Hinduism forbids widows from marrying?

Question

why is it against the hindu religion for a widow to get married? when will this cruel custom end?

Answer 1

It does not.

In fact there is a famous love story of Nal and Damyanti in ancient scriptures . King Nal looses his kingdom and afterwards both of them saw much hardships. Nal did not want his wife to suffer but she refused to leave him. Nal abondned her one night and as he had anticipated Damyanti returned to her parents in that scenario. But She understood the reason. Then came the news of death of Nal.

There was actually a Swayamvar (where bride chooses her husband among present candidates) organised for Damyanti to get remarried and there was big attendence. off Course Nal attended it and there was a happy ending.

Then Again dhruvswamini wife of Ramagupta married His younger brother Chandra Gupta. Gupta Dynasty is called golden age in Indian history.

Bali's wife Tara married Sugriva after death of Bali in Ramayana. And Madodari married Vibhishan.

And these ladies are not only well respected as virtuous but Tara and Mandodari are called a Maha Sati.

Interesting is not it that Sati has another meaning?

Supnakha was a widow. Yet she had proposed to Rama to marry her. He refused on grounds that he was already married.

Then again in Vijay Nagar they encouraged widow marriages by exempting tax on marriage with widows.

Point is that it was not a religious law that a widow should not remarry.

Yes high status families in mideveal periods were against it . But it had more to do with their false concept of pride than religion.


Widows who refuse to remarry were much respected. Then men were less in number and a widows with children had few chances to get a man, who would take responcibility.

There was also a feeling that a widow has had a chance. It was bad luck that she got widowed. But now some other girl who has been never married should get a chance to try her luck.

In royal families wives regularly worked as reagents if the heir was a minor.

Local customs differ. Lower classess always remarried. among farmers, labour classes etc widow marriages were regularly done.

Basically it was high society which made it point of honour that their widow did not remarried . And afterward middle classes followed the suit.

Someone above wrote a false accusation that in Hindi widow and prostitute are synonyms. that is such a bullsh**.

As far this custom of disallowing widow marriages, it has ended some 150 years ago. If you need updated knowledge do not get your informatio from evangelical sourses.

Hinduism is a philosophy, a process which never rejects anything completely and keeps modifing itself . It is ancient yet modern. Nothing has not been left untried. Nothing has been rejected as completely false. Yet we do not hang on to illogical things if experience or science provess it wrong.

There is a reason we call it Sanatan Dharma(eternal code of life).

Answer 2

It is not said in the doctrine of Hinduism, but in some rural parts it maybe tradition to prevent the widow from remarrying, but that is hardly seen at all today. This tradition is social and has nothing whatsoever to do with the noble and ancient Hindu religion. Whatever reason they may have had, from honoring the husbands memory, or as someone mentioned earlier, Hindus believe the husband and wife stay together through various lives. Nowhere is it said in Hinduism that widows are to be shunned and mistreated,

Answer 3

First of all Widow not marrying and sati prathha are not as per hindu religion

these are social evils prevailing in India.

Some parts of India (Bengal, Bihar and parts of UP & Maharasthra), did not allow widow remarriages, but other parts of India widows were allowed to marry. Like in Punjab Haryana and HP, widows would be remarried to the brother of her late husband

But now in modern times, there is no such thing and Indians after being educated, are leaving their social evils

But for god's sake dont attache it with hinduism. What ever happens in India is not necessarily what hinduism tells.

It is a very old religions... and it is practiced with lot of local social customs some of which are evil some good

Answer 4

Did you know that the word for Widow and the word for Prostitute are the same in Hindi?
That's because that's what happens to widows in India. Those that survive the funeral of course. (they're supposed to throw themselves on the husband's funeral pyre or in the ground and be buried alive).
Once again, religion shows us how NOT to act.

Answer 5

In Hinduism marriage is not just till "death do us apart" but for 7 rebirths, as they believe in re-incarnation. Hence widows traditionally do not re-marry as they hope to be re-united with their spouse in the next births. However nowadays this is not strictly followed.

Answer 6

widow remarraige is not forbidden in hinduism , it was practice of the society more in medieval period but now the face of society has changed and marraiges are quite happening in india too

Answer 7

try reading a little information on the religion, http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/index.htm it offers alot of facts on the religion and what it is about.

Answer 8

Stop getting your information from Christian sites.

Answer 9

well not all hindus hav this practice n its gettin rarer by da day

Answer 10

it will end when u become a Christian.then u can remarry.