{"id":839,"date":"2014-01-01T10:53:15","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T10:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T06:42:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T06:42:42","slug":"the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Menace of Dowry and its Origin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"alt\"<\/span>Newspapers in India carry reports of rape and burning of women for not bringing sufficient dowry or their inability to satisfy the demands of greedy in-laws. The Indian National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that there were about 8172 dowry death cases registered in India in 2008 <\/span>[1]<\/sup><\/span>. Dowry (known as <\/span>Dahej <\/em><\/span>in Hindi) has been traditionally practiced in the Hindu society since centuries. Dowry is given by the parents of the girl and it consists of various household things like\u00a0dresses, ornaments, electrical goods, bedroom furniture, etc. at the time of the marriage. Additionally, rich people also give cash, car, property or land as part of dowry. But for middle class people, and those who are not so well off, the custom of dowry has become an evil. Ordinary people with average wages spend all their savings in preparation of a dowry for their daughter to take with her after her marriage. The Indian government has banned giving and accepting dowry in Hindu marriage. This article will give historic background to the <\/span>age old<\/span> tradition of dowry in Hindu marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dowry in Hindu Scriptures<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vedas <\/em><\/span>are considered as the oldest Hindu texts. Several passages in the Vedas make mention of dowry in Hindu marriages. <\/span>Rigveda <\/em><\/span>Mandal 1, <\/span>Suktas<\/span> 125 and 126 talk of the dowry King <\/span>Swanaya<\/span> paid to Kakshivat on the marriage of his daughter with him. Rigveda 1\/126\/2-3 mentions,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0936\u0924\u0902 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u091e\u094b \u0928\u093e\u0927\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0928\u093f\u0937\u094d\u0915\u093e\u091e\u094d\u091b\u0924\u092e\u0936\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0928 \u092a\u0930\u092f\u0924\u093e\u0928 \u0938\u0926\u094d\u092f \u0906\u0926\u092e |<\/p>\n

\u0936\u0924\u0902 \u0915\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0940\u0935\u093e\u0928\u0938\u0941\u0930\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0917\u094b\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0926\u093f\u0935\u093f \u0936\u0930\u0935\u094b.\u0905\u091c\u0930\u092e\u093e \u0924\u0924\u093e\u0928 ||<\/p>\n

\u0909\u092a \u092e\u093e \u0936\u092f\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0903 \u0938\u0935\u0928\u092f\u0947\u0928 \u0926\u0924\u094d\u0924\u093e \u0935\u0927\u0942\u092e\u0928\u094d\u0924\u094b \u0926\u0936 \u0930\u0925\u093e\u0938\u094b\u0938\u094d\u0925\u0941\u0903 |<\/p>\n

\u0937\u0937\u094d\u091f\u093f\u0903 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u092e\u0928\u0941 \u0917\u0935\u094d\u092f\u092e\u093e\u0917\u093e\u0924 \u0938\u0928\u0924 \u0915\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0940\u0935\u093e\u0928\u092d\u093f\u092a\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0935\u0947 \u0905\u0939\u094d\u0928\u093e\u092e ||<\/p>\n

“From which generous prince, soliciting (my acceptance), I, Kakshivat, unhesitatingly accepted a hundred <\/span>nishkas<\/span>, a hundred vigorous steeds, and a hundred bulls, whereby he has spread his imperishable fame through heaven. Ten chariots drawn by bay steeds, and carrying my wives, stood near me, given me by <\/span>Swanaya<\/span> ;<\/span> and a thousand and sixty cows <\/span>followed :<\/span> these, after a short interval of time, did <\/span>Kashivat<\/span> deliver (to his father).”<\/span><\/p>\n

