“The earliest record i have regarding polyandry one of several Sinhalese are probably the Magul Mahavihara inscription away from Vihara-maha-devi belonging to concerning 14th century in which we discover new king contacting herself the principle consort of the two sister leaders called Perakumba (Perakumba de–be-raja-daruvan de–denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). Brand new sister leaders regarded about epigraph are plainly one or two petty kings who wielded independent power regarding Ruhuna nation on the amount of time. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Sunday Observer]
This new English journalist Robert Knox states inside the Historic Family members regarding Ceylon (1681): “Inside nation each guy, perhaps the best, hath but you to partner; but a woman have a tendency to have a couple husbands
New routine failed to refrain the brand new observe of the Eu writers of the colonial period who possess remaining united states stunning descriptions out of the newest custom as it lived following. This new Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro states within his Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that once the wedding service try ended, the original night of consummation was allotted to the new husband, another in order to his aunt, the third to another location sibling, and the like so far as the fresh 7th nights, whenever in the event that around become more brothers, the rest aren’t eligible to the brand new privilege of your own oldest six. “These types of earliest days getting early in the day, the new spouse does not have any deeper allege toward his wife than just their brothers has; in the event that the guy finds out their particular by yourself, he takes her to help you themselves, in case one of is own brothers feel along with her, the guy you should never disrupt all of them. It bring their money into the a typical inventory, as well as the students name all the brothers indifferently the fathers”.
“The Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus within his Description from Ceylon (1672) states your Sinhalese advise that the latest conjugal responsibility be achieved because of the their particular brothers and you can alludes to the case out of a lady citizen out of Galle which “had count on enough to grumble of one’s need of duty for the their own partner’s cousin thereon membership”. Because of it are legal and you may common with all of them for a few brothers to store family in addition to you to definitely partner, plus the youngsters would acknowledge and you can name each other fathers”.
“The past reasonable membership of the practice is probably compared to Sir James Emerson Tennent within his monumental really works Ceylon (1859) in which he states that polyandry is available throughout the inside of Ceylon, chiefly between the richer classes; from who, that lady keeps seem to three to four husbands, and regularly up to 7. He cards you to typically, the latest husbands was people in the same friends, and most seem to brothers. The fresh new custom is however to not ever are nevertheless legal for very long to have british outlawed they an equivalent seasons, although it could features lasted for a sizeable several months afterwards.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam seen in Twentieth-century Impressions of Ceylon (1907) you to definitely “Polyandry, no matter if unlawful, will continue to exists one of many Kandyan peasantry, particularly in the outcome off brothers. The law against polyandry was evaded of the maybe not joining the newest partnership anyway or because of the registering it with one to cousin only”.”
Why Polyandry Existed for the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein penned: “On what so it unusual individualized may have endured having thus long isn’t an emotional question to answer, considering paras sivusto the characteristics of one’s Kandyan while the other communities where it is known to possess been successful. Impoverishment, a desire to maximum relatives size also to keep assets undivided within the parents have been completely the top issues with triggered this new success and perhaps probably the emergence out-of polyandry on these communities. You to definitely biggest component that seems to have led to the popularity from the days of the fresh Kandyan Kings try evidently the newest routine of Rajakariya or required service on the state exacted in the land-carrying men inhabitants. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Weekend Observer]