Paedophilia in Hinduism

by Sulaiman Razvi

Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 13.44 A person of thirty years of age should wed a girl of ten years of age called a Nagnika. Or, a person of one and twenty years of age should wed a girl of seven years of age.

A Hindu scholar named Swami Prabhupada writes,

”…As soon as a woman attains the age of puberty, she immediately becomes very much agitated by sexual desire. It is therefore the duty of the father to get his daughter married before she attains puberty…” A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on Srimad Bhagavatam 4.25.42 [ http://vanisource.org/wiki/SB_4.25.42 ]

Hindu god Krishna married Rukmini when she was extremely young,

Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda 112.1-10 ”…Lord Krisna beheld the smiling Rukmini in the prime of her youth lying down with great pleasure on a bed adorned with gems. She was not yet fully developed and had just attained puberty. She had just ceased to be a newly married bride…Rukmini, the daughter of Bhismaka, as soon as she saw Krisna bowed before his feet. Later on, Lord Krisna committed sexual intercourse with her at an auspicious moment…” Tr. Rajendra Nath Sen, Edited by B.D. Basu

Other Puranic verses shows that she was engaged in child like sports,

Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda 105.1-10 ”…The monarch Bhismaka observed his beautiful daughter engaged in child-like sports and increasing in splendour day by day like a digit of the moon in the midst of clouds. Considering it advisable to marry his youthful and lovely daughter…” Rajendra Nath Sen

A Hindu scholar writes,

”After the worship Rukmini took part of the offerings she had made to the goddess, as a token of the goddess’s blessings. She then left the temple and was walking towards the waiting chariot. Rukmini, who was of exquisite beauty though she had not yet attained puberty, looked for Krsna among the assembled princes.” The Concise Srimad Bhagavatam, By Swami Venkatesananda, page 292, Publisher SUNY Press, 1989

From the above passages it appears that Rukmini had not fully attained puberty and was in her early stage of puberty. Thus can be easily proved that Krishna married under-aged girl. A sage named Ajamila had also married a underaged girl,

Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda 46.45-60 ”…In days of yore, Ajamila the greatest of saints having been united with a Vrisali, i.e. an unmarried girl 12 years old…” Tr. Rajendra Nath Sen

Brahma Purana states that a girl should be given in marriage when she is only four years old,

Brahma Purana: Gautami Mahatmya 95.7 ”After the fourth year and before the completion of the tenth year the marriage of his daughter must be performed scrupulously by the father.” Tr. Board of Scholars, Edited by J.L. Shastri

Vishnu Purana 3.10 If he marry, he must select a maiden who is of a third of his age.

Manu Smriti 9.88 To a distinguished, handsome suitor (of) equal (caste) should (a father) give his daughter in accordance with the prescribed rule, though she have not attained (the proper age).

Manu Smriti 9.94 A man, aged thirty years, shall marry a maiden of twelve who pleases him, or a man of twenty-four a girl eight years of age; if (the performance of) his duties would (otherwise) be impeded, (he must marry) sooner.

Parasara Smriti 7.5 If the guardian does not give her away in marriage, her forefathers drink, without interruption, during each succeeding  month, whatever blood is passed in her courses.

Padma Purana II.85.62-66a ”…Wise men get married their unmarried daughter(s). As long as she does not menstruate (i.e. does not attain puberty)…” Tr. N.A. Deshpande

Gautama Sutra 18.21 A girl should be given in marriage before (she attains the age of) puberty.

Baudhayana Dharmashastra, Prasna 4, Adhyaya 1.11 Let him give his daughter, while she still goes naked, to a man who has not broken the vow of chastity and who possesses good qualities, or even to one destitute of good qualities; let him not keep (the maiden) in (his house) after she has reached the age of puberty”

Vasishtha Dharmashastra 17.70 ‘Out of fear of the appearance of the menses let the father marry his daughter while she still runs about naked. For if she stays (in the house) after the age of puberty, sin falls on the father”

Swami Vivekananda admits that Hinduism permits paedophilia,

“…A girl of eight is married to a man of thirty, and the parents are jubilant over it…. And if anyone protests against it, the plea is put forward, “Our religion is being overturned.” What sort of religion have they who want to see their girls becoming mothers before they attain puberty even and offer scientific explanations for it? Many, again, lay the blame at the door of the Mohammedans. They are to blame, indeed! Just read the Grihya-Sutras through and see what is given as the marriageable age of a girl. … There it is expressly stated that a girl must be married before attaining puberty. The entire Grihya-Sutras enjoin this…” The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 6/Epistles – Second Series/LXXI Rakhal [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_6/Epistles_-_Second_Series/LXXI_Rakhal ]