Page 93 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 13: Monogamy and Polygamy

Notes

1. Monogamy

According to Sri Bookenovik, a marriage should be called monogamy in which there is not only
one wife of a husband and one husband for a wife but also either of them never marry again
even after the death of the spouse. In monogamy one male marries to one female only at a time.
Many forms of this also are found. One form is that a man is marries to a lady and if either of
them dies the other never marries again. Second form of this is that a man marries only one
lady as wife but can enjoy many women as keep. The third form of monogamy is that in which
second marriage is possible after divorce with or death of the spouse. Monogamy and Polygamy
is related to the society not person, means it is not person but the society who is monogamous
and polygamous.

According to Lucy Mayor, “The words monogamous or polygamous are used
for the marriage or society, not for persons. To say polygynous to a faithless or
lustrous husband is an abuse of language, although some people do like this.

In Hindu society monogamy is considered ideal. Many Vadic Gods were monogamous. The
word Dampatti (Spouse) is used for a pair i.e. of one husband and one wife as two combined
owner of a home. In religious scripts also, attachment for wife is expected from husband and
vice versa. One objective of Hindu Marriage is to fulfill the ritual which should be performed by
the husband and wife together. Obtaining son is also considered an important objective for the
performance of rituals.
Presently monogamy is considered as the best form of marriage. Westermark believes that
monogamy is the ancient form of marriage. Malinovaski also believes that “Monogamy is/
was and will remain true form of marriage”. In modern period, by Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
monogamy is made obligatory for Hindus. By the development of education and civilization
monogamy is getting popularity day by day.

1. Causes of Monogamy
There are many reasons for the popularity of monogamy in the world; some of them are as
under:
1. The ratio of male and female is approximately equal in the world. Thus, if polygyny or
polyandry is practiced instead of monogamy, it means that to deprive some people from
marriage.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 87