The legend which is cited by the commentator of the four Vedas, Acharya Sayana, relates that Kakshivat, having finished his course of study, and taken leave of his preceptor, was journeying homewards, when night came on, and he fell asleep by the roadside: early in the morning, Raja Swanaya, the son of Bhavayavya, attended by his retinue, came to the spot, and disturbed the Brahmin’s slumbers: upon his starting up, the Raja addressed him with <\/span>great cordiality, and being struck by his personal appearance, determined, if he was of suitable rank and birth, to give him his daughters in marriage. After ascertaining his fitness, he took Kakshivat home with him, and there married him to his ten daughters, presenting him at the same time with a hundred ‘<\/span>nishkas<\/span>‘ of gold, a hundred horses, a hundred bulls, one thousand and sixty cows, and eleven chariots, one for each of his wives and one for himself, each drawn by four horses. With these presents Kakshivat returned home, and placed them at the disposal of his father, <\/span>Dirghatamas<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This evidence is corroborated by Rishi Shaunaka’s <\/span>Brhaddevata<\/em><\/span> which also repeats these mantras explaining their purport. <\/span>Brhaddevata<\/em><\/span> 3\/146-150 says,<\/span><\/p>\n

\"alt\"<\/span><\/p>\n

‘I am a son of the seer <\/span>Dirghatamas<\/span>, son of Ucathya, O king.’ Thereupon he (<\/span>Swanaya<\/span>) gave him ten maidens decked with ornaments. and the same number of chariots, strong-bodied bay steeds going in teams of four, for the purpose of conveying the maidens, money and (utensils of) inferior metal, goats and sheep. Further he gave (him) a hundred necklets and a hundred bulls. This is told in the next hymn with (the stanza) ‘A hundred’ and so forth. A hundred horses, a hundred necklets, ten chariots with maidens, (steeds) going in teams of four, and a thousand and sixty <\/span>cows.Kakshivat<\/span>, who obtained (all this) from <\/span>Swanaya<\/span> Bhavayavya, both praised (him) after receiving (it) and recited (the hymn) ‘At morn’ to his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

This reference besides proving the existence of Polygamy in Vedic society, also shows the prevalence of dowry in that society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rigveda <\/em><\/span>Mandal 10, <\/span>Sukta<\/span> 85 as well as <\/span>Atharvaved<\/em><\/span> Kaand<\/span> 14, <\/span>Suktas<\/span> 1 and 2, contain details about the Hindu marriage ceremony. Verses from these hymns are chanted during Hindu wedding ceremonies. Rigveda 10\/85\/13 and <\/span>Atharvaved<\/span> 14\/1\/13 talking of the wedding season says,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0938\u0942\u0930\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e \u0935\u0939\u0924\u0941\u0903 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0917\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0938\u0935\u093f\u0924\u093e \u092f\u092e\u0935\u093e\u0938\u0943\u091c\u0924\u094d |<\/p>\n

\u0905\u0918\u093e\u0938\u0941\u0939\u0928\u094d\u092f\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0947 \u0917\u093e\u0935\u094b.\u0905\u0930\u094d\u091c\u0941\u0928\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0903 \u092a\u0930\u094d\u092f\u0941\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0924\u0947 ||<\/p>\n

“Surya’s bridal procession which Savita despatched has advanced;<\/span> the oxen are whipped along<\/span><\/strong> in the Magha (constellations); she is borne (to her husband’s house) in the Arjuni (constellations).”<\/span><\/p>\n

The purport of this mantra is that the Dowry (in this case the oxen) must reach the husband’s home before the bride is escorted <\/span>there.The<\/span> next two mantras describe that two men from the bride’s family must take this Dowry to the husband’s home well before the wedding ceremony. For more details about the process of giving Dowry refer to the commentary of Arya Samaj scholar <\/span>Sripad Damodar Satvalekar<\/span><\/strong> on these mantras<\/span> (Atharvaveda ka Subodh <\/em><\/span>Bhashya<\/em><\/span> <\/strong>Kaand<\/span> 14).<\/span><\/p>\n

This system of Dowry has continued since Vedic times till today. Other Hindu texts contain detailed accounts of dowry. For example, Mahabharata Adi Parv Section 197\/ Shlokas 15-18 provide details of the dowry presented by King Drupada on the marriage of his daughter <\/span>K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101<\/span> Draupadi <\/span><\/strong>with the five Pandavas (Polyandry). <\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

15 \u0915\u0943\u0924\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u0935\u093e\u0939\u0947 \u0926\u0930\u0941\u092a\u0926\u094a \u0927\u0928\u0902 \u0926\u0926\u094c; \u092e\u0939\u093e\u0930\u0925\u0947\u092d\u094d\u092f\u094a \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0930\u0942\u092a\u092e \u0909\u0924\u094d\u0924\u092e\u092e<\/p>\n

