“The earliest record i’ve regarding polyandry one of several Sinhalese was perhaps the Magul Mahavihara inscription out-of Vihara-maha-devi owned by towards 14th century in which we discover the fresh queen calling herself the main consort of the two sibling kings entitled Perakumba (Perakumba de–be-raja-daruvan de-denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). The sister leaders described regarding the epigraph try evidently a few petty kings which wielded independent expert about Ruhuna nation at the enough time. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]
The English writer Robert Knox claims within his Historical Relation regarding Ceylon (1681): „Within this nation for each man, probably the greatest, hath but one to wife; however, a lady will possess a couple of husbands
This new behavior failed to eliminate this new see of your European editors of your own colonial several months who possess remaining us vibrant definitions out of the fresh customized whilst lived up coming. The latest Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro claims inside the Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that when the marriage service was ended, the initial night of consummation is actually allotted to the newest husband, next so you can their cousin, the next to another brother, and stuff like that in terms of the latest seventh nights, when in the event the there be much more brothers, the remainder are not permitted the right of your own earliest six. „Such first days being previous, the fresh husband does not have any deeper claim with the their spouse than simply their brothers provides; in the event that he finds their particular by yourself, the guy takes their own so you can themselves, however, if one of his brothers feel together with her, he do not disturb them. They bring their earnings towards a typical inventory, in addition to youngsters phone call all brothers indifferently their fathers”.
“New Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in the Dysfunction out-of Ceylon (1672) states the Sinhalese recommend that new conjugal responsibility performed because of the their brothers and you will cites the actual situation out of a female resident of Galle exactly who „had trust adequate to whine of one’s require out-of obligations when you look at the their unique husband’s aunt thereon membership”. For it are legitimate and you will normal with all of them for a few brothers to keep family also that partner, and also the students carry out know and you will label each other dads”.
“The last good-sized account of your own routine could very well be compared to Sir James Emerson Tennent in the monumental performs Ceylon (1859) where according to him one to polyandry is out there about interior of Ceylon, chiefly amongst the richer classes; regarding whom, that lady has actually frequently three to four husbands, and often possibly seven. He notes you to definitely in most cases, brand new husbands is actually people in a similar family unit members, and most seem to brothers. The fresh individualized try but not not to are nevertheless legal for long to have the british outlawed it a similar year, though it may has lasted having a significant months after that.
“Ponnambalam Arunachalam present in Twentieth-century Thoughts of Ceylon (1907) one „Polyandry, though unlawful, will continue to exist one of the Kandyan peasantry, especially in possible of brothers. Legislation up against polyandry try evaded by perhaps not registering the fresh commitment after all otherwise because of the registering it with you to cousin merely”.”
As to the reasons Polyandry Existed when you look at the Sri Lanka
Asiff Hussein blogged: “As to how this unusual customized have survived to own very enough time isn’t an emotional concern to respond to, because of the characteristics of the Kandyan together with most other societies in which we know to own prevailed. Poverty, a want to limit family dimensions in order to remain assets undivided into the families appear to have been the top facts that have resulted in new survival and possibly even the emergence off polyandry during these communities. That major factor that seemingly have led to their dominance in the days of the latest Kandyan Kings is obviously the latest practice out-of Rajakariya otherwise compulsory solution to your state exacted on the land-holding male populace. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]