Life of Ahmad — Page 446
A RYA SAM A J EXPOSED as 446 is said to be based upon the authority of the Vedas 106 as interpreted by Sw a mi Day a nand in his book Saty a rath Park a sh. (Urdu, 9th edition, published by R a jp a l, Lahore, chapter 4 or see English translation, 3rd. Ed. 1927, Imperial Printing Works, Lahore). Niyug seems to be the complete negation of all that is characteristic of decency and manliness. It is neither communal marriage nor polyandry. Both are no doubt unnatural and perverse, but they do involve certain duties and obligations. At least they are looked upon as forms of marriage by people who practise them. But Niyug is only another name for adultery. It is no marriage at all. On the other hand, it implies complete disregard and open violation of the sacred bond of marriage. A man declares himself to be a 106 58 'The elder brother, amorously approaching the wife of the younger, and the younger caressing the wife of the elder, are both degraded, even though authorised (by the husband or spiritual guide), except when such wife has no issue. ' 59 'On failure of issue by the husband, (if he be of the servile class), the desired offspring may be procreated, either by his brother or some other sapinda, on the wife, who has been duly authorised. ' 64 'By men of twice born classes no widow (or childless wife) must be authorized to concieve by any other than her lord, for they, who authorize her to conceive by any other, violate the primeval law. ' 65 'Such a commission (to a brother or other near kinsman) is nowhere mentioned in the nuptial texts of the Veda, nor is the marriage of a widow even named in the laws concerning marriage. ' 66 'This practice, fit only for cattle, is reprehended by learned Brahmans; yet it is declared to have been the practice even of men, while Vena had foreign power. ' ( The Ordinances of Manu , translated by Sir William Jones, London, 1796, pp. 252-253. See also The Manusmirti , translated into Hindi by Pt. Girija Prasad Drivedi, Newal Kishore Press, Lucknow, 1917).