Polygamy in India

While polygamy was not prohibited in Ancient India, it was not common, nor a major cultural practice. The lack of prohibition was in part due to the separation between land laws and religion (independence of the judiciary), and partially since all of the major religions of India portrayed polygamy in a neutral light. Buddhism also promotes monogamy.

Colonial education and laws brought an end to polygamy for all except Muslims.

In contrast to Europe, polygamy prevailed in ancient India for rulers and kings. It was common for rulers (for example Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar). Wealthy individuals (for example Ramkrishna Dalmia, Gajanan Birla,P. Rajagopal ) sometimes had multiple wives.

Since the colonial Empire of India permitted Islamic provinces to allow husbands to have multiple wives, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh was cremated in Lahore, and four of his wives and seven concubines became sati, whose urn-like memorials exist at his samadhi

Articles 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860, prohibited polygamy for the Christians. In 1955, the Hindu Marriage Act was drafted, which prohibited marriage of a Hindu whose spouse was still living. Thus polygamy became illegal in India in 1956, uniformly for all of its citizens except for Hindus in Goa where polygamy is legal, and for Muslims, who are permitted to have four wives.

A polygamous Hindu marriage is null and void. While the punishment specified in articles 494 and 495 is applicable, it is rare if the first spouse does not have an objection.

Muslims in the rest of the country are subject to the terms of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, interpreted by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Still, many Hindus, tribal peoples and Buddhists practice it all over the country, rejecting the laws as

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