Devulapalli Kameswara Sastri and Others vs Polavarapu Veeracharlu

Abdur Rahim, J.—I entirely agree is the conclusion reached by my brother Krishnaswami Aiyar in the learned and instructive judgment

which he is about to read. I have nothing to add. The decree of the Subordinate Judge will be set aside as regards the third defendant, and that of

the District Munsif will be restored. There will be no coats.

Krishnaswami Ayyar, J.

This second appeal has been preferred against the decree of the Subordinate Judge disallowing the plaintiff''s claim against the third defendant''s

share in the mortgaged property. The mortgage was executed by the first defendant, the father, and the second defendant, the adult son, while the

third defendant a minor was represented by the father, who also signed the document as his guardian. The money was borrowed for the marriage

expenses of the second defendant. The defendants have been dealt with as Sudras in this case, and no question has been raised as regards the

correctness of that view. It is contended that the Subordinate Judge is wrong in holding that the marriage expenses of the second defendant are not

under the Hindu Law a justifiable necessity for the borrowing of money and the execution of the mortgage. The powers of a Hindu manager of

family property have been expounded in the judgment of Lord Justice Knight Bruce in Hunoomanpersaud Panday v. Mussumat Babooee Munraj

Koonweree (1856) 6 M.I.A. 393, his Lordship says ""the power of the manager for an infant heir to charge an estate not his own, is, under the

Hindu Law, a limited and qualified power. It can only be exercised rightly in a case of need, or for the benefit of the estate."" The need above

referred to is afterwards spoken of at page 424 as ""a sufficient and reasonably credited necessity."" Bond fide and reasonable enquiry may be

sufficient to validate the charge though the actual necessity is not made out, We may at once dismiss from consideration, so far as the present case

is concerned, the justification of benefit to the estate. In the case of the father, the discharge of an antecedent debt is in addition a sufficient ground

to justify alienation, As regards the widow who has succeeded to her husband''s estate her power to charge it so as to bind her rever-sioners may

extend to loans contracted for the performance of religious ceremonies or pilgrimages for the benefit of her husband''s soul. As the present is not a

case of an antecedent debt, the validity of the mortgage as regards the third defendant''s share must be tested with reference to the consideration

whether it was a case of need. In Suraj Bunsi Koer v. Sheo Proshad Singh (1878) 6 I.A. 88, it was held that the alienation would be valid if it was

made by the managing member of the family ""for legitimate family purposes."" See page 101. The need or ""the reasonably credited necessity

spoken of in Hunooman Persaud''s case has been paraphrased into legitimate family purpose. Necessity therefore is not to be understood in the

sense of what is absolutely indispensable but what according to the notions of a Hindu family would be regarded as reasonable and proper.

Speaking of the cryptic phrase ""legal necessity"" Golapchandra Sarcar Sastri in his Hindu Law page 210, observes ""the expression legal necessity is

very often used, to signify the causes for which, or the circumstances under which, a single member of a joint family, or a like person, having a

limited interest in property, is authorised to transfer it so as to pass to the transferee a right to the entire property. It comprises maintenance and

support of the family, preservation of the family estate, management of the family business, if any, performance of necessary religious rites such as

marriage and the like initiatory ceremonies, exequial rites and Sraddha ceremony,--and the payment of debts contracted for the above purposes.

In the Tagore Lectures for 1884-35 Bhattachatyya says at page 488: ""Legal necessity is of various forms. AH the indispensable religious

ceremonies, the sacraments, such as marriage and the investiture with the sacred thread, the obsequies, the cremation, the periodical oblations to

the manes, the ceremonies customary in the family, the subsistence of the family, the education of the younger members, the payment of the

ancestral debts, the giving of presents at particular seasons and on special occasions to the relatives,--these and a thousand other causes of

expenditure are constantly cropping up in a fairly prosperous Hindu joint family. All these are in the strict sense of the word, lawful necessity."" In

