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Kulinism, in Hinduism, caste and marriage rules said to have been introduced by Raja Vallala Sena of Bengal (reigned 1158–69). The name derives from the Sanskrit word kulina (“of good family”). Hypergamy (marrying a bride of a lower caste) was allowed for the top three castes.
Brahmans—members of the highest-ranking Hindu caste—were divided into 36 mels, or groups, that could not intermarry. Within a mel each Brahman member had to be of the same generation in descent from a common ancestor, according to specially kept lists. This produced in time a shortage of approved husbands in the top group and led to polygamy, with a husband sometimes having 50 wives or more, most of whom he neither saw nor maintained. The custom was attacked by reformers in the 19th century and has since died out.
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