India has diverse forms of marriage. ‘Monogamy‘, where one man marries one woman, is the most common form today. ‘Polygamy‘, which allows a person to have more than one spouse, has two types: polygyny and polyandry. Polygyny, where a man marries multiple women, was permitted among Hindus before the ‘Hindu Marriage Act’ of 1955 but was practiced mainly by wealthy or influential men. It remains allowed for Muslim men, with a limit of four wives, provided they are treated equally. Some tribal communities also follow polygyny.
Polyandry, where a woman marries multiple men, is rare. It has been seen in communities like the Todas in Tamil Nadu and the Khasas in Uttarakhand, often involving brothers as husbands to preserve family property and unity. Social and economic factors influence these practices, but monogamy is now legally enforced for most communities, ensuring one spouse at a time.
Copyright @ sociology IGNOU.