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Nīyoga’

  • Living reference work entry
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Hinduism and Tribal Religions

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

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Synonyms

Dvamushyana – A person having two fathers

Jankavya – People’s poetry

Ksetra – Field

Ksetraja – A son born to a woman from a man other than her husband

Sapinda/Sagotra – A person of same linage

The Mahābhārata – An Indian Epic

The Manu Smṛiti – A Sanskrit text giving information about the laws and customs prevailing in Ancient India

Definition

Sanskrit texts refer to the practice called Nīyoga, in which a woman is allowed to produce a male child from a man other than her husband in special circumstances like if the husband is dead or is impotent.

Why ‘Nīyoga’?

If the husband was sterile or impotent he had to take further measures. In the last resort he would appoint a close relative, usually a brother, to produce offspring on his behalf. ([1], 176)

Patriarchal Indian society gives lot of importance to son. Apart from being a support during the old age, it is also believed that the parents will not get to heaven without son. The Mahābhārata ([2], 251) refers to the different...

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References

  1. Basham AL (2004) The wonder that was India. Picador, London

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  2. Ganguli KM (2008) The Mahābhārata, (Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva), vol I. Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi

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  3. Ganguli KM (2008) The Mahābhārata, (Virata Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva), vol II. Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi

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  4. Olivelle P (2004) The law code of Manu. OUP, New York

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India

    Ravi Khangai

  2. Hindu University of America, Orlando, FL, USA

    Ravi Khangai

Authors
  1. Ravi Khangai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravi Khangai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, Texas, USA

    Pankaj Jain

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

    Rita Sherma

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

    Madhu Khanna

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Khangai, R. (2018). Nīyoga’ . In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_304-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_304-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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