Re: kanyasulkam & Varakatnam

Kumar Vadaparty (kumarv@bellcore.com)
Wed, 15 May 1996 10:43:46 -0400

I think "vidhava punarvivaham" (remariage of the widows) was taken up by
Kandukuri Veeresa Lingam of Rajahmundry earlier to Gurajada's social-reform
novel. Which in itself may not indicate the existence of kanyasulkam in
those days, but surely
indicates that marriageble aged widoes existed. This may be due to
the fact that these were married off early in their age to older men. Which
I believe was one of the "metrics" uses for demanding money. Ergo sulkam?

vidhava-punarvivaham =>? young widow => bala vitantu
=>? money for younger women => kanyasulkam

Just speculating ...

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From: Bapa Rao <brao@pollux.usc.edu>
>From Srinivasa Rao garu:

> I am interested in finding out the origins of these two to the
> extent we have in print. How did the transition took place from
> Kanyasulkam to Varakatnam ? What are the best known works ( books, plays
> and movies) on Varakatnam.

As far as I know kanyaasulkam was a mostly localized phenomenon of
the "Kalinga" or Northeastern region, that too among small communities
such as the Brahmins. While I have no idea about the marriage customs
of AP of that period, I am quite sure they must have quite a lot
of variation. So, I am not sure that there was any well-defined
the eponymous play died away over time.
[....]
My personal views.

Bapa Rao

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