wYAVASTHA-DARPANA ገ08 398 If there be none ാസ്ത്രം(nt to dispose of her in marriage, she, when mar: riageable, is to choose for herself a bridegroom, she being then at her own disposal". If there be no persons (competent) to give her in marriage, let the damsel herself choose a (suitable) bridegroom". Jágoyavalkya, cited in poleb. Dig. vol. II. p. 887. The reason why under the above circumstances such liberty is granted by law to u femalo is, that her obligation to marry is amongst the ordinances of the Peda, and that marriage is the principal sacrament ordained with regard to her person as being in lieu of the regenerating ceremony upanayana, and completely expiatory of the sinful taint that every child contracts in the mother's womb, without which she remains impuret. With the male sex marriage con stitutés the order of housekeeper (grihastha)t, the second and most respectable of the four ordersŞ,
- See Str. H. L. vol. I, p. 84.
- By oblations to fire during the mother's pregnancy, by holy rites on the birth of the child, by the tonsure of his head with a lock of hair left on it, by the ligation of tho sacrificial cord, are the seminal and uterine taints of the three classes wholly removed. The same ceremonies (except that of the sacrificiul thread,) must be duly performed for women at the same age and in the same order, that the body may be made perfect; but without any texts from the Veda. The nuptial-ceremony is conidered as the complete institution of women, ordained for them in the Veda, together with riverence or their husbands, dwelling first in their father's family, the business of the house, and attention to the sacred fire-s Manu, ch. 2. v. 27, 66, 67.
The nuptial ceremony is the only one ordained in the Peda in respect of women: it is said by Manu and others to be (as their) upanayana (ligation of the sacrificial thread;) their rendering service to their husbands is (equal to) staying in the family of the guru and studying the Veda, and the performance of the household duties is (equal to ) the performance of the morning and evening homa, and attention to the sacred fire: thus marriage being substituted for upanayana, the latter is not ordained for the semale sex.–Aullúka Bhatta. - t . Should a wife be not obtainằd, a man must perform the vow or expiation called 'Snátaka.' —Udváha-tattwa, • , The wise call not the habitation (alone) the home, (for) the wife is described by that name (griha;) with her, indeed, a man attains all the purposes of human life. A text cited in the Udváha-tattwa. From the wife alone proceed offspring, good household management, solicitous attention, most 咒蠶 caresses, and that heavenly beatitude which she obtains for the manes of ancestors and for ( the husband ) himself—Manu, Perpetuated offspring and heavenly abode are obtained through a son, son's son, and a great ndson; therefore, should virtuous wives be r in Coleb. Dig, vol. II. p. 400, § (1) The student ( of the Peda, ) (2.) the married man, (3.) the hermit, and (4.) the anchorite, are the offspring, though in four orders, of married men keeping house: But of all those, the housekeeper, observing the regulations of the Sruti and Smriti, may be called the chief; since he supports the three (other orders, ) Manu, ch. 6. vs. 87 and 89. - Four orders are prescribed for Bráhmanas: (viz. the order of ) the married man keeping house (grihi or grihastha,) the student of the Veda (brahmachiri,) the hermit (vinopastha, ) and the anchoret (8kikshu, sanyai or yati.) To Kohatriyas also are ordained (the first) three orders; and two for {.. (i.e. of )the brahmachári and griki. The only order to be entered by the Shūdras is that offrikí or grihastha. Válasna purána, in the Udváha-tattwa. See Str. H. L. vol. I. p. 34. Thus for a Sháira also marriage is indispensably necessary; inasmuch as his duty is to enter the order of grihi and no other, and one cannot be a perfect grihi without a wife, and marriage is the only sacrament which completely removes his seminal and uterine taints, and renders him a pure Súdro. ' See ante, pp. 549—553. r espected, cherished, and well guarded. Jägnyavalkya. Wyawaatha' Authority lteason
