Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -72 

   History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -262     

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -509

                        By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

    In Khas/Khasias  society, marriage was not having religious bondage but a social understanding or compromise (Panna Lal, 1920, Hindu Customary Law in Kumaon). Monoandry or monogamy was a rare case in upper Brahmin and upper Rajput. Mostly men used to have more than one wives. The man could marry other’s wife by paying her husband the price.  Haiving Rakhail, Dhanti, Bandiyan, maids etc (Keep) was a common and accepted custom.

     In Khas society, wife or husband had freedom to leave and remarry with other gender. In Harijan, there was more freedom and remarrying frequently was common custom.

             Having relation with Prostitution was also common among elite clas especially Kings and court officers. Kings Shyam Shah, Pradip Shah, Parakram Shah, Parakram Shah used to visit prostitutes. Parakram snatched a Ganika (Prostitute) of Maularam.

 In villages, Badi community used to get money by prostitution deeds too.

 There wwas custom of keeping Devdasi (prostitutes of temple) in temples of Badrinath, Tungnath, Gopeshwar, Badahat, Kalimath, Ranihat etc. People used to purchase girls from hills for converting them into prostitution.

                  Sati Custom

 Sati custom among Brahmin and upper caste was also there. Widow used to immolate by burning herself with dead husband in funeral pyre. The villagers used to build a Math (small house) in memory of Sati. There are Maths still standing in Jaspur (Malla Dhangu, Pauri Garhwal); Kuntani (Dabralsyun, Pauri Garhwal,); Dadamandi (Sheela Patti, Pauri Garhwal); Goriyaganv (Sheela Patti , Pauri Garhwal); Jaigaon (Ajmer, Pauri Garhwal).

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com11/12/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -510

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….

History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty, to be continued

XX                     

Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period  History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal; South Asian Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period History of Haridwar district, South Asian History of Bijnor old Garhwal

Xx 

Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Pauri Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Haridwar, Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Dehradun Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Uttarkashi Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Tehri Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Rudraprayag Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period; Marriage Life; Customary Laws in Chamoli Garhwal in Pal /Shah Period;