Babaji Mahadaji v. Krishnaji Devji ILR (1878) Bom. 666, where a sum of money was borrowed to buy a stock of buffaloes with which to resume

the business of a milkman, it was held that the debt was contracted to put the father in the way of earning a maintenance and therefore under the

pressure of family necessity. Mr. Justice WEST observes at page 669 ""Family necessity is an expression that must receive a reasonable

construction, and the head of the family and those dealing with him must, in the interest of the family itself, be supported in transactions which,

though in themselves diminishing the estate, yet prevent or tend to prevent still greater losses. A reasonable latitude, too, must be allowed for the

exercise of a manager''s judgment, especially in the case of a father, though this must not be extended so as to free the person dealing with him

from the need of all precaution, where a minor son has an interest in the property."" Judged by these principles it is first of all difficult to suppose that

the marriage of the second defendant was not a legitimate family purpose. I put it to the respondent''s vakil whether he contended that having

regard to the age of the second defendant at the time of the marriage it was not a purpose for which the father could legitimately incur expenditure

or contract a loan. He disclaimed any intention of resting his case on that ground. Dismissing therefore from consideration any question of propriety

based on the ground of age, we are confronted with the broad question whether the father was justified in borrowing money for the marriage of his

son while the income of his property was insufficient to meat the expenditure. In Mahadeva Pandia Vs. Rama Narayana Pandia, , which was a

case of partition between uncle and nephews, it was held that the nephews were entitled to deduct from the properties to be divided ""the cost of

the marriages of two of them as a legitimate charge on the family funds."" In Sarvana Tevan v. Muttayi Ammal (1871) M.H.C.R. 371 which was a

suit to enforce a mortgage by the manager of the family, it was held that the loan incurred to defray the expenses of the marriage of a coparcener

was for a family purpose and showed a reasonable necessity to justify the aliention. See pages 382, 383 and 384. In Garibullah v. Khalak Singh

ILR (1893) All. 407, the Privy Council spoke of a loan contracted for the marriage of a junior member as for a family purpose and as a case of

necessity and upheld the alienation as binding upon the family. The gift of a small portion of family property by the father or by the widowed mother

at the time of a daughter''s marriage without the consent of the sons which has been upheld as valid cannot be justified on the ground of necessity in

a strict sense, Ramasami Ayyar v. Vengidtisami Ayyar ILR (1899) Mad. 113 and Kudutamma v. Narasimhacharyulu (1907) 17 M.L.J. 528.

These eases seem to be sufficient authority for holding that in case the debt is contracted for a family purpose (and the marriage of a junior member

of a coparcenary is a family purpose) and it is reasonably necessary on the part of a prudent manager to borrow the money for such expenditure,

the transaction will bind the coparceners. But the Subordinate Judge in the Court below and the learned vakil for the respondent have laid great

stress on the decision in Govindarazidu Narasimham v. Devarabhotla Venkatanarasayya ILR (1904) 27 Mad. 206, where the learned Chief

Justice and Mr. Justice MOORE refused to uphold a sale of family lands by the father to defray the marriage expenses of one of his sons on the

ground that there was no moral or religious obligation to got a eon married. That case no doubt which purports to follow some observations of Mr.

Justice Muthusami Ayyar in Ponnappa Pillai v. Pappuvayyangar ILR (1882) Mad. 1 supports the respondent''s contention. The parties to that case

were Brahmins. It was held that as failure to perform marriage did not entail a forfeiture of caste it was not a necessary ceremony or Samskara in

the case of a Brahmin and the expenditure incurred for the performance of such a ceremony was in consequence no justification for the incurring of

a debt. None of the oases to which I have referred appears to have been cited. There is no reference to them in the judgment. The decision itself

has been very ably criticised and dissented from by Mr. Justice Chandavarkar with the concurrence of Knight, J., in Sundrabai v. Shivnarayana

ILR (1908) Bom. 81. But for the fact that the defendants in the present case are Sudras to whom part of the reasoning in that case has no

application, I should have felt inclined to ask the Full Bench to reconsider the decision in Govindarazulu Narasimham v. Devarabhotla

Venkatanarasayya