“The earliest listing you will find out of polyandry among the many Sinhalese was even the Magul Mahavihara inscription from Vihara-maha-devi owned by about the 14th century in which we find the newest king contacting by herself the principle consort of the two aunt kings called Perakumba (Perakumba de–be-raja-daruvan de–denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). The brand new sibling kings labeled on the epigraph is plainly a Tabaco brides few petty leaders just who wielded separate expert about Ruhuna country on committed. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Weekend Observer]
The new English writer Robert Knox says in his Historic Family members away from Ceylon (1681): « Within this nation for each and every man, perhaps the most useful, hath however, you to definitely wife; however, a female have a tendency to have a couple husbands
The newest habit don’t escape new find of the Western european publishers of your own colonial period who’ve remaining united states brilliant definitions out of the latest custom whilst existed following. This new Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro claims in the Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de- Ceilao (1685) that once the marriage service try ended, the initial night of consummation are allotted to the brand new spouse, the second in order to their sis, the 3rd to another location sister, and stuff like that as far as brand new 7th nights, when if the truth be told there become more brothers, the others are not entitled to the new privilege of the earliest half a dozen. « These types of very first weeks getting earlier, the latest spouse doesn’t have greater claim into his spouse than just their brothers has; if the guy finds out their alone, the guy requires their own in order to themselves, in case one of his true brothers end up being with her, he don’t interrupt all of them. They render its earnings with the a standard stock, while the children name all of the brothers indifferently its fathers ».
“The latest Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus within his Malfunction away from Ceylon (1672) states that Sinhalese suggest that the latest conjugal obligation be performed by their unique brothers and you can cites happening from a lady resident of Galle whom « had believe sufficient to whine of your want away from obligations when you look at the their particular husband’s sis on that account ». Because of it is legal and you may normal with all of them for a few brothers to store family together with one partner, and pupils create admit and telephone call both fathers ».
“The very last generous membership of your own behavior is perhaps that of Sir James Emerson Tennent within his monumental performs Ceylon (1859) where he states one to polyandry is available from the interior of Ceylon, mainly involving the richer kinds; regarding which, that woman keeps seem to 3 or 4 husbands, and regularly as many as 7. The guy notes you to definitely as a general rule, the fresh husbands are people in an equivalent family members, and more than apparently brothers. The fresh new custom are not not to are still court for long getting british banned they a similar year, though it is known to keeps live to possess a considerable several months thereafter.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam present in Twentieth century Thoughts out of Ceylon (1907) you to definitely « Polyandry, even when unlawful, continues to exists one of several Kandyan peasantry, particularly in the situation away from brothers. Legislation up against polyandry is actually evaded of the not registering this new relationship anyway otherwise by the registering it as that have one aunt simply ».”
Why Polyandry Resided within the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein composed: “On what which unusual custom possess endured to possess therefore long isn’t a difficult question to resolve, because of the characteristics of the Kandyan and other communities in which it is known to possess been successful. Impoverishment, an aspire to maximum family members proportions and keep possessions undivided inside parents appear to have been the big situations that have contributed to the newest endurance and maybe probably the emergence of polyandry during these societies. One significant component that appears to have resulted in its popularity regarding the days of the newest Kandyan Kings are plainly brand new practice of Rajakariya otherwise required services on the state exacted on land-carrying male populace. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Sunday Observer]