It was because into the Kandyan society, sexual morality hardly ever mattered and polygyny (a person bringing multiple spouse),polyandry (a woman getting multiple husband) and concubinage have been all recognised since judge
Asiff Hussein blogged: As with India marriage ceremonies inside caste were this new approved standard. Robert Knox, an English exile exactly who spent almost twenty years regarding Kandyan Empire (1660 – 1679) states in his performs “Historic Family members out-of Ceylon” (1681): “That isn’t accounted any shame or fault to possess men of one’s higher sort so you’re able to set that have a woman far lower in order to themselves, nay extremely lowest studies, given he none consumes neither drinks together with her, nor takes her where you can find his home given that his partner.” [Source: Extracted from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you will early British time literary present because of the Asiff Hussein, Digital Library Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Knox”s declaration means that wedding, in place of mere cohabitation, had a ritual worthy of. In fact other statements out of their show that Kandyan community is a keen very licentious that where both males and females had full independence to cohabit having whomsoever it happier help save you to definitely in the event of females, they may perhaps not take action having you to substandard in status to help you by themselves, particularly an act entailing big punishment. Says Knox, “If any of your people are going to be therefore deluded, regarding to go folly with that underneath herself, when she is always to apparently the newest attention regarding their members of the family, they might yes destroy their particular, around getting no alternative way so you can wipe-off the brand new dishonour she hath over the family but of the her very own blood.”
Kandyan rules plus blocked marriage ceremonies between intimate nearest and dearest. So it integrated a man”s daughter (duva), sis (sahodari; that it incorporated brand new child of one”s father”s brother otherwise one”s mommy”s sister) and nenda (paternal aunt), even though he may ma, kudamma). To own a wedding to get appropriate, the fresh new events in addition to needed the reason for building a good relationship partnership. Additionally, Buddhism spotted to help you they one to elizabeth a beneficial secular offer and not a strict sacrament as in Hindu laws, to ensure that marriage by itself got “absolutely nothing push or authenticity” as detailed from the Knox.
Trial ong this new Kandyans. Davy (Account of your own inside of Ceylon 1821) claims that the basic a couple of weeks of your bride”s cohabitation together with her partner is actually a period of demo during the the end of which the matrimony was sometimes annulled otherwise confirmed. As for concubinage, although it try permitted, in the after moments, it appears to have become frowned-upon, especially within nobility. John D”oyly (Drawing of your structure of your Kandyan Kingdom 1835) has stated your history Kandyan king reprimanded Migastenne Adigar having keeping a good concubine of the “Berava” (drummer) status. The brand new lady was flogged and you may sent along the river, which means banished out-of Kandy.
Polyandry (Multiple Husbands) in Sri Lanka
Polyandry (a lady having numerous husbands) try court from meeting real Kvareli women the Empire of Kandy, which stayed on the 15th so you can nineteenth century. It had been euphemistically named “eka-ge-kema” (“eating in one household”).Asiff Hussein blogged: Says Knox, “Within country, perhaps the best hath however, one partner, but a lady tend to features a couple of husbands.” The latest polyandry experienced inside Kandyan minutes try usually of the fraternal form of and you may is actually understood by the euphemism eka-ge-kama (illuminated. food in a single domestic). [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you can very early British era literary source from the Asiff Hussein, Digital Collection Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Joao Riberio (1685) states of Sinhalese during Portuguese code (seventeenth century): “Good girl renders a binding agreement in order to wed a guy out-of their unique individual status (having she dont get married external it), while this new friends are certified they give you a meal and you can unify the brand new betrothed couple. A day later a brother of your husband requires their lay, and when you can find seven brothers she’s new spouse off all of them, submitting the brand new night of the converts, without having any spouse which have a greater best than just about any out-of their brothers. If through the day, them discovers the latest chamber unoccupied, he is able to retire with the woman in the event that the guy thinks complement. she will reject by herself to not one of them; whichever cousin it could be one to deals the marriage, she is this new spouse of all of the.” He adds: “the new woman who is partnered to a spouse with an enormous level of brothers is recognized as really lucky, for all toil and you can nurture having their and you will render what they earn towards domestic, and she lives far honoured and you can well supported as well as for so it cause the youngsters call every brothers the dads.”