Marriage system in Ancient India

There were eight forms of Hindu marriage in Ancient India. These marriages were according to the Sastras, of which four were regular.

Marriage in the same caste was preferred.

The boys obtained adulthood at the age of sixteen and the girls at the age of twelve.

Divorce was permitted under certain conditions.

A marriage could be dissolved for physical or mental defect of the partner.

If the husband was long absent without making any provision for the wife, marriage could be dissolved.

Unchaste conduct on the part of the wife gave the husband the right to forsake her.

In the absence of the birth of a male heir a man was free to remarry.

Polygamy was a common practice at least among upper case and rich men. We learn that Asoka had more than one wife.

Kings and nobles sometimes used to have left-handed wives too.