Marriage is important ceremony in the human life. According to Hindu religion , this ceremony is not only important from the point of view of social ceremony but also from the religious and moral aspect. In the early Vedic age, the marriage was done when the person becomes mature. In the childhood age, the child used to study different subject matters.
In the Nepalese society since the ancient time polygamy was practiced. The Lichchhavi society was the patriarchal so a man could get married many times. The first historical king of Nepal Mandev had three queens , Bhigini, Chhemsundari and Gunawati. In that times one woman could get married so many men but doing so by the women was the condemnable in society.
Polygamy was allowed by social custom as well as by law and prevalent in society. Of course, a general rule most of the people were monogamous. Yet men belonging on royalty, the aristocracy and even the social elite appeared to have more than one wife. The Malla also had many wives. There was also a tradition of having concubines, who used to have lower status. The Shah kings also had many wives . Generally the status of chief queen was enjoyed not on the basis of either seniority or social status but mainly on the basis of the favor of the king. For example, Narendra Laxmi the second queen of Prithivi Narayan Shah but since she was the most favorite one, she enjoyed the status of chief queen. Sometimes illegitimate wives also enjoyed full power which is evidenced by the case of Maiju Rani. During the Rana period many of the illegitimate wives of the Ranas became Badamaharanis on the basis of favor they won from their husband.
Not only among the ruling family but also among the common mass ,the people used to have many wives. There were various reasons of the polygamy in Nepal . First reason was the necessity of having a son for the continuity of the family. Secondly, the agro-economy of the country also encouraged to have wives and family members. There is still the practice have more wives and family members. There is still the practice of having many wives who are deputed various functions. For example, one will look after the castle, other i.e agriculture, third one the domestic affairs and one, generally most beautiful and youngest, fulfils the lust of the husband. Thirdly, it was considered a prestige to have many wives of a man. Up to some year back a service holder having an additional wife in every step of promotion was a common practice. Fourthly, the transfer of a man to some other places made him have a new wife also. In the patriarchal society a male dominated female and most arbitrarily used to take his wife more a play-mate or means to satisfy his lust. Moreover those male had also framed rules and regulations to safeguard their devilish sex desire with the least consideration of the interest of a female.
Rana Prime Minister also encouraged the child marriage and polygamy. They to secure their prime ministerial throne kept matrimonial relations of their children to the Royal family. On 8 May, 1854 Janga Bahadur married his eight years son Jagatjanga with the eldest daughter of King Surendra Bir Bikram Shah. Likewise Janga Bahadur himself also got married younger sister of former Prime Minister late Fattejung Shah Hrirandyagarbhakumari to upgrade the status of his Kunwar caste. Likewise ,on 25 June , 1857 Jangabahadur caused to marry his six years daughter Tarakumari with the crown prince Trailokya Bikram Shah of nine years. When crown prince Trailokya attained his 13 years of age caused to marry his daughter Lalitkumari born to him from Hrirandyagarbhakumari Devi. From the said Lalitkumari King Prithivi Vir Vikram Shah was born. Thus within the ruling class to strengthen the political condition and to upgrade the social status the marriage system was adopted. The successors of Janga Bahadur Rana adopted this measure. Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Rana also caused to marry his two daughter Kirtidibeswori and Durgadibeswori with King Prithivi Vir Vikram Shah .
Thus within the ruling class for the acquisition of power but within the common family the marriage remained as a determinant of the caste. If Brahman and other sacred thread holders got married with other heterogeneous caste lying the real caste saying that of the homogeneous caste then both the person who got married and caused to marry will be punished . In accordance with the National Code of King Surendra Vir Vikram Shah including the Upadhyaya Brahmins , Rajput, Jaisi, Tagadhari Kshetry, caused to marry any widow untouchable water contaminated caste then seeing the caste the fine up to 200 to 220 would be imposed as per the provision.
