It a form of marriage norm or practice or marring a spouse of lower caste (or social status) than oneself.
- not permitted due to social consequence of such m’age (esp for woman to Mary low caste man
Explanation – Explained by Edmond Leachfor Kachin of Burma & some part of India.
- M’age payment from wife receive to wife giver but but wife receiver will not elevate his status or prestige
- Creates permanent status differences b/w wife giver & receiver.
- Leach links this form of anisogamy to his Theory of Harmonic & Disharmonic Regimes claiming that hypo-gamy creates instability in patrilineal system. He represent hypo-gamy as structural phenomenon which represents tension b/w maternal & paternal ties.
Consequences of Such System
- Brahmin Girls – either give huge dowries or choose b/w polygyny or spinsterhood / bachelorhood
- E.g Kulin Brahmin (WB)
- Young men took several wives & vista them in their houses
- If problem of financial insolvency then spinsterhood only option for girls.
- E.g Kulin Brahmin (WB)
- Lower Caste Men (Sudra) – High bride price
- Males → either pay huge bride price or choices
- Evolution of m’age by capture
Hypogamy Taboo – Not permitted due to social consequences of such m’age
Result of Hypogamy Taboo
- Huge dowries for marrying out a daughter in higher caste family
- Polygamy & forced spinsterhood in Brahmins Families
- Dislike for female child in higher castes & consequent female infanticide
Though prohibited in ancient times, but some evidences are there. Eg Mention in Vedas about m’age of daughter of Shukracharya, Devyani was allowed with Kshtriya King Yayati (lower caste Man)
