Essay name: Vasudevahindi (cultural history)
Author:
A. P. Jamkhedkar
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute Pune
This essay is an English study of the Vasudevahindi reflecting cultural history and traditions of the life of people in ancient and medieval India during the 6th century. The Vasudevahimdi is a romantic and religious tale that revolves around the wanderings of Vasudeva (a former Jain monk) and religious teachings in the guise of love stories, a common theme of poetry in Jainism.
Chapter 3 - Social Conditions
23 (of 228)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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170
the couple (gamdhavva vivahadhamma) 1 has been referred
to in the Vh(P), while some of the marriages can be
classified under two other forms, viz., the astra form and
the raksasa form. The remaining, which form the majority
of instances of marriages given in the Vh(P), were settled
by the parents.
There are also instances wherein the bride
herself chose her partner from an assembly of smitors
(sayamvara). In some cases, choice of the bridegroom was
done by arranging a contest.
We describe all these forms one by one as they
appear in both the parts of the Vh.
The Gandharva Marriage :
In this form of marriage the bride and the bride-
groom falling in love with each other, marry secretly.
The examples of this category given in the Vh(P)
-2
are of Dhammilla and Mehamala 2, Dhammilla and Vimalasena鲁,
and Vasudeva and Piyamgusumdari 4. Of these, Dhammilla was
a son of a trader (satthavaha) and the rest were from the
khattiya class.
1. Vh(F), 73.
2. Vh(P),73.
3. Ibid. 64-65.
4. Ibid., 307-08.