\u0936\u0924\u0902 \u0930\u0925\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0935\u0930\u0939\u0947\u092e\u092d\u0942\u0937\u093f\u0923\u093e\u0902; \u091a\u0924\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092f\u0941\u091c\u093e\u0902 \u0939\u0947\u092e\u0916\u0932\u0940\u0928 \u092e\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0928\u093e\u092e<\/p>\n

16 \u0936\u0924\u0902 \u0917\u091c\u093e\u0928\u093e\u092e \u0905\u092d\u093f\u092a\u0926\u094d\u092e\u093f\u0928\u0940\u0902 \u0924\u0925\u093e; \u0936\u0924\u0902 \u0917\u093f\u0930\u0940\u0923\u093e\u092e \u0907\u0935 \u0939\u0947\u092e\u0936\u0943\u0919\u094d\u0917\u093f\u0923\u093e\u092e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0925\u0948\u0935 \u0926\u093e\u0938\u0940 \u0936\u0924\u092e \u0905\u0917\u094d\u0930\u094d\u092f\u092f\u094c\u0935\u0928\u0902; \u092e\u0939\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0939\u0935\u0947\u0937\u093e\u092d\u0930\u0923\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0930 \u0938\u0930\u091c\u092e<\/p>\n

17 \u092a\u0943\u0925\u0915 \u092a\u0943\u0925\u0915 \u091a\u0948\u0935 \u0926\u0936\u093e\u092f\u0941\u0924\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0935\u093f\u0924\u0902; \u0927\u0928\u0902 \u0926\u0926\u094c \u0938\u094c\u092e\u0915\u093f\u0930 \u0905\u0917\u094d\u0928\u093f\u0938\u093e\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093f\u0915\u092e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0925\u0948\u0935 \u0935\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093f \u091a \u092d\u0942\u0937\u0923\u093e\u0928\u093f; \u092a\u0930\u092d\u093e\u0935\u092f\u0941\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093f \u092e\u0939\u093e\u0927\u0928\u093e\u0928\u093f<\/p>\n

18 \u0915\u0943\u0924\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u0935\u093e\u0939\u0947 \u091a \u0924\u0924\u0903 \u0938\u092e \u092a\u093e\u0923\u094d\u0921\u0935\u093e\u0903; \u092a\u0930\u092d\u0942\u0924\u0930\u0924\u094d\u0928\u093e\u092e \u0909\u092a\u0932\u092d\u094d\u092f \u0924\u093e\u0902 \u0936\u0930\u093f\u092f\u092e<\/p>\n

\u0935\u093f\u091c\u0939\u094d\u0930\u0941\u0930 \u0907\u0928\u094d\u0926\u094d\u0930 \u092a\u0930\u0924\u093f\u092e\u093e \u092e\u0939\u093e\u092c\u0932\u093e\u0903; \u092a\u0941\u0930\u0947 \u0924\u0941 \u092a\u093e\u091e\u094d\u091a\u093e\u0932 \u0928\u0943\u092a\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0924\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0939<\/p>\n

“After the weddings were over, king Drupada gave unto those mighty car-warriors diverse kinds of excellent wealth. And the king gave unto them <\/span>one hundred cars with golden standards, each drawn by four steeds with golden bridles<\/span><\/strong>. And he gave them <\/span>one hundred elephants all possessing auspicious marks on their temples and faces and like unto a hundred mountains with golden peaks<\/span><\/strong>. He also gave them <\/span>a hundred female servants all in the prime of youth and clad in costly robes and ornaments and floral wreaths<\/span><\/strong>. And the illustrious monarch of the Lunar race gave unto each of those princes of celestial beauty, making the sacred fire a witness of his gifts, <\/span>much wealth and many costly robes and ornaments of great splendour<\/span><\/strong>. The sons of Pandu endued with great strength, after their wedding were over, and after they had obtained Krishna like unto a second Sri along with great wealth, passed their days in joy and happiness, like so many Indras, in the capital of the king of the <\/span>Panchalas<\/span>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mahabharata also informs us of dowry given during the marriage of Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna with Uttara, daughter of King Viraat. Mahabharata Virat Parv, section 72, shlokas 36-37 say<\/span><\/p>\n

