A Comparative Study of the Local Marriage System based on “Mahawanshaya” and “Manusmrutiya”.

Abstract

The success of the secular life depends on marriage is done according to the religion , but this cannot be seen with a local Buddhist view there were several marriage systems in bharath and according to “Manusmruti” it revealed eight marriage systems. Mahawansha is an important source which proves that there were similarities and dissimilarities between Sri Lankan marriage system and Indian marriage system. “Manusmrutiya” is a book that reflects the Indian human society which was written by Manu in 2-3 B.C and Mahawansha which was written by Mahanama thero in contemporary Sri Lanka during the stay of general disksandha in pirivena are two most important sources. the comparative study of the marriage systems that are brought up in those resources can be take n as the studies on Indian and Sri Lankan marriage system. There had been four important marriage systems in Sri Lankan among them love affairs and royal marriage system shares some common features. According to Manusmruti the idealogy of brhmin society is that the marriage life should be an amorous relationship in order to secure the generation of their own caste and to fullfill the aggregates of the father in that particular family. Nevertheless, family plays an important role in the Sri Lankan society. It is considered as the primary unit of the society and Sri Lankan families are consist of many children “Manusmruti” says that Indian weddings happen after a “Gruhya karma yagha” and after living a “Bramachari” life they have to take the approval of the master. Despite the woman is noble enough still there were few facts to be considered but in Sri Lankan society the man should be powerful enough to give protection to the woman and then after they would get married according to the proper rituals in an auspicious time. The Indian social system of passing down of endorsement is also written in “Manusmruti”. That is written in Mahawansha too. Accordingly Manusmrutiya becomes an important source of study related to the Indian marriage system where as Mahawansha becomes a consequential source when exploring the ancient Sri Lankan marriage system.