Marriage (a): Monogamy

Monogamy means, having a good matrimonial relation between one husband and one wife. This marriage system is one of the best kinds of marriages. Supporting the Monogamy, the Bhāgavatapurāṇa states that the co-wives are the cause of unhappiness for the householder.^[1] The importance of monogamy is also shown by Śvetaketu who takes a decision that women are not allowed to live together with another person by the way to give away her own husband.^[2]

There are some stories in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa which contain the evidences of monogamy. One of the stories is the story of king Ṛtadhvaja and his wife Madālasā. Ṛtadhvaja did not marry again after his wife’s death.^[3] Another stories are-the story of Suprabhā and Nābhāga,^[4] Vatsapri and Saunandā,^[5] Karandhama and Virā,^[6] Dama and Sumanā, Nariṣyanta and Indrasenā^[7] etc. All these are the specimens of monogamy.

The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa cites good examples of the monogamy. In the episode of Svarociṣ, there are two dialogue-stories–one between Kalahaṃsī and Cakravākī and the other between the deer couple. These are two such conversations on the marital life of Svārocis which suggests that monogamy is superior to polygamy and polyandry.

In the first story, Kalahaṃsī and Cakravākī are two birds which lived in a tree and remark about Svarociṣ’s life. Who was very brilliant and lucky as he was enjoying desired pleasures with his three wives. In this situation Cakravāī mentioned the xtreme beauty and affection of either the husband or wife.^[8] But in case of Svārocis, not only Svārocis is affectionate to his wives, but also his wives are equally affectionate to him in return. This kind of mutual devotion and affection is very rare in this world and only the lucky one gets this opportunity to enjoy it.^[9] Cakrabākī also made Kalahaṃsī realise that their monogamous relationship with their husbands was ideal relationship because in this kind of relationship, they share mutually equal love and care.

In the second story, raising the example of Svārosis, it is stated by a male deer grazing with his female partner happily.^[10] All of a sudden, a group of female deer arrived around the male deer. The male deer could easily understand that they were trying to entice him for mating.^[11] But refusing their desire the deer expresses that he was not like Svārocis. The deer also remarks that the world deprecates people leaving multiple female partners.^[12] Hence, Svārocis is not at all doing the right thing by having three wives at the same time. The male deer further advised the group of female deers not to be like Svārocis and find their respective male partners.^[13]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

vahvyaḥ sapatnya eva gehapatim lunanti / Bhāgavatapurāṇa, 7.9.40; 11.9.27

[2]:

vyuccarantyāḥ patiṃ nāryā adyaprabhṛtipātakam /
bhrūṇahatyākṇṭaṃ pāpaṃ bhaviṣyatyasukhāvaham // Mahābhārata, 113.17

[3]:

Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 22

[4]:

Ibid., 110

[5]:

Ibid., 113

[6]:

Ibid., 119

[7]:

Ibid., 130

[8]:

Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 62.12

[9]:

Ibid, 62.17

[10]:

Ibid, 62.23

[11]:

Ibid., 62.25

[12]:

Ibid., 62.26

[13]:

Ibid., 62.28