36 \u0924\u0938\u094d\u092e\u0948 \u0938\u092a\u094d\u0924 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093f \u0939\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0935\u093e\u0924\u0930\u0902\u0939\u0938\u093e\u092e<\/p>\n

\u0926\u0935\u0947 \u091a \u0928\u093e\u0917\u0936\u0924\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u0916\u094d\u092f\u0947 \u092a\u0930\u093e\u0926\u093e\u0926 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0927\u0928\u0902 \u0924\u0926\u093e<\/p>\n

37 \u0939\u0941\u0924\u094d\u0935\u093e \u0938\u092e\u094d\u092f\u0915\u094d \u0938\u092e\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093e\u0917\u094d\u0928\u093f\u092e\u0930\u094d\u091a\u092f\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0935\u093e \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093f\u091c\u0928\u094d\u092e\u0903<\/p>\n

\u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u092f\u0902 \u092c\u0932\u0902 \u0915\u094b\u0936\u0902 \u091a \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u092e\u093e\u0924\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u092e\u0947\u0935 \u091a<\/p>\n

And Virata then gave him <\/span>(as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with the speed of the wind and two hundred elephants of the best kind and much wealth also<\/span><\/strong>. And having duly poured libations of clarified butter on the blazing fire, and paid homage unto the twice-born ones, <\/span>Virata offered to the Pandavas his kingdom, army, treasury, and his own self<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mahabharata Adi Parv section 220 details the dowry provided by Krishna and <\/span>Balrama<\/span> on the marriage of their sister Subhadra.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0924\u0947\u0937\u093e\u0902 \u0926\u0926\u094c \u0939\u0943\u0937\u0940\u0915\u0947\u0936\u094b \u091c\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0925\u0947 \u0927\u0928\u092e\u0941\u0924\u094d\u0924\u092e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0939\u0930\u0923\u0902 \u0935\u0948 \u0938\u0941\u092d\u0926\u094d\u0930\u093e\u092f\u093e \u091c\u094d\u091e\u093e\u0924\u093f\u0926\u0947\u092f\u0902 \u092e\u0939\u093e\u092f\u0936\u093e\u0903\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0930\u0925\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0915\u093e\u091e\u094d\u091a\u0928\u093e\u0919\u094d\u0917\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0915\u093f\u0919\u094d\u0915\u093f\u0923\u0940\u091c\u093e\u0932\u092e\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0928\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u091a\u0924\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092f\u0941\u091c\u093e\u092e\u0941\u092a\u0947\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u0942\u0924\u0948\u0903 \u0915\u0941\u0936\u0932\u0936\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093f\u0924\u0948\u0903\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0926\u0926\u094c \u0915\u0943\u0937\u094d\u092e\u094b \u0917\u0935\u093e\u092e\u092f\u0941\u0924\u092e\u0947\u0935 \u091a\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0936\u094d\u0930\u0940\u092e\u093e\u0928\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0925\u0941\u0930\u0926\u0947\u0936\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0926\u094b\u0917\u094d\u0927\u094d\u0930\u0940\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u092a\u0941\u0923\u094d\u092f\u0935\u0930\u094d\u091a\u0938\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u092c\u0921\u0935\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u091a \u0936\u0941\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u091a\u0928\u094d\u0926\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936\u0941\u0938\u092e\u0935\u0930\u094d\u091a\u0938\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0926\u0926\u094c \u091c\u0928\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0926\u0928\u0903 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0940\u0924\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0902 \u0939\u0947\u092e\u092d\u0942\u0937\u093f\u0924\u092e\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0924\u0925\u0948\u0935\u093e\u0936\u094d\u0935\u0924\u0930\u0940\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u091a \u0926\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0935\u093e\u0924\u0930\u0902\u0939\u0938\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0936\u0924\u093e\u0928\u094d\u092f\u091e\u094d\u091c\u0928\u0915\u0947\u0936\u0940\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0936\u094d\u0935\u0947\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u092a\u091e\u094d\u091a\u092a\u091e\u094d\u091a \u091a\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0938\u094d\u0928\u093e\u0928\u092a\u093e\u0928\u094b\u0924\u094d\u0938\u0935\u0947 \u091a\u0948\u0935 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092f\u0941\u0915\u094d\u0924\u0902 \u0935\u092f\u0938\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0935\u093f\u0924\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u0940\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0902 \u0917\u094c\u0930\u0940\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0937\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u0941\u0935\u0930\u094d\u091a\u0938\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0938\u0941\u0935\u0930\u094d\u0923\u0936\u0924\u0915\u0923\u094d\u0920\u0940\u0928\u093e\u092e\u0930\u094b\u092e\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u0932\u0919\u094d\u0915\u0943\u0924\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u092a\u0930\u093f\u091a\u0930\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0938\u0941 \u0926\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0926\u0926\u094c \u092a\u0941\u0937\u094d\u0915\u0930\u0947\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0923\u0903\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u092a\u0943\u0937\u094d\u0920\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u092e\u092a\u093f \u091a\u093e\u0936\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u092c\u093e\u0939\u094d\u0932\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u091c\u0928\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0926\u0928\u0903\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0926\u0926\u094c \u0936\u0924\u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0916\u094d\u092f\u0902 \u0915\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0927\u0928\u092e\u0928\u0941\u0924\u094d\u0924\u092e\u092e\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0915\u0943\u0924\u093e\u0915\u0943\u0924\u0938\u094d\u092f \u092e\u0941\u0916\u094d\u092f\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0928\u0915\u0938\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0917\u094d\u0928\u093f\u0935\u0930\u094d\u091a\u0938\u0903\u0964<\/p>\n

