Hindu Marriage Act prohibits Polygamy. But Hindu scriptures mention its practice and lays down certain guidelines on polygamy. Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra has advocated polygamy with scientific basis. The objective is better and higher progeny and upward social mobility.
A nation is considered to be progressive and civilized if its sex ratio at birth (number of females per 1000 males at birth) is more than 1000. It is also a fact that natural survival capability and longevity of females is more than males. So, unless a society wants a sizeable number of females to remain unmarried lifelong, it is a simple logic that a society has to practice polygamy. This bears more significance as motherhood symbolizes a successful womanhood.
Polygamy was banned since the period of Raghunandan, a scholar of 16th Century AD. Sri Sri Thakur observes, ‘I sometimes think that Raghunandan was forced to do so under conspiracy and pressure from opposing forces. As a result of ban in polygamy, the expansion and power of absorption of Hindu society got hampered and there had been opportunity for some classes to grow in numbers. There had been many invasions on India before, but there is no way to trace them today as the invaders have been integrated into Aryan society through anuloma (hypergamous) marriage according to their traits. The path of divine integration has not been hampered but widened in the process.’ (Alo. Pra.Vol.11: 24-2-48).
Sri Sri Thakur tells, marrying even a thousand times is not a sin if the male does not become wife-centric. But even a monogamous relation becomes a sin where the male is wife-centric. Marriage means to carry on (bahana) wife. Marriage is for females (bibaaha) and carrying up (udbaaha) for males. The males being adhered to Ista will carry the Ideal forward. (Alo. Pra.Vol.22: 10-3-53).
Just promotion of polygamy is not enough. It has to be hypergamous in nature so that superior progeny increases. Alo. Pra.Vol.14: 29-10-48). But, it must be kept in mind that hypergamous marriage between two varna is not allowed unless the first marriage has been solemnized in the same varna. The aim is to retain the original homologous hereditary trait. That is why, our scriptures praise and recommend so much in favour of marriages in similar clan and varna. If a Bipra marries a Bipra, he will have the progeny of same varna. Then, if he has a Kshatriya wife, the progeny will have a happy blending of Bipra instinct and Kshatriya temperament. Like this, through different combinations, new specific varieties will evolve which will make nation richer and more varied. But in such cases, it will be a good practice to write the identity of the hypergamous progeny in bracket while mentioning the father’s title. If the father is Chattopadhyay and mother Baishya, the child will write Chattopadhyay (Ambostha). Otherwise, there could be a chaos in matters related to marriage and food hygiene (Alo. Pra.Vol.12: 27-5-48).
Commenting upon the ban of polygamy, Sri Sri Thakur tells—we are thus inviting catastrophe. This will make some females wretched who would become easy prey for all. Muslims have been able to retain polygamy by abiding to the sayings of Hazrat Rasul. But no one lends an ear to our Rasuls and rishis. In polygamy, the first wife of the husband and the husband combined becomes the swami (husband). Swami means satta (soul) — life. The meaning of swami is not the same as that of the word ‘husband’ which actually means landlord. Even the word ‘satin’ also means satta. The rule in polygamy is that husband can’t remarry without the consent of first wife. The implication is that Lord Ramachnadra could have remarried only after being consented by Sita. In the past, when marriage of a girl of higher varna used to be solemnized, 2-3 girls of lower varna used to be given as dowry who were known as maid-wives. But how vigorous used to be their children! The aim behind the system was to push for higher genetic enrichment through all possible ways (Alo. Pra.Vol.12: 9-7-48).
Adultery is not good both for males and females. If females do not maintain chastity, they can never ever be mother of good progeny even though polygamy aims at increasing efficient persons in society. Therefore, such a climate needs to be created that the females never step into adultery even at the cost of their life. (Alo. Pra.Vol.12: 26-5-48)
be practiced. Though this will lead you to jail, still you have to adhere to it and embrace jail. If competent males do not practice polygamy and good progeny do not increase, then there will be a scarcity of cultivated cultured souls. The inferior will outnumber and will be the cause of ruin to nation. If we desire eminent progeny, then it is essential to solemnize the savarna and anuloma marriages for deserving males. Then only the nation will be enlivened again.’ (Alo. Pra.Vol.21: 11-1-53)
The underlying thought in this discussion is that marriage is a sacred institution (sanskar) meant for fulfillment of two souls, through mutual sharing and caring, leading to upward mobility of self and society, through progeny. This is better achieved by principles of eugenics and varnashram based social structure. It is to be understood that each stage in the life of an individual and particularly marriage is significant from the point of view of refinement, elevation and satisfaction. Therefore, polygamy is not to be mistaken as a license for reckless sensual enjoyment with multiple partners, rather a tool to bring completeness into life of individual while putting him/her at an elevated mode.
Testa-maxim
Marriage-Ever Inseparable
Compatible marriage in similar clans is ever inseparable. —The Message; Vol. VII: 137
Compatible Hypergamy
Compatible hypergamy with the male of pure line is the fair line in society. —The Message; Vol. VII: 139
Chastity Denotes Females
Chastity specially denotes females because they conceive. —The Message; Vol. VII: 211
Hypergamy
Hypergamy indicates superior breed of male of higher caste with female of inferior one in specific species. —The Message; Vol. VII: 194
Save the Country
Save the country from the tyranny of hypogammy of females—the drowning deterioration, the hellish havoc of existence. —The Message; Vol. VII: 196
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