filial ties. The institution of marriage is as old as creation of the world. As a social institution, it has taken different forms in different societies from time immemorial. The chief sources of our knowledge about the institution are the literary and of archaeological data which give us a glimpse of the picture regarding progress in this sphere. There were various forms of marriage in ancient Sri Lanka such as love marriage, monogamous marriage, political marriage and polyandry etc. In the present study, attention will be focused mainly on Polyandry system up to the Kotte period in Sri Lanka as marriage and the males in partnership as husbands and the woman shared as wife. The meaning and definitions of polyandry, forms of polyandry, reasons for polyandry, the origin of this practice and the Sri Lankan os context on Polyandry will be discussed in this article. The research will be mainly based on primary sources and wherever necessary material will also be obtained from limited secondary sources published on the marriage system of the island.
Description
Keywords
Polyandry , Marriage , Social institution , Adelphic polyandry , Social insecurity
Citation
Modern Sri Lanka Studies, 2014, V(1,2), P 121-144