“The earliest list i’ve out of polyandry among Sinhalese are even the Magul Mahavihara inscription out of Vihara-maha-devi belonging to regarding 14th century in which we find the fresh new king getting in touch with by herself the principle consort of these two sis leaders named Perakumba (Perakumba de-be-raja-daruvan de–denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). This new cousin leaders labeled on epigraph was evidently a few petty kings who wielded separate power throughout the Ruhuna country at committed. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Sunday Observer]
The English blogger Robert Knox says within his Historical Family away from Ceylon (1681): “Within this nation for each and every man, probably the finest, hath however, that partner; but a lady usually provides one or two husbands
New habit didn’t stay away from the fresh new see of Western european writers of one’s colonial months who have kept you vibrant descriptions regarding the fresh personalized since it resided after that. The latest Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro says inside the Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that when the wedding service are ended, the initial nights consummation is assigned to the husband, the second to his sis, the third to the next aunt, and so on in terms of the fresh new 7th evening, when in the event the indeed there become more brothers, the rest commonly entitled to the new advantage of the earliest half a dozen. “This type of earliest months are past, the brand new partner has no deeper allege towards their spouse than just their brothers have; if the he finds their own alone, the guy requires their particular so you’re able to themselves, however if one of his brothers getting along with her, the guy never disturb them. It provide their income on a typical inventory, and also the people label every brothers indifferently their dads”.
“The Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in his Breakdown regarding Ceylon (1672) says your Sinhalese recommend that brand new conjugal duty be performed by the their unique brothers and you may alludes to possible of a woman resident out of Galle exactly who “got count on enough to whine of your want out-of obligations within the their unique husband’s cousin on that membership”. Because of it is actually legal and normal with them for a few brothers to store household and additionally you to definitely spouse, and also the youngsters do accept and you will telephone call both dads”.
“The final substantial account of your practice could very well be regarding Sir James Emerson Tennent in his monumental performs Ceylon (1859) where he states one polyandry is out there regarding the inside of Ceylon, chiefly amongst the richer categories; of whom, one lady features apparently three to four husbands, and sometimes as many as eight. He cards one to in most cases, young Versailles in France women seeking men this new husbands are people in an identical friends, and more than frequently brothers. The latest individualized try however to not will still be judge for very long for british banned it a comparable 12 months, though it is known to has actually lasted to own a sizeable several months afterwards.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam observed in Twentieth century Thoughts out of Ceylon (1907) that “Polyandry, no matter if unlawful, continues to exists among the Kandyan peasantry, especially in the fact out of brothers. Legislation up against polyandry is evaded of the maybe not registering this new union at all otherwise because of the joining it as that have one aunt only”.”
As to the reasons Polyandry Stayed for the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein had written: “On how it peculiar individualized have lasted getting therefore a lot of time is not an emotional question to answer, because of the characteristics of your own Kandyan while the almost every other societies in which it is known to possess prevailed. Impoverishment, a want to restrict household members size and keep property undivided within the parents appear to have been the major circumstances which have lead to the brand new endurance and perhaps even the emergence out-of polyandry during these societies. You to definitely significant component that seems to have resulted in its popularity throughout the days of the latest Kandyan Kings is actually plainly the newest practice out-of Rajakariya otherwise required services on condition exacted on land-holding men populace. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]