“The first number we have out-of polyandry one of many Sinhalese is actually even the Magul Mahavihara inscription away from Vihara-maha-devi belonging to in regards to the 14th century where we discover the brand new queen getting in touch with herself the principle consort of these two sister leaders entitled Perakumba (Perakumba de-be-raja-daruvan de–denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). The brother kings regarded throughout the epigraph was obviously a couple petty leaders which wielded separate power in the Ruhuna country at committed. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Sunday Observer]
The fresh English writer Robert Knox claims in the Historical Relatives off Ceylon (1681): “Contained in this country each man, perhaps the ideal, hath however, one wife; however, a lady tend to features a few husbands
The fresh new routine didn’t avoid the fresh find of the Eu publishers of colonial several months who possess leftover united states vibrant definitions out-of the latest customized because stayed up coming. The new Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro says in his Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that when the wedding ceremony try concluded, the initial night of consummation was allotted to this new husband, the second to his sis, the next to the next aunt, and the like as far as the latest 7th evening, when in the event the indeed there be much more brothers, the others commonly entitled to brand new privilege of your oldest half dozen. “These types of first weeks are prior, the fresh spouse has no better claim into his partner than simply their brothers has actually; if the the guy discovers their by yourself, the guy takes their particular so you can themselves, in case one of his true brothers be together with her, he try not to interrupt them. They promote the income toward a standard inventory, as well as the children name all brothers indifferently the fathers”.
“The brand new Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in the Dysfunction regarding Ceylon (1672) says your Sinhalese advise that the new conjugal obligations performed of the her brothers and you may alludes to the outcome out-of a woman citizen regarding Galle whom “had count on sufficient to complain of your need of responsibility inside their unique partner’s cousin on that account”. For this are legitimate and common with them for two brothers to store house as well as one spouse, as well as the children create admit and you may call both dads”.
“The very last ample account of one’s routine is perhaps compared to Sir James Emerson Tennent within his monumental performs Ceylon (1859) where he says you to definitely polyandry is available about inside of Ceylon, mainly involving the richer groups; regarding exactly who, that woman enjoys appear to three to four husbands, and regularly up to eight. He cards one to in most cases, the latest husbands was members of a similar family, and more than frequently brothers. New custom are however to not ever are nevertheless legal for long for the british banned they a comparable year, although it can has survived getting a considerable several months after that.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam noticed in Twentieth-century Thoughts off Ceylon (1907) one to “Polyandry, no matter if illegal, will continue to exists one of several Kandyan peasantry, especially in the outcome out-of brothers. The law up against polyandry try evaded by not registering the latest partnership whatsoever or by joining it with that sister only”.”
As to why Polyandry Lived during the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein wrote: “On how that beste stedet ГҐ fГҐ en postordrebrud it peculiar personalized possess endured for thus long isn’t an emotional question to answer, considering the characteristics of the Kandyan plus the almost every other communities in which it is known to possess been successful. Poverty, an aspire to maximum members of the family size and also to remain assets undivided from inside the family appear to have been the big items having lead to the brand new endurance and maybe probably the development out of polyandry during these communities. One to biggest factor that appears to have lead to their prominence regarding times of this new Kandyan Leaders try evidently the new routine out-of Rajakariya or necessary services with the state exacted from the land-holding male inhabitants. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]