Mahabharata is a story of kinship, marriages and patriliny:
- The Mahabharata is a story about kinship describing a feud over land and power between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
- Pandavas became victorious due to their virtues.
- Kinsmen claimed the throne, and, in very exceptional circumstances, women such as Prabhavati Gupta exercised power.
- Under patriliny, sons could claim the authority of their fathers.
- Men acquired wealth through means led by the Manusmriti like inheritance, work, etc.
- Women acquired wealth through Stridhan( by father, brother, husband).
- While sons were important for the continuity of the patriliny, daughters had no claims to the resources of the household.
- Various systems followed for the marriage were endogamy, exogamy, polygamy and polyandry.
- Members of the same gotra could not marry.
- One of the most challenging episode in the Mahabharata is Draupadi’s marriage with the Pandavas an instance of Polyandry.
