Thus, dowry, which is the very root of the Hindu evils of sati and brideburning

In this chapter I shall analyse how the cunning Brahmins used slow and stealthy means of destroying...

THE CURSE OF THE VEDIC DOWRY SYSTEM The Vedas prescribe that a dowry be given by the bride's family to the groom. The Rig Veda states that cows and gifts given by the Aryan father of the bride to the daughter accompanied the bride's procession Rg Ved X.85 Apte 12 . Kakshivat in the Vedas says he became rich by the father-in-law giving him 10 chariots and maids and 1060 cows during the marriage ceremony Rg Ved I.126 Apte 13 . Dowry is referred to as `Streedhana' and is an ancient practice Docu . This custom implied that women were, in addition to being viewed as mere love objects, severe economic liabilities for the parents.

Indeed, the Brahmins raised the level of dowry to such ridiculous levels that the non-Brahmins were forced to liquidate their female children or face economic ruin. In this manner, the non-Brahmins exterminated their own females, perpetuating Brahmin dominance. We see this philosophy in action today. Over the last 50 years, more than 50 million female children were liquidateed as a result of Vedic dowry and infanticide laws (see chapter 1).

The ancient Vedic custom of kanyadan, where the father presented his daughter with jewelry and clothes at the time of her marriage, and vardakshina where the father presented the groom with cash and kind are, in essence the dowry system. This curse is fully sanctioned in the Vedas. These examples show that dowry was practiced in ancient times.

Thus, in order to marry Sita to `godly' Rama, her father had to supply her with 100 crores of gold mohurs, 10000 carriages, 10 lakh horses, 60000 elephants, 100000 male slaves, 50000 female slaves, 2 crores of cows and 100000 pearls, and many other items Ram.wh 61 . Thus, dowry, which is the very root of the Hindu evils of sati and bride-burning, is given `divine' santion by the `noble' Hindu gods

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