Describe the ‘ideal of patriarchy’ and rules of marriage in the early societies from 600 BCE to 600 CE.

The ideal of patriarchy:

(i) While patriarchy had existed prior to the composition of the epic, the central story of the Mahabharata reinforced the idea that it was valuable.

(ii) Most ruling dynasties claimed to follow this system, although there were variations in practice.

(iii) The concern with patriarchy wes not unique to ruling families. It is evident in mantras in ritual texts such as the Rigveda.

(iv) It is possible that these attitudes were shared by wealthy men and those claimed high status, including Brahmanas.

Rules of marriage:

(i) While sons were important for the continuity of the patrilineage, daughters were viewed rather differently within this frame work. They had no claims to the resources of the household.

(ii) At the same time, marrying them into families outside the kin was considered desirable.

(iii) The belief of Kanyadan, the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious duty of the father.

(iv) The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastra recognised as many as eight forms of marriage. Of these, the first four were considered as good while the remaining were condemned.