Why do Hindu couples prefer boys?
Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Post No.1253; Dated 26th August 2014.
In ancient India male-female ratio was not at 50-50% or nearer to that figure. Female population was less than the male population. The imbalance was due to Hindu’s preference for male children. One may wonder whether there was any proof to support this statement. I guessed it from the dowry system that was prevalent in ancient India. Men have to go to girls’ houses and beg for their hands in marriage. They have to give the girl a big Sri Dhanam (bride money) to get her. Sangam Tamil literature has also proof to support this. Only later, the dowry system turned upside down and men started asking for luxurious cars or houses etc. Once again the situation has turned and women are in more demand now.The ‘swayamvaram’ system in the Kshatria (royal) families also showed that the princes had to show their skills and valour to get a princess. Stories of Sita, Draupadi, Damayanthy, Indumathy (Kalidasa) and many others prove this.
But the main reason for preferring a boy is to perform the funeral rites and subsequent ceremonies. Hindus from the land’s end Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the north believed that they should have a male child first. They thought that their obsequies will help them to go to heaven. If the ceremonies are not done they will have to live in limbo.
Sangam Tamils also had the same beliefs like their counterparts in the North. This explodes the myth of Aryan-Dravidian Race (Racist !!) theory.
Proof from 2000 year old Purananuru (222 and 9)
Kopperum Choza was a great Cholza king. He decided to go on fast unto death due to some difference of opinion with his son. In ancient India people who thought they have done their work in their life time, would fast unto death facing the North.
North was considered holy because of the Himalayas, Ganges and Kailash on it. Five Pandavas walked towards North till their bodies fell down. When great people wanted to die, particularly Kings, they were joined by the general public. We see such things in Ramayana, where thousands of people drowned themselves with Sri Rama in the River Sarayu. So a lot of Tamil poets wanted to join the king and die with him so that they can go straight to heaven. When poet Pothiyar came, the king refused him permission to sit with him because he did not have a son. So he sent him back saying, “Come Back, When you get a son”. In course of time the king died. But Pothiar came back to die at the same spot after he got a male child (Puram verse 222 by Pothiyar).
“Prayopavesam” is a ritual suicide. King Parikshit also did it by listening to Bhagavatha Purana. This also proved that there is no difference in culture in the north and the south of the country. Only the politicians and foreigners spread this lie with motives that are obvious.
The same belief was confirmed by two more verses Puram 9 and Akam 66.
Nettimaiyar praised a great Pandya King Mudukudumi Pruvazuthi for doing Dharma Yuddha (war according to rules). The Pandya king used to warn: “Brahmins, Cows, Women, Sick people and those who still do not have a male child! Please go to a secure place” (the war is going to begin any minute). This proves that those who did not get a male child were spared.
Akananuru verse sung by Sellur Kannan of Kausika Gotra also echoed the same belief. Tiruvalluvar, author of Tirukkural known as Tamil Veda said the same in Kural 43 when he listed the five duties of a family man. He said that a family man should do his duty to his ancestors— and used the word “residents of the South”. Hindus use this word for those who are dead. They believed that the dead go to the southern direction in the sky. This type of rites can be done only by male children.
Funeral rites and subsequent obsequies are performed only by male children is confirmed by the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Bharata was brought all the way from Iran-Afghan (Kekaya) border to Uttar Pradesh in India to do the funeral rites to his father– Emperor Dasaratha. Smritis (Hindu Law Books) are very clear about the duties of male children in this respect. All the rites regarding the ancestors are meant only for male children (sons).
This belief influenced the Hindus in preferring male children instead of girls. But once a boy is born they do not hesitate to have girl children. “Brunu hathi” (killing the foetus) was considered the worst sin. Hindus never did this in the past.
The more we study Tamil literature, the more we get enlightened!!
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