Polyandry: Marriage IAS mains Sociology Optional


Write below given points in 50 words

Polyandry: Marriage



Polyandry means one woman can have marital relationships with several men.

A few Kerala castes practiced polyandry

Toda tribal of the Nigiris in Tamil Nadu, Khasa of Jaunsar Bawar in Dehradun district of Uttar Pradesh and North Indian castes practice polyandry

The factors that are related to the prevalence of polyandry are

(a) Desire to prevent division of property within a family especially ( in fraternal polyandry)

(b) Desire to preserve the unity and solidarity of the sibling group (in fraternal polyandry)

(c) The need for more than one husband in a society where men are away on a commercial or military journey

(d) Very low sex ratio (i.e. less female compare to male) also reason for polyandry 


Types of Polyandry

1.Fraternal polyandry (Adelphic polyandry): in this type of marriage several brothers share a common wife. It is also called as levirate 

Toda and Jaunsar bawar practice this marriage.

Fraternal polyandry was practiced by larger number of groups like the Irava, Kaniyan

Among Toda tribals  "Rite of Bow and Arrow  ceremony" determines the father.


2.Non Fraternal polyandry (Non Adelphic polyandry): 

in this type of marriage two husbands  share a common wife. 

In Kerala plantation Nayar girl ( who are plantation labor) marry Nambudiri Boy 
( who is plantation owner son) and also she marry Nayar boy



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