Types of Marriage

forms of marriage are:.... Polygyny is a form of..... Polyandry... Monogamy is.....

The main forms of marriage are: monogamy, polygamy, and group marriage. Among these, polygamy is divided into polygyny and polyandry. Monogamy and polygamy forms of marriages are found and are common in our present society also, whereas group marriages were found in early society which is not practiced in our present society. In the following sections I will be discussing the various forms of marriage in detailed.

POLYGYNY

Polygyny is a form of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman at a given time, or may also be called as the “plurality of wives”. Polygynous marriage may be unrestricted or conditional. Polygyny is more popular than polyandry but not as universal as monogamy. It was in practice in most of the ancient civilizations. It prevailed among the ancient Hebrews, Assyrians, Babylonians, Indians and others. 

At present, it is widespread among primitive tribes but it is often simply confined to the wealthier classes. Polygyny is in practice among the Eskimo tribes, Crow Indians, Hidatsa of North America, African Negroes, the Nagas, Gonds and Baigas of India and also permitted to Muslim community. Polygyny is of two types: ‘Sororal polygyny and Non-sororal polygyny’.

Sororal polygyny is a type of marriage in which the wives are invariably the sisters. It is often called ‘sororate’, where ‘soror’ stands for sister in Latin. When several sisters are simultaneously or potentially the spouses of the same man, the practice is called sororate. It is usually observed among the tribes which pay a high bride price. The death of the wife or her childlessness is compensated by supplying a new spouse to the man who is generally the younger sister of that deceased or childless woman. Whereas, Non-sororal polygyny as the term indicates, is a type of marriage in which the wives are not related as sisters.

For many reasons, like social, economic, political and so on. Both the types are practiced by some people. More women less men, economic advantage, women as badges of distinctions, childlessness of the first wife, and so on are few factors which lead to the practice of polygyny. Today, polygyny has been legally prohibited. Bombay enacted a law in 1946, Madras in 1949 and Saurashtra in 1950, prescribing punishment for bigamy. All these legislations were repealed in 1955 when the central government enacted the Hindu Marriage Act. Besides the legal restrictions, people do not practice polygyny because:

• Nobody these days believes in the philosophy that one should have a son to attain salvation or to provide him support in the old age;
• Maintain higher living standard is not possible with more than one wife in the house;
• Plurality of wives increases tensions in the family;
• Women having become economically and socially independent refuses to accept man’s dominance over her; and
• Practice of polygyny lowers the status of women, a girl refuses to marry a man who already possesses a wife.

POLYANDRY

Polyandry is the marriage of one woman with several men, this practice involves plurality of husbands. It is much less common than polygyny. It is practiced among the Tibetans, Marquesan Islanders of Polynesia, the Bahama of Africa, the tribals of Samoa and others. In India, the tribes such as Tiyan, the Toda, the Kota, the Khasa and Ladakhi Bota also practice polyandry. The Nairs of Kerala were polyandrous previously. Polyandry is further divided into two types: ‘Fraternal polyandry and Non-fraternal polyandry.

When several brothers share the same wife, the practice can be called as ‘adelphic or fraternal polyandry. This practice of being mate, actual or potential, to one’s husband’s brother is called ‘levirate’, where a man marries his deceased brother’s wife, even if the brother is already married or if he has become a widower. In most societies junior levirate is preferred. Such a system is prevalent in the societies in which unilineal descent in the male line is found as the central principle of social organization. Levirate is also known as ‘Nata or Nantra’, that is binding by widow remarriage. 

Levirate is practiced in northern India among intermediate and lower castes and communities, but it is forbidden among the upper castes. It is prevalent among the Toda. While in non-fraternal polyandry the husbands need not have any close relationship prior to the marriage. The wife goes to spend some time with each husband. So long as a woman lives with one of her husbands, the others have no claim over her. Nair polyandry was of this type. Tibetans too have this type. Both these types of polyandry must be distinguished from “wife-sharing” or “wife-lending” which is much more common among the primitives. But in all cases it is temporary.

No universal generalizations can be made with regards to the causes of polyandry. Still factors such as scarcity of women, the desire to keep the property intact, heavy bride price, poverty, and the sterility of men, etc., are favourable to polyandry though not always.

MONOGAMY

Monogamy is the form of marriage where one man marries one woman. This is the most widespread form of marriage found among the primitives as well as the civilized people. It is commonly practiced in our society and legally approved by the laws. It is universally practiced in our country India, except in the case of Muslims. Monogamy produces the highest type of love and affection between husband and wife. 

It contributes to family peace, solidarity and happiness. It provides a solid foundation of good home, the permanence of relationship that it guarantees, generates mutuality and oneness, loyalty and affection. It gives, what can be best called the family protection to the old and invalid, to the grown up and growing children, and makes for family stability and equilibrium.

GROUP MARRIAGE

Theoretically group marriage means the marriage of two or more women with two or more men. But this arrangement is practically rare. Here the husbands are common husbands and wives are common wives. Children are regarded as the children of the entire group as a whole. Children call men of such a group their fathers and all the women their mothers. Some of the tribals in Australia, India, Tibet and Ceylon are believed to have practiced group marriage.

Some writers have said that group marriage is not in existence. If at all it is in practice, it is elubbed with polyandry. For example, two Toda brothers marry two women as their common wives. It is also said that monogamous or polygynous or polyandrous marriage associated with the practice of concubinage, sexual hospitality or socially tolerated adultery, is taken to be group marriage. Many studies have revealed that the practice of group marriage is almost on the verge of extinction.

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To know more you can visit these significant topics:
The Development of Literacy and Schooling, Commensality, Indian State, State, Indian Society, Religion, Marriage, kinship System, Social Institution, Family, Community, Indology, Social Movement, Bride Wealth (Price), Nation State

Reference:

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