Some religious scriptures allow widow remarriage in Hinduism under certain conditions while some discourage it. There is definite evidence that remarriage was in practice in India around or before the time of the Mahabharata but the practice seized to exist slowly with the advancement of time. During the medieval period, a widow’s marriage was considered an unforgivable sin!
Scriptures Supporting Widow Remarriage and General Remarriage in Hinduism:
Rigveda:
Some hymns in the Rig Veda imply a widow was allowed to remarry the brother of her deceased husband.
10.8.7, 10.8.8, 10.8.9:
“Let these women, whose husbands are worthy and are living, enter the house with ghee (applied) as collyrium (to their eyes). Let these wives first step into the pyre, tearless without any affliction and well adorned.”
The husband’s brother says:
“Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest.
Wifehood with this thy husband was thy portion, who took thy hand and wooed thee as a lover.”
“From his dead hand, I take the bow to be carried, that it may be our power and might and glory.
There art thou, there; and herewith noble heroes may we overcome all hosts that fight against us.”
Many scholars believe that these verses indicate that a widow was allowed to marry her husband’s brother.
40.2:
“Where are ye, Asvins, in the evening, where at morn? Where is your halting-place, where rest ye for the night? Who brings you homeward, as the widow bedward draws her husband’s brother, as the bride attracts groom?”
This hymn also implies widow remarriage in Hinduism.
Atharva Veda:
9.5.27:
“The woman who has been wedded to husband (but after his death) becomes wedded to another man she and her husband both if surrender their eternal spirit living in body to each other with affection do not ever separate from each other.”
A different translation of the same verse:
“When she who hath been wedded finds a second husband afterward, the twain shall not be parted if they give the Goat Panchaud-ana. One world with the re-wedded wife becomes the second husband’s home.”
18.3.3:
“I the ruler see the young living woman being carried far away from the dead husband and again being married since she was enveloped with the darkness of sheer disappointment.”
18:32:2:
“Go up, O woman, to the world of the living; thou liest by (upa-çī) this one who is deceased: come! to him who grasps thy hand, thy second spouse (didhiṣú), thou hast now entered into the relation of wife to husband.”
The above verses clearly indicate widow remarriage in Hinduism.
Mahabharata:
There is a story in the Mahabharata that tells us why the widow marriage was stopped. Dirghatmatas was a blind sage who had a wife named Pradweshi and many children. One day, she abandoned him and went to marry someone else. Therefore, he cursed all women. Dirghatamas said, ‘I lay down from this day as a rule that every woman shall have to adhere to one husband for her life. Be the husband dead or alive, it shall not be lawful for a woman to have a connection with another, and she who may have such connection shall certainly be regarded as fallen. A woman without husband shall always be liable to be sinful.” – 1.104.31-32:
This verse implies that until that time widows were allowed to marry.
Nalopakhyana Parva, Section LXX:
“Tomorrow, after the sun hath risen, she will choose a second husband, as she doth not know whether the heroic Nala liveth or not. And addressed by her, O monarch thus, Sudeva set out. And he said unto Rituparna, all that he had been directed to say.”
XIII, 12, 19:
नारी तु पत्य भावे वै देवरं कृणुते पतिम्
“If a woman loses her husband, she marries her brother-in-law.”
13.44.52:
“Some say that the virgin wife or widow,–one, that is, whose marriage has not been consummated with her husband by actual sexual congress in consequence of his absence or death,–may be allowed to unite herself with her husband’s younger brother or such other relation. The husband dying before such consummation, the virgin-widow may either surrender herself to her husband’s younger brother or betake herself to the practice of penances.”
“Some say that the virgin wife or widow,–one, that is, whose marriage has not been consummated with her husband by actual sexual congress in consequence of his absence or death,–may be allowed to unite herself with her husband’s younger brother or such other relation. The husband dying before such consummation, the virgin-widow may either surrender herself to her husband’s younger brother or betake herself to the practice of penances.”
Brahma-Vaivarta Purana:
“In this Age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of sannyāsa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a man’s begetting children in his brother’s wife.”
The last part of the sentence which is “begetting children in one’s brother’s wife” implies that a widow was allowed to marry or practice Niyoga with the brother of her deceased husband.
Parashara Smriti:
“When her husband is missing or is dead or has renounced the world or is impotent or has been degraded by sin, – on any of the said five calamities, she can remarry“. – 4.28
Agni Purana (154.4-7):
“Women are allowed to have another husband in the following five adversaries;- (the first husband) is lost, dead, has become an ascetic, impotent or fallen morally. If the husband is dead, she should be given to the brother of the deceased. In the absence of a brother, she should be given to anyone as one wished”
Garuda Purana (1.107.28):
“In case of disappearance or death or renunciation or impotent or lost caste status of her husband, in these five cases, a woman is allowed to take another husband.”
Vashistha Dharmasūtra:
XVII, 77-78:
“If for reasons connected with spiritual or with money matters she be unwilling to leave her home, she must act in the same manner as if (her husband were) dead.”
“In this manner a wife of the Brāhmaṇa caste who has an issue (shall wait) five years, and one who has no issue, four years; a wife of the Kṣatriya caste who has an issue, five years, and one who has no issue, three years; a wife of the Vaiśya caste who has an issue, four years, and one who has no issue, two years; a wife of the Śūdra caste who has an issue, three years, and one who has no issue, one year.”
17.74:
“If a damsel at the death of her husband had been merely wedded by (the recitation of) sacred texts, and if the marriage had not been consummated, she may be married again.”
Narada Smriti:
“When a faultless maiden has been married to a man who has a blemish unknown before the marriage, and does not take to another man after discovering it, shall be enjoined to do so by her relatives. If she has no relations living she may go to live with another man of her own accord. (12.96)
“When her husband is lost or dead, when he has become a religious ascetic, when he is impotent, when he has been expelled from caste, in these cases a woman may be Justified in another husband.” – 12.97
“If a man is unable to have sexual relations with his wife, then she may divorce him and take another husband.” (Narada 12;18.)
Manu Smriti:
“In case she be still a virgin, or having gone away comes back,—she is fit to undergo re-marriage with her second husband.” – 9.175.
“If the husband went abroad for some sacred duty, the wife should wait for him eight years, if he went for acquiring learning or fame six years and if he went for pleasure three years. [Thereafter she may remarry without incurring any sin or guilt.]” – 9.76
“If the (future) husband of a maiden dies after troth verbally plighted, her brother-in-law shall wed her according to the following rule.”
“Having, according to the rule, espoused her (who must be) clad in white garments and be intent on purity, he shall approach her once in each proper season until the issue (be had).”
“It is mentioned in Manu Smriti that the virgin wife is worthy of being married again.
If she be (still) a virgin or one who returned (to her first husband) after leaving him, she is worthy to again perform with her second (or first deserted) husband the (nuptial) ceremony.” – 9.176
Budhayana Dharma Sutras:
“An impotent man cannot consummate the marriage, hence Sutras also allow remarriage of widows whose husband is impotent.”
“He (is called the son) of a twice-married woman (paunarbhava) who is born of a remarried female, (i,e.) of one who, having left an impotent man, has taken a second husband” – Prasna 2, Adhyaya 2, Kandika 3.27.
Puranas and Smritis that are Against the Widow Remarriage in Hinduism:
Manu Smriti:
In the sacred texts which refer to marriage the appointment (of widows) is nowhere mentioned, nor is the re-marriage of widows prescribed in the rules concerning marriage.
This practice which is reprehended by the learned of the twice-born castes as fit for cattle is said (to have occurred) even among men, while Vena ruled.
That chief of royal sages who formerly possessed the whole world, caused a confusion of the castes (varna), his intellect being destroyed by lust.
Since that (time) the virtuous censure that (man) who in his folly appoints a woman, whose husband died, to (bear) children (to another man).
In the sacred texts which refer to marriage the appointment (of widows) is nowhere mentioned, nor is the re-marriage of widows prescribed in the rules concerning marriage. – 9.65
Once is the partition (of the inheritance) made, (once is) a maiden given in marriage, (and) once does (a man) say,’ I will give;’ each of those three (acts is done) once only. – 9.47
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. – 5.157
Book 4 – Kāśī-khaṇḍa, Section 1 – Pūrvārdha, Chapter 4 – The Characteristics of a Chaste Woman:
73. After the death of the husband, if a woman preserves her widowed state (in purity), she goes back to the husband and enjoys heavenly pleasures.
Mahabharata 1.160:
There is no sin in this. For a man, polygamy is an act of merit, but for a woman, it is very sinful to betake herself to a second husband after the first.
Garuda Purana Ch 95:
”A girl should be given only once in marriage.
Vamana Purana 12.85:
“Those who remarry widows and those that defile unmarried girls, and the ancestors of the offsprings of such unions are made to eat worms and ants.”
Skanda Purana:
III.ii.21.15-17:
“It is mentioned by Kasyapa that these burn the family, like fire: The daughter of a widow who marries again should be always avoided. She is the lowliest born…one who has gone around the fire and one who is a child of a widow remarried – all these burn the family, like fires (says Kasyapa).”
V.iii.85.64-70a:
Sri Markandeya says:
“If a remarried widow, Vrsali and Sudri frequent anyone’s abode, he (such a Brahmana) should be abandoned even from a distance by one who wishes for one’s welfare.
VII.I.167.35-36:
“I shall narrate other means of sustenance of which the Bhutas are always fond. These are your permanent residences: the places where there are thorny trees, the creeper of Nispava (?), where someone’s wife (widowed?) marries again, and where there is Valmika (an ant-hill).”
Kurma Purana:
II.17.14 – “One should particularly avoid the food served by a widowed woman who has remarried.
II.21.30 – “Those who sell their sons, those who are born as sons of a remarried widow, those who perform the Yajnas of even ordinary persons – all these are spoken of as fallen ones.”
Chanakya Neeti Shastra 4.11:
“King speaks for once, men of learning once, and the daughter is given in marriage once. All these things happen once and only once.
Brahan Naradiya Purana:
”The gift in remarriage to another of a girl once given away in marriage is prohibited in the Kaliyuga”
Yajnavalkya Smriti 3.52:
“Without breaking (the rules) of studentship, let him marry a woman with auspicious characteristics who has not belonged to another man, who is lovely, who is not a Sapinda and who is younger (than himself).”
Baudhayana Sutra:
That seven kinds of women are called Punarbhus:- ‘1. A bride already promised to another; 2. a bride who has already elected another mentally, 3. who has gone round the fire ceremony, 4. who has performed the seven steps ceremony, 5. who has enjoyed by another, 6. who is pregnant, and 7. who has given birth to a child before marriage. By marrying these seven kinds of girls, the debt one owes to his ancestors is not discharged, nor is the offspring legal.’ The first two sorts of the bride may be re-married if there is some defect in the bridegroom.”
4.1.16 – If, after (a damsel) has been given away, or even after (the nuptial sacrifice) have been offered, the husband dies, she who (thus) has left (her father’s house) and has returned, may be again wedded according to the rule applicable to second weddings, provided the marriage had not been consummated.
Padma Purana:
“One must avoid the food of a widow who is remarried, He should avoid) the food of women having no children…(He should) especially (avoid) the food of a widow who is remarried, so also of the husband of a woman who is married twice…” – – III.56.4-15.
Usana Samhita:
“The following are disqualified to be present at the Sraddha ceremony:- Those, who sell the Sruti; those who marry widows; those, who enter into a locked room without the permission of the owner; and those, who officiate as priests for inferior castes; are described as out-castes.” – 4.23-30
Agni Purana:
“The widow who practices self-control and austerities after the death of her husband goes to heaven…the widow who burns herself on the same funeral pyre with her husband also goes to heaven.” – 222.19-23
Vishnu Smriti:
After the death of her husband, to preserve her chastity, or to ascend the pile after him. – 25.14
Incidences of Widow Remarriage in Hinduism:
There are some incidences when widow marriage but these are very few.
1. The famous emperor Chandragupta Vikramāditya (c. 374–414 A.D. ) married his elder’s brother wife after the death of her husband. Kumārgupta, a son of this union became an heir to the Gupta empire.
2. Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, married his brother Vibhishana after his death.
3. A king by the name Ugrayudha proposed to marry Satyavati, the widow of Shantanu, but Bhishma refused to accept that alliance
4. Per some stories, Ulupi was a childless widow who married Arjuna, but according to the Mahabharata, they never officially married.
Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856:
This act was passed on July 16, 1856, by Lord Canning and was drafted by Lord Dalhousie. It legalized the remarriage of widows in all jurisdictions of India. This was a result of strenuous efforts by an Indian reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
It is enacted as follows:
1. No marriage contracted between Hindus shall be invalid, and the issue of no such marriage shall be illegitimate, because of the woman having been previously married or betrothed to another person who was dead at the time of such marriage, any custom and any interpretation of Hindu Law to the contrary notwithstanding.
2. All rights and interests which any widow may have in her deceased husband’s property by way of maintenance, or by inheritance to her husband or his lineal successors, or by virtue of any will or testamentary disposition conferring upon her, without express permission to remarry, only a limited interest in such property, with no power of alienating the same, shall upon her re-marriage cease and determine as to if she had then died; and the next heirs of her deceased husband or other persons entitled to the property on her death, shall thereupon succeed to the same…
3. Except as in the three preceding sections is provided, a widow shall not because of her re-marriage forfeit any property or any right to which she would otherwise be entitled, and every widow who has re-married shall have the same rights of inheritance as she would have had, had such marriage been her first marriage.
This act was one of the reasons behind the 1857 Indian mutiny as many orthodox Hindus did not like East India Company interfering in the religious matter of Hindus.
Even today, widow remarriage in Hinduism remains unthinkable in traditional caste Hindu communities.
Conclusion:
In summary, there are some scriptures like Atharva Veda and Rig Veda that support widow remarriage in Hinduism but there are others, which strongly discourage it. Vedas are more authoritative than the Smriti scriptures. Therefore, we can say that widow remarriage in Hinduism is allowed under certain conditions.