\u092e\u0928\u0941\u0937\u094d\u092f\u092d\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0926\u093e\u0936\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0939\u094b \u0926\u0926\u094c \u0926\u0936 \u091c\u0928\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0926\u0928\u0903\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0917\u091c\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0924\u0941 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092d\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0928\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0924\u094d\u0930\u093f\u0927\u093e \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0935\u0924\u093e\u0902 \u092e\u0926\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0917\u093f\u0930\u093f\u0915\u0942\u091f\u0928\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0936\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u092e\u0930\u0947\u0937\u094d\u0935\u0928\u093f\u0935\u0930\u094d\u0924\u093f\u0928\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0915\u094d\u0932\u0943\u092a\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u092a\u091f\u0941\u0918\u0923\u094d\u091f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u091a\u093e\u0930\u0942\u0923\u093e\u0902 \u0939\u0947\u092e\u092e\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0928\u093e\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930\u094b\u0939\u0948\u0930\u0941\u092a\u0947\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0902 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u0938\u092a\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092f\u0903\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u0930\u093e\u092e\u0903 \u092a\u093e\u0923\u093f\u0917\u094d\u0930\u0939\u0923\u093f\u0915\u0902 \u0926\u0926\u094c \u092a\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0925\u093e\u092f \u0932\u093e\u0919\u094d\u0917\u0932\u0940\u0964<\/p>\n

\u092a\u094d\u0930\u0940\u092f\u092e\u093e\u0923\u094b \u0939\u0932\u0927\u0930\u0903 \u0938\u0902\u092c\u0928\u094d\u0927\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f \u092e\u093e\u0928\u092f\u0928\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Then Hrishikesa of great renown gave unto the party of the bridegroom much wealth. And unto Subhadra he gave the nuptial presents <\/span>that had been given to her by her relatives. Krishna gave unto the Pandavas a thousand cars of gold furnished with rows of bells, and unto each of which were put four steeds driven by well-trained charioteers<\/span><\/strong>. He also gave unto them <\/span>ten thousand cows<\/span><\/strong> belonging to the country of Mathura, and yielding much milk and all of excellent colour. Well-pleased, Janardana also gave them a <\/span>thousand mares with gold harnesses and of colour white as the beams of the moon. He also gave them a thousand mules, all well-trained and possessing the speed of the wind, of white colour with black manes. And he of eyes like lotus-petals also gave unto them a thousand damsels well-skilled in assisting at bathing and at drinking, young in years and virgins all before their <\/span>first-season<\/em><\/span>, well-attired and of excellent complexion, each wearing a hundred pieces of gold around her neck, of skins perfectly polished, decked<\/span><\/strong> with every ornament, and well-skilled in every kind of personal service<\/span><\/strong>. Janardana also gave unto them <\/span>hundreds of thousands of draft horses<\/span><\/strong> from the country of the <\/span>Valhikas<\/span> as Subhadra’s excellent dower<\/span><\/strong>. That foremost one of Dasarha’s race also gave unto Subhadra as her peculium <\/span>ten carrier-loads of first class gold<\/span><\/strong> possessing the splendour of fire, some purified and some in a state of ore. And Rama having the plough for his weapon and always loving bravery gave unto Arjuna, as a nuptial present, a <\/span>thousand elephants<\/span><\/strong> with secretions flowing in three streams from the three parts of their bodies (the temple, the ears, and the anus) each large as a mountain summit, irresistible in battle, decked with coverlets and bells, well-adorned with other golden ornaments, and equipped with excellent thrones on their backs.<\/span><\/p>\n

