Extra Marital Affair
There are instances involving extra marital affairs in Hindu texts, here we examine the instances, their purpose, acceptance by the society and such surrounding issues.
For the purpose of Progeny
Madayanti
Madayanti, the wife of Saudasa, commanded by her husband to raise offspring went unto Rishi Vasishtha. And on going in unto him, the handsome Madayanti obtained a son named Asmaka. She did this, moved by the desire of doing good to her husband. [2]
Ambika & Ambalika beget children from Vyasa
When Styavati's son Vichitravīrya died of illness, he left his queens Ambika and Ambalika childless. Satyavati pleaded with the queens and convinced them to beget children from Krishna Dwaipayana, the other son of Satyavati. Ambikā, Ambalika and a maid servent beget Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pandu and Vidura respectively.
Freewill
Swetaketu's mother
Swetaketu sees a Brahmin man catch hold of his mother, saying "Come, let us go", his mother willingly follow him. Swetaketu is angered by this, he goes to see his bidridden father Uddhalaka Aruni. Uddhalaka, the wise sage, seeing his son furious at what happened, speeks to him calmly: "Do not be angry my son. This is a long standing tradition, one supported by scriptures and sages of Dharma. A woman, of any Varna is free to be with any man she desires, a man has no right to control her will."
Svetaketu, thought that the times have changed, and according to yuga niyama, a woman should only have romantic affair with her husband, and thus brought in the change, which stands even to this day. [1]
Tara, the wife of Brihaspati
Brihaspati's wife Tara, went away to live with Chandra for some time, It wasn’t a kidnapping. When she returned, she was pregnant, a dispute arose. Gods, Rishis and Brahma intervened to settle the dispute. She acknowledged Chandra as the father of the chil, and thus the child (Budha) was given to Chandra to take care of, while she stayed with her husband.
P.S: This story, though accepted as the story of Brihaspati and wife Tara, could easily be an allegory, for example Tara here could mean star, and Chandra moon, attraction between them could be symbolic of gravitational force.
Also, Marriage and extra marital affair here is discussed from the human perspective. Laws of heavenly beings could be entirely different. The story involves Chandra (moon) an astral being.
Puloma- wife of Bhrigu
One of the wives of sage Bhrigu- Puloma, was in love with a man before her marriage to Bhrigu, in fact she was engaged to him to be married, somehow that broke. When she was married to Bhrigu, she had a son with him, she went away with her lover for a short time, eventually she returned to her husband. [3]
Sources
- Mahabharata AdiParva, chapter 122, Story of Swetaketu & Uddhalaka
- Mahabharata AdiParva, chapter 122, Discussion between Kunti and Pandu
- Mahabharata AdiParva, chapter 5
- Mahabharata Udyoga Parva