வேயுறுதோளிபங்கன் : jihaad

Brahmins oppose inter-caste marriages now. But it was they who started the concept of love-jihaad. They resorted to such a jihaad, “for enjoyment and not for any sacred purpose” too.

Rig Vedic era

That ‘love-jihaad’ of the Aryans of the early Rig Vedic days, which started in trickles first, came to be done later, in a large scale in an organised manner.

At the time of their migration from Central Asia, they came in hordes. But only men could brave that journey in search of new pastures. “The male alien conquerors, who brought few spouses with them, married Dravidian women...” (Kashmir and Neighbours: Tale, Terror, Truce - Atav Tikkaya)

As usual, that Brahmanical jihaad was performed through many tricks in the guise of religious ceremonies. Rig Veda provides numerous instances of native women being obtained by the Aryans as gifts from the native chieftains.

Rig Veda Book 1, Hymn 126, Line 3 contains a statement by a priest/composer explaining how he received ten chariots full of damsels as gift from one Swanayen. (“उप मा शयावाः सवनयेन दत्ता वधूमन्तो दश रथासोस्थुः ”).
Another hymn records the gift of two wagons full of slave girls by one Abyavarthi. दवयानग्ने रथिनो विंशतिं गा वधूमतो मघवा मह्यं सम्राट | अभ्यावर्ती चायमानो ददाति दूणाशेयं दक्षिणा पार्थवानाम || (Rig Veda 6:27:8).
The later day Aitareya Brahman (Kaand 8, Chapter 4) refers to the gift of 10,000 slave girls promised to the priest.
Such instances are numerous even in Nirukt. Nirukt 12/13 mentions that “the lovely maidens belonging to the dark race are only for enjoyment and not for any sacred purpose”. It was a clear case of abduction and abuse of the native women by the invaders.

They had, for millennia, opposed many human rights to those womenfolk (even after they became “their own womenfolk”, ostensibly through the process of naturalisation) and kept them as slaves, in every respect. The reason behind such unreasonable attitude shown by the Brahmin men towards their women was that they did not consider those women as ‘their’ wives but only as the women of the natives, requiring to be treated only with suspicion.

That was the reason they

did not provide the Brahmin women with education at all;

did not permit them to read their Vedic works (exceptions notwithstanding);

did not permit them to officiate as temple priests; and

did not permit them to wear Cross-Thread (Poonool).

Love-Jihad in Era of Manu, when codified

This was the era when the native women taken over by the Rig Vedic Aryans became ‘their own’ women. They came to be identified as ‘Brahmin’ women. Yet, they were not given the rights denied to them earlier. In this era also, the Brahmanical love-jihad continued, and the Brahmins were permitted to marry four women. He should, first, marry a Brahmin woman. That was mandatory. If he wanted to marry more, he could marry three more women from the remaining three Varnas. Law of Manu says,

“For the first marriage of twice-born men (wives) of equal caste are recommended; but for those who through desire proceed (to marry again) the following females, (chosen) according to the (direct) order (of the castes), are most approved.” (Chapter III, Verse 12).

“It is declared that a Sudra woman alone (can be) the wife of a Sudra, she and one of his own caste (the wives) of a Vaisya, those two and one of his own caste (the wives) of a Kshatriya, those three and one of his own caste (the wives) of a Brahmana.” (Chapter III, Verse 13).

“A Sudra woman is not mentioned even in any (ancient) story as the (first) wife of a Brahmana or of a Kshatriya, though they lived in the (greatest) distress.” (Chapter III, Verse 14).

Personal purification: No privilege to Brahmin women.

In the matter of “personal purification of all castes”, Woman was equated with Sudra in Chapter V, Verse 139 read with Verse 146. Women were not given the privileges given to the Brahmin-men on this issue.

Manu made women captives:

Chapter V, Verse 147. By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house.

Chapter V, Verse 148. In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent.

Remarriage permitted to Brahmin widowers; not to Brahmin widows.

Chapter V, Verse 168 says, “Having thus, at the funeral, given the sacred fires to his wife who dies before him, he may marry again, and again kindle (the fires).

Chapter V, Verse 169 says, “(Living) according to the (preceding) rules, he must never neglect the five (great) sacrifices, and, having taken a wife, he must dwell in (his own) house during the second period of his life.”

Same Chapter V says in Verse 157, “At her pleasure let her emaciate her body by (living on) pure flowers, roots, and fruit; but she must never even mention the name of another man after her husband has died.”

And Verse 158 says, “Until death let her be patient (of hardships), self-controlled, and chaste, and strive (to fulfil) that most excellent duty which (is prescribed) for wives who have one husband only.”

Brahmanical laws were and are cruel as they were hate-based and, consequently, hate-filled.