the mahabharat is a story of change in relationship. Discuss how did it strengthen the ideal of patriliny.
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Answer:
(i) The Mahabharata is a story about kinship describing a feud over land and power between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
(ii) Pandavas became victorious due to their virtues.
(iii) Kinsmen claimed the throne, and, in very exceptional circumstances, women such as Prabhavati Gupta exercised power.
(iv) Under patriliny, sons could claim the authority of their fathers .
(v) Men acquired wealth through means led by the Manusmriti like inheritance, work, etc.
(vi) Women acquired wealth through Stridhan( by father, brother, husband).
(vii) While sons were important for the continuity of the patriliny, daughters had no claims to the resources of the household.
(viii) Various systems followed for the marriage were endogamy, exogamy, polygamy and polyandry.
(ix) Members of the same gotra could not marry.
(x) One of the most challenging episode in the Mahabharata is Draupadi’s marriage with the Pandavas an instance of Polyandry
(xi) Bhima marrying Hidimba –an example of exogamy.
(xii) Dharamshastras and Dharamasutras recognized as many as eight forms of marriages.
(xiii) Kanyadana or the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious duty of the father.
(xiv) Yudhishthira losing his wife in the game of dice is an example of women being treated as a part of property, putting up a big question on the status of women.
(xv) Family shaped the attitude and thinking of the people and geared them towards patriarchy