|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{short description|Hindu's tradition of conception by proxy fathers}}
| | #REDIRECT[[Niyoga Practice]] |
| {{Distinguish|Niyog (disambiguation)}}
| |
| '''Niyoga''' ({{lang-sa|नियोग}}) was an ancient Hindu practice, similar to the [[Levirate Marriage]]. Literal meaning is without union. Ni means without, and Yoga means union. It is something similar to modern day IVF. In this practice, a woman (whose husband is either incapable of siring or has died without siring a child) would request and appoint a revered man for helping her bear a child.
| |
| | |
| == Clauses of Niyoga ==
| |
| There were various clauses associated with this process:{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
| |
| | |
| #The woman would agree to this only for the sake of rightfully having a child but not sexual pleasure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu09.htm|title=The Laws of Manu IX|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2016-03-16}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=November 2019}}
| |
| #The child thus born would be considered the child of the husband-wife and not that of the appointed man.
| |
| #The appointed man would not seek any paternal relationship or attachment to this child in the future.
| |
| #To avoid misuse, a man was allowed a maximum of three times in his lifetime to be appointed in such a way. | |
| #The act will be seen as that of [[Dharma]] and while doing so, the man and the wife will have only [[Dharma]] in their mind and neither passion nor lust. The man will do it as a help to the woman in the name of God, whereas the woman will accept it only to bear the child for herself and her husband.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vedicpress.com/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723183559/http://www.vedicpress.com/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97/ |archive-date=2017-07-23 |title=नियोग और हिन्दू धर्म ग्रन्थ niyog in hinduism - Vedic Press}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=November 2019}}
| |
| #There will be no foreplay or contact of any kind with the upper body. The bodies of the female and male both are smeared with [[Ghee]]. There is a curtain between the male and the female so that none can see each other's face so that passion does not sneak into their minds. Only the legs of the female are kept uncovered. The male penetrates and ejaculates inside the woman and the process is completed.
| |
| | |
| ==In the ''Mahabharata''==
| |
| The epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes one instance of niyoga. Queen [[Satyavati]] asks her eldest son, sage [[Vyasa]] to perform niyoga with both the widows of her younger son [[Vichitravirya]]. The widows, sisters [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]] and one of their maids, Parishrami bear [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Pandu]] and [[Vidura]], respectively.{{cn|date=September 2020}}
| |
| | |
| The practise is also mentioned in the story of Sage [[Dirghatamas]].
| |
| | |
| ==Niyoga in Manusmṛti==
| |
| In the [[Manusmṛti]], niyoga is described in IX.59-63, but the practice is also allowed in IX.64-68. This text (IX.167) describes the child born by niyoga as a ''kshetraja'' child of the husband-wife.<ref name="Buhler">{{cite book|last=Bühler|first=George |title=The Laws of Manu|year=1886|series=Sacred Books of the East|volume=25|chapter=Chapter IX|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu09.htm}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Influences on art and culture==
| |
| Niyoga is the central issue of [[Anahat (film)|Anahat]], a [[Marathi cinema|Marathi]] feature film directed by [[Amol Palekar]]. It was showcased at the International Film Festival of India 2003. | |
| | |
| The movie [[Eklavya: The Royal Guard]] has this practice as the central plot. The title character played by [[Amitabh Bachchan]] is torn between his duty and the emotions for his children begotten by the practice of niyoga.
| |
| | |
| It is also portrayed in the 1989 film [[Oonch Neech Beech]], where the character played by [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]], a [[sanyas]]i, is commanded by his teacher to perform niyoga.
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
| | |
| ==External links==
| |
| * [http://www.spiritual-teachers.com/women/index.htm Women in Indian scriptures]
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Marriage in Hinduism]]
| |
| [[Category:Customs involving siblings]]
| |
