Excerpt from The Status of Women in India: Or a Hand-Book for Hindu Social Reformers
Messrs. Bhaskarrao Balkrishnaji Pitale And Nana Mokoba - We cannot go so far as Mr. Mandlik - but so far as we know, we say, it is only in the higher castes of the Hindu community, that the system of early marriages and widow celibacy prevails. We think, with Mr. Telang, that the majority of widows will not listen to, but actually shun the company of, nay detest, those sympathising philanthropists who volunteer advice to young widows to re-marry - for the sin of re-marriage is deeply engraven at present on their minds.
Mr. Ambalal S. Desai - I too can testify that there are mothers and fathers who rather than their widowed daughters should re-marry would commit suicide.
A Hindu Antiquary - And formerly it was a moot question whether a re-married widow would in heaven join her first husband or her second; and such widows were so dearly loved that a special offering used to be made for the purpose of securing their society in the next world. The Atharva Veda says: - "When a woman has had one husband before, and gets another, if they present the aja panchaudana offering, they shall not be separated. A second husband dwells in the same world with his re-wedded wife, if he offers the aja panchaudana." But now of course the sin of re-marriage is deeply graven on our minds - for it appears the Vedas sanctioned a sinful practice.
A Hindu Social Reform Missionary. - You forget, my dear sir, that life in the good old days was extremely enjoyable and the Vedic poets could sing to their Father: "Do thou conducts us to heaven - let us be with our wives and children."
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