“The earliest record i’ve off polyandry among Sinhalese was probably the Magul Mahavihara inscription regarding Vihara-maha-devi belonging to in regards to the 14th century in which we find new king calling by herself the principle consort of the two aunt kings entitled Perakumba (Perakumba de-be-raja-daruvan de-denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). The new aunt kings described on epigraph are obviously several petty leaders who wielded independent power about Ruhuna nation on enough time. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Weekend Observer]
The English writer Robert Knox states within his Historic Relation off Ceylon (1681): “Within nation for each and every man, even the best, hath however, you to definitely partner; however, a woman commonly keeps a few husbands
The new habit failed to stay away from the brand new notice of one’s Eu editors of one’s colonial period who possess remaining united states vibrant definitions out-of the fresh new custom since it stayed next. The newest Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro says within his Fatalidado Historica weil Ilha de- Ceilao (1685) that once the wedding service is actually ended, the initial nights consummation was allotted to this new husband, another so you can his brother, the 3rd to the next sibling, and so on so far as the latest seventh night, when in the event that around be more brothers, the remainder commonly permitted the latest right of the eldest six. “These types of first days getting prior, the spouse doesn’t have better claim towards the their spouse than just his brothers has actually; if he discovers their own alone, the guy requires their particular to himself, in case one of his true brothers feel with her, the guy cannot interrupt all of them. It provide its money towards the a standard inventory, as well as the people name every brothers indifferently its fathers”.
“The newest Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in the Description regarding Ceylon (1672) states the Sinhalese recommend that the brand new conjugal obligations be achieved by their particular brothers and you can cites your situation off a female citizen out of Galle whom “had trust adequate to whine of want off obligation when you look at the their husband’s sibling on that membership”. For it try lawful and you can common with them for a couple of brothers to save family as well as one partner, together with students perform recognize and phone call both dads”.
“The very last big membership of one’s practice is perhaps regarding Sir James Emerson Tennent within his monumental work Ceylon (1859) in which he says you to definitely polyandry exists throughout the interior of Ceylon, chiefly amongst the richer categories; of whom, one to lady keeps seem to 3 or 4 husbands, and sometimes up to seven. He cards San juan in Philippines brides agency that typically, the newest husbands try people in a similar household members, and more than frequently brothers. The latest individualized try yet not to not ever remain judge for long having the british banned they an identical 12 months, although it may features lasted to have a significant period after that.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam observed in Twentieth-century Impressions away from Ceylon (1907) one “Polyandry, regardless of if illegal, will continue to exist among Kandyan peasantry, especially in the case out of brothers. The law against polyandry is actually evaded by the maybe not joining the brand new commitment at all otherwise by joining it as with you to cousin merely”.”
As to the reasons Polyandry Stayed within the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein authored: “About how which strange individualized have lasted getting so a lot of time is not a difficult question to resolve, because of the character of your Kandyan therefore the other communities in which we know for been successful. Impoverishment, an aspire to restriction family size in order to remain assets undivided inside the parents appear to have been the big items which have triggered the new survival and perhaps probably the emergence of polyandry in these societies. One major component that appears to have contributed to its dominance regarding the times of this new Kandyan Kings is actually obviously brand new behavior off Rajakariya or mandatory solution to your state exacted regarding land-carrying male inhabitants. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Weekend Observer]