[Mahabharata <\/span>Adiparv<\/span> 220 <\/span>Haranaharana<\/span> parv<\/span>, <\/span>sholkas<\/span> 44-55, printed by Gita Press Gorakhpur]<\/span><\/p>\n

It also reveals that slaves, especially women, were given as a part of the dowry to the bridegroom. In simple language, it meant commercialisation of women. Now let us turn to Ramayana and the dowry given by King Janaka on the marriage of Sita and Rama. Valmiki Ramayana mentions,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0905\u0925 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0926\u0947\u0939\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0926\u0926\u094c \u0915\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0927\u0928\u0902 \u092c\u0939\u0941 \u0964\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0917\u0935\u093e\u0902 \u0936\u0924\u0938\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093f \u092c\u0939\u0942\u0928\u093f \u092e\u093f\u0925\u093f\u0932\u0947\u0936\u094d\u0935\u0930:\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0915\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0932\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u091a \u092e\u0941\u0916\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u0937\u094c\u092e\u0915\u094b\u091f\u094d\u092f\u0902\u092c\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093f \u091a \u0964\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0939\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u092f\u0936\u094d\u0935\u0930\u0925\u092a\u093e\u0926\u093e\u0924\u0902 \u0926\u093f\u0935\u094d\u092f\u0930\u0942\u092a\u0902 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u0932\u0919\u094d\u0915\u0943\u0924\u092e\u094d \u0964<\/p>\n

\u0926\u0926\u094c \u0915\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092a\u093f\u0924\u093e \u0924\u093e\u0938\u093e\u0902 \u0926\u093e\u0938\u0940\u0926\u093e\u0938\u092e\u0928\u0941\u0924\u094d\u0924\u092e\u092e\u094d\u00a0\u00a0\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0939\u093f\u0930\u0923\u094d\u092f\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0938\u0941\u0935\u0930\u094d\u0923\u0938\u094d\u092f \u092e\u0941\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0902 \u0935\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0930\u0941\u092e\u0938\u094d\u092f \u091a\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0926\u0926\u094c \u092a\u0930\u092e\u0938\u0902\u0939\u0943\u0937\u094d\u091f: \u0915\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0927\u0928\u092e\u0928\u0941\u0924\u094d\u0924\u092e\u092e\u094d \u0964\u0964<\/p>\n

Then that king Janaka of Mithila, the one from Videha lineage, gave innumerable patrimonial riches. He has also given umpteen number of cows, millions of excellent shawls and silk dresses, and elephants, horses, chariots, foot soldiers, besides hundreds of highly decorated girls, divine in their mien, as unexcelled chambermaids and handmaidens to the brides. <\/span>Immensely pleased, king Janaka gave excellent ornaments made of fine gold, pearls and corals.<\/span><\/p>\n

[Valmiki Ramayana Sarg 74; Shlokas 3-6]<\/span><\/p>\n

All these passages show the extravagant spending in Hindu marriages and sadly these are the ideals people look <\/span>upto<\/span>. How can things improve when such people and events are made role models by the common folk?<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dowry in the <\/span>W<\/span>ritings of Hindu scholars<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You will be surprised to know that even the so-called ‘reformist’ Hindu scholars consider Dowry as an <\/span>‘integral part’<\/span><\/strong> of the Hindu marriage. The leading figure amongst them is Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the protestant cult of Arya Samaj. In his book <\/span>Sanskar Vidhi<\/em><\/span><\/strong> he mentions the practice of dowry as being an integral part of the Hindu marriage. Ramgopal <\/span>Vidyalankar<\/span> of Gurukul Kangri has written a commentary on <\/span>Sanskar Vidhi<\/em><\/span> known as <\/span>Sanskar Prakash<\/em><\/span><\/strong>. The following excerpt in Hindi is from Sanskar Prakash, 1984 Edition, Page 128<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0912 \u0917\u094c\u0930\u094d\u0917\u094b\u0930\u094d\u0917\u094b\u0903 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f\u0917\u0943\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0924\u093e\u092e – \u092f\u0939 \u0917\u093e\u092f \u0939\u0948, \u0932\u0940\u091c\u093f\u092f\u0947, \u0917\u093e\u092f \u0932\u0940\u091c\u093f\u092f\u0947<\/p>\n

\u0907\u0938 \u0935\u093e\u0915\u094d\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0935\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u0935\u093f\u0928\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0940 \u0936\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093f \u0915\u0947 \u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0935\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0917\u094b\u0926\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0926\u0940 \u0926\u094d\u0930\u0935\u094d\u092f, \u091c\u094b \u0935\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0939\u094b\u0902, \u0905\u0930\u094d\u092a\u0923 \u0915\u0930\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0935\u0930 ‘\u0913\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f\u0917\u0943\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0924\u093e\u092e\u093f'(\u0932\u093e\u0913<\/span> \u0932\u0947\u0924\u093e<\/span> \u0939\u0942\u0902<\/span><\/strong>) \u0907\u0938 \u0935\u093e\u0915\u094d\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0909\u0938 \u0915\u094b \u0917\u094d\u0930\u0939\u0923 \u0915\u0930\u0947.<\/p>\n

Translation: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u0912 \u0917\u094c\u0930\u094d\u0917\u094b\u0930\u094d\u0917\u094b\u0903 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f\u0917\u0943\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0924\u093e\u092e -This is a cow. Accept, please accept this cow.<\/span><\/p>\n

With this sentence we request the groom to accept the cow and other materials in dowry, which are suitable for the groom and the groom accepts it by repeating the phrase <\/span>‘\u0913\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f\u0917\u0943\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0924\u093e\u092e\u093f’ (Give; I am accepting)<\/span><\/p>\n

These words clearly establish that Dowry is an integral part of Hindu marriage and the dowry must be suitable for the groom depending on his social status.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pandit Bhimsen Sharma, the pupil of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, has even <\/span>alloted<\/span> a share of the dowry to the mother-in-law of the bride in his book <\/span>Shodash<\/span> Sanskar Vidhi.<\/span><\/p>\n

After knowing all this information, we should realize where the source of dowry lies? To eradicate dowry Hindus need to discard these scriptures which are used to justify the evil of dowry and which inspire people to shamelessly demand dowry citing the example set by their scriptural ‘role-models’.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Newspapers in India carry reports of rape and burning of women for not bringing sufficient dowry or their inability to satisfy the demands of greedy in-laws. The Indian National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that there were about 8172 dowry death cases registered in India in 2008 [1]. Dowry (known as Dahej in Hindi) has …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[578],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-women"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Menace of Dowry and its Origin - VedKaBhed.Com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Menace of Dowry and its Origin - VedKaBhed.Com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Newspapers in India carry reports of rape and burning of women for not bringing sufficient dowry or their inability to satisfy the demands of greedy in-laws. 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The Indian National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that there were about 8172 dowry death cases registered in India in 2008 [1]. Dowry (known as Dahej in Hindi) has …","og_url":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/","og_site_name":"VedKaBhed.Com","article_published_time":"2014-01-01T10:53:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-28T06:42:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":311,"height":268,"url":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture-2.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ved Ka Bhed","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ved Ka Bhed","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/"},"author":{"name":"Ved Ka Bhed","@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a2a044387a57baeee0f797c9c9fa2d25"},"headline":"The Menace of Dowry and its Origin","datePublished":"2014-01-01T10:53:15+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-28T06:42:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/"},"wordCount":1843,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture-2.jpeg","articleSection":["Women"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/","url":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/01\/the-menace-of-dowry-and-its-origin\/","name":"The Menace of Dowry and its Origin - 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