Author:

Dr. Rajen Upadhyay

Assistant Professor
Department of History
Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College,
Gangtok,Sikkim,India

Email: rajen.180108@gmail.com

Abstract: The ancient Indian tradition of Niyoga presents a distinct perspective in the history of the Indian subcontinent. Due to differing scholarly opinions about how prevalent the Niyoga tradition was, this study is titled ‘Rudiments of Niyoga Tradition: A Study of the Ṛgvedic Period.’ To properly express and justify a future Niyoga-like tradition in the Ṛgvedic Age, the term ‘rudiments’ has been used to frame this work. The word Niyoga is considered a technical term, later used by the Dharmaśāstra, referring to the process of fathering a child with the assistance of a close relative if a husband dies without children. In later periods, however, additional restrictions were introduced through Dharmaśāstra and Smṛti before a woman could seek or appoint someone to help her to have a child. Still, when examining the pages of the Ṛgveda, the custom appears to have been significantly different both practically and logically. Some scholars have even tried to link this Ṛgvedic tradition with the Levirate marriage practiced in Western cultures. This paper aims to explore these aspects of the Ṛgvedic period, focusing on Maṇḍala IV and Maṇḍala X, as they contain more information on the topic. Additionally, it attempts, in a brief manner, to trace the origins of the tradition. The core of the study will revolve around the impressions of the rudiments of the Niyoga tradition as found in the Ṛgvedic hymns.

Key Words: Ancient India, Dharmaśāstra, Niyoga,Terminology, Sanskrit etc.