I am not saying half of this stuff doesn’t happen, but it’s not widely accepted anymore.
- In Vedic Society, Polygamy was accepted. Rig Veda says a man can have more than one wife, and in our epics we have examples like Raja Dashratha, Draupadi etc., to prove that point. In modern India, unfortunately, that will cost you a jail trip.
source: http://empura.media/
- In Vedic Society, Joint family was the way of living, co-residing of multiple generations. But modern India prefers Nuclear family, the single parent household. “Hum do humare do”.
source: www.zameen.com
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Prostitution was very much a part of the Vedic era. For example, Ramayana gave birth to Apsara (divine prostitutes), Mahabharata had heavenly courtesans like Urvashi, Menaka, etc.… But in modern India, it is very much a taboo. The society does not tolerate such practices anymore, well some do but discreetly of course.
source: https://i.guim.co.uk
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Rape was advocated in the Vedic period. In Brhadārankyaka Upanishad scripture it was said one must first ask the consent of a lady for sexual pleasure. If she refuses he should then pay her for her services but if she refuses even after that he should beat her and overpower her. It was also one of the way to get married and was called Paisachika. In modern India rape results in court cases and jail thankfully not into marriages
source: www.india.com
- In the Vedic period Sex outside the marriage was common for mainly one purpose i.e. to know if either of the spouse were infertile. Also, the Gods sometimes used to pursue hidden aims to carry this out. For example, in the absence of Parvati, Madhura has clandestine coitus with Shiva. But in modern India, it is considered as an extra-marital affair and unacceptable in social as well as legal grounds.
- At ancient times women had very little liberty they were not allowed to re-marry or divorce their husbands but their husbands on mere suspicion could abandon them. For example, Rama abandoned his wife Sita without any proof. In modern India one could legally divorce their spouse.
source: http://www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com/
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Widow re-marriage is not something that was followed by the Vedic society. They were usually immolated in their husband’s funeral pyre which was called Sati. Modern India encouraged for the lady to re-marry after her husband’s death.
source: http://www.blogbigtime.com/
- Though there are many records of “third sex” individuals in Vedic period there is no record of homosexuality at that time. Homo Sexuality is a very in thing in modern India and in many places in the world their marriage is accepted.
source: http://static6.businessinsider.com/
- Child marriage is not a concept of modern India but it did start after the Vedic period only. In no Hindu Texts is there any mention of a child marrying before he or she reaches puberty.
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Live-in relationship, in ancient India was a marriage called Gandharva Vivah. It was widely accepted and practiced. In modern world though it is accepted but in India it is still frowned upon.
source: www.cbsnews.com
