This was due to the fact that during the Kandyan people, sexual morality rarely mattered and polygyny (men bringing several partner),polyandry (a woman getting more than one partner) and concubinage were most of the recognised once the judge
Asiff Hussein had written: Such as Asia marriage ceremonies within the status had been the fresh recognized standard. Robert Knox, an English exile just who spent nearly twenty years on Kandyan Kingdom (1660 – 1679) says within his really works “Historical Family of Ceylon” (1681): “This is simply not accounted one shame or fault for a man of the higher types to help you put which have a woman far inferior in order to themselves, nay of the extremely reasonable knowledge, offered the guy none takes nor drinks along with her, neither takes their where you can find his family since the their spouse.” [Source: Obtained from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you will early Uk time literary offer because of the Asiff Hussein, Digital Library Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Knox”s report means that relationships, in the place of simple cohabitation, got a routine well worth. In reality almost every other statements out of his reveal that Kandyan community try an most licentious you to in which both males and females had complete liberty so you’re able to cohabit which have whomsoever they pleased save yourself that in the case of women, they might perhaps not take action having that lower for the caste in order to themselves, including a work entailing significant punishment. Says Knox, “Or no of lady can be very deluded, as to commit folly having one beneath herself, if ever she will be appear to the fresh new eyes out of their unique family members, they would certainly eliminate their particular, truth be told there becoming no alternative way so you can wipe off brand new dishonour she hath over the household however, of the her own bloodstream.”
Kandyan legislation as well as prohibited marriage ceremonies anywhere between intimate family unit members. This incorporated a person”s child (duva), aunt (sahodari; this included the fresh daughter of 1″s dad”s sister or you to”s mommy”s sister) and you can nenda (paternal sis), even if he could ma, kudamma). Getting a wedding to get valid, the brand new events together with had to have the reason for developing a relationship commitment. Also, Buddhism spotted so you’re able to it that elizabeth an excellent secular deal and never a rigid sacrament as in Hindu laws, with the intention that relationship alone got “little force or legitimacy” because indexed by the Knox.
Demonstration ong the fresh new Kandyans. Davy (Membership of the interior of Ceylon 1821) says the earliest fourteen days of your own bride to be”s cohabitation with her husband are a time period of demonstration within the conclusion that your matrimony is actually sometimes annulled or verified. In terms of concubinage, although it try enabled, for the later times, it appears to be to possess come frowned upon, particularly involving the nobility. John D”oyly (Design of structure of costa rican jenter for ekteskap one’s Kandyan Empire 1835) has stated that the last Kandyan queen reprimanded Migastenne Adigar to own keeping a good concubine of your own “Berava” (drummer) caste. The latest lady try flogged and delivered along the lake, and thus banished of Kandy.
Polyandry (Several Husbands) inside Sri Lanka
Polyandry (a woman having multiple husbands) are legal on the Kingdom away from Kandy, hence stayed on fifteenth so you can 19th century. It absolutely was euphemistically titled “eka-ge-kema” (“restaurants in a single household”).Asiff Hussein had written: Claims Knox, “Contained in this nation, possibly the top hath but you to wife, however, a female tend to have a few husbands.” Brand new polyandry practiced inside the Kandyan minutes was usually of the fraternal types of and you may are recognized of the euphemism eka-ge-kama (lit. eating in one domestic). [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you can very early United kingdom point in time literary offer because of the Asiff Hussein, Digital Library Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Joao Riberio (1685) claims of Sinhalese in the course of Portuguese rule (seventeenth century): “An excellent girl renders a contract to marry a person of their very own status (to own she cannot marry external it), and if new friends are agreeable they offer a banquet and you will unify the fresh betrothed few. The very next day a sis of your own partner requires their lay, while you will find 7 brothers she actually is this new partner regarding them, submitting brand new night of the turns, without any husband which have an increased correct than any from their brothers. If through the day, any of them discovers brand new chamber unoccupied, he is able to retire for the woman when the he believes complement. she will be able to refuse by herself so you’re able to not one of them; any kind of sis it could be you to definitely contracts the marriage, she actually is the brand new partner of all of the.” He contributes: “the fresh lady who’s hitched to a husband with a large level of brothers is most happy, for everyone toil and you may cultivate for their unique and you can promote what they secure into family, and you can she lifetime far honoured and you will well supported and also for that it need the youngsters telephone call all of the brothers its dads.”