These two types of m’age rules involve special cases of m’age regulation. They go into effect following the death of one of the spouses.
- Occurs with polygyny, patrilocal residence & patrilineal descent.
- Sometimes it is the natural extension of sororal polygamy e.g Arapaho & other plains of Middle East
Levirate
It is the practice of marrying decreased husband’s brother.
Features
- It’s a kind of secondary m’age
- need for a legal heir for the decreased if the primary concern
- A man’s exercise with his levirate duties establishes his claim on his deceased brother’s property.
- It often coincides with polygyny.
- Ensures
- Permanent relations & alliance
- Stops return of bride price
- Question of children upbringing
- Right over decreased bro’s property
- Widow ; socio-Economic support
- Continuity of line if man dies childless.
Examples –
- Very much common in Middle East
- e.g Santhal, ho Saora, Bhuiya, Manda
Junior Levirate -Special type of Levirate when the m’age of the deceased brother’s wife is restricted to younger brother.
Sororate
Sororate is Complementary to the practice of levirate. It is the practice of marrying sister of deceased wife.
- Term also applies when husband of childless woman is given to her sister for m’age in which children born to 2nd are considered as children of childless women.
Features
- Serve useful Social function
- ensure that man who has handed over the Bride price shall have a privilege he is entitled to, like the services of a wife.
Example
- Gond & Kharia Tribe
- Arapaho & other plains of Middle East
