Types of Marriages in Ancient Kerala
During Pre-British times, the marriage customs in Kerala varied from region to region and community to community. Let’s see explore some of these marriage customs…
(1) Vaidika Vivaham
This was the type of marriage reserved for Namboothiri caste. Out of this only the eldest Namboothiri sibling/ inheritor Namboothiri has the right to undergo this type of marriage containing performance of Vedic rites[1]
The wife was considered as Ghosa(Pure and thus to kept veiled). The following rituals were to be performed[2]
- Udakapoorvam
- Paanigrahanam
- Mukhadarshanam
- Malarhomam
- Kudiveppu
- Veli Othu
- Oupaasanam
After these rituals were performed the marriage was deemed as sucessfully completed and the wife was now officially a ‘Veli’. After death of husband, her eldest son inherits the property with she being a custodian. Widow remarriage was not permitted.
(2)Sambandam
This was the proper marriage system followed by all matrilinear Savarna communities like Ambalavāsis,Dwija-Kshatriyas,Nayars[3]. This was also followed by younger Namboothiris too but it was informal for them as it didn’t involve extensive Vedic rites and rituals.
The Sambandham involves few days of preparation and of pompous rituals attended by a number of people. Learned brahmins used to be fed for free during these days as a work of charity. During the wedding day, the couple sits on an slightly elevated platform inside a Kalyana Pandal and the groom offers the bride a white silk Mundu/Dhoti known as Pudava on a brass/gold plate[4][5].
Polyandry was not allowed in a Sambhandam marriage relationship although both partners could divorce easily with mutual consent without consulting family members[5]. Adultery was strictly prohibited and women caught in adultery would be shaved bald, divorced and sent back[8].Sambandam marriages were strictly guarded the most in Malabar[6].After the Sambandam relationship is over(either through divorce or death of husband),the woman has little to no rights over husband’s property. Widow remarriage was permitted.
(3)Pandavavicharam
This was a mode of marriage followed by Ezhava,Thiyya and Kammalar castes of Kerala. The marriage included fraternal polyandry aka two or more brothers marrying a same wife[6][7][8].
Oral legends by this caste says that this practice was adopted after the Pandavas visited and stayed some time in Kerala during their Vanvasa/Forest-exile. Historians however are of the opinion that this was done to prevent the extensive division of family property[6]. In case of Kammalars they had some Tamil folk rituals to perform the marriage. In case of Ezhavas, all the brothers use to marry the one girl at a small single function . In case of Thiyyas, there was a sword holding ritual, a warrior dance, and a ritual involving a seated Nayar(symbolizing the presence of the king), and a thaalikettu which will be done to a single girl by one brother. Thus separate functions were there on different days for different brothers to marry the same girl.
(4)Meringu Koodal
This was the type of wedding done by Pulayans and Mukkuvas, previously wrongly described as prostitution by European travellers. This was done by the woman having intercourse with a selected number of men regardless of caste[9][10]. And finally choosing one of then as a partner. Savarna men however stayed away from them and refused to form sexual unions with them[11].
Citations
- "Aaswalaayana Grihya Manthra" by Porakudinjam Published by P.G.N.Bhattathiripad, First Edition-1987
- “Punyaham" by Chekrakal Krishnan Namboodiri, 1997 edition
- “The Nayars Today” by C.J.Fuller
- “Marriage and the Family in Kerala: With Special Reference to Matrilineal Castes” by Joseph Puthenkulam
- “Some Aspects of Nayar Life" by K.M.Panikker
- “Malabar Manual" by William Logan
- “Jativyavasthayude Rashtriya Bhoomika" by Rajagopal.V
- “Matrilinear Kinship" by Kathleen Gough
- Book of Duarto Barbosa, Volume 2, Page number 59-60
- The Voyage by Fraçis Pyrard de Laval, Page number 386
- “Pracheena Kerala Charitram” by Sivasankaran.N
