What is the concept of Polyandry?

Marriage is usually considered as a form of social contract between two partners willing to be joined together as one. There are different types of marriages. Polyandry is one out of many types of marriages we have. The concept of polyandry as a type of marriage, has been widely discussed. Polyandry is a type of marriage in which a woman is allowed to get married to more than one husband at the same time. This type of marriage is not too common but, it is being practiced in some parts of the world.

It is popular in Nepal; a country in South Asia between China and India, and other parts of the world. Polyandry can be seen as the direct opposite of polygyny. Polygyny is also a type of marriage in which a man gets married to more than one wife. Polyandry is mostly practiced when parents do not have enough money to finance their son’s wedding programs, so they are encouraged to marry a single wife.

The concept of Polyandry refers to a practice where a woman is simultaneously married to more than one husband or where a woman has more than one sexual partner at the same time. In the study of Zoology, Polyandry refers to a female animal that possesses more than one mate. Such mating systems are prevalent in the animal kingdom. In various parts of Asia, fraternal Polyandry can be found among the Tibetans of Nepal, as well as in parts of China.

This practice can also be found in different parts of North India where multiple brothers are married to the same wife and where the wife equally has sexual relations with them. There is even a reference to Polyandry in the ancient Hindu holy book known as the Mahabharata. Often times the practice of Polyandry was more economic. It prevented the breakup of land and kept it intact. Polyandry is believed to be due to scarce environmental resources. This practice is believed to inhibit human population growth.