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Adultery (Hinduism)

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Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

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Introduction

Adultery, sometimes found in the form of incest, is a consensual sexual act between two persons who are not in a conjugal relationship with each other. Adultery is considered sinful and wrong in Hindu traditions, so much so that it is also unlawful and criminal under Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code. The Hindu Dharmaśāstras forbid any type of sexual union or act – physical, mental, or emotional – outside the socially sanctioned marriage institution (8:352) [1]. According to the Bhagavad Gītā, a “corrupt woman” destroys family values. This further leads to the destruction of the clan (1:60–62) [2]. The Manusmṛti implores the ruler to free the state from adultery, assault, theft, defamation, and violence (5:154; 8:386–387) [1].

In the Apaddharmanuśāsana Parva of Śānti Parva of the Mahābhārata(Section CLXV), there is a dialogue between Bhishma and Yudhishthira where Bhishma asserts that adultery is a major sin and recommends punishment for the one who is proven guilty...

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Languages and Literature, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi

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  1. Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi
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Correspondence to Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Religion and Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, USA

    Jeffery D. Long

  2. The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Rita D. Sherma

  3. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, TX, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  4. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Dwivedi, A.V. (2021). Adultery (Hinduism). In: Long, J.D., Sherma, R.D., Jain, P., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_146-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_146-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Adultery (Hinduism)
    Published:
    18 June 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_146-2

  2. Original

    Adultery (Hinduism)
    Published:
    21 March 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_146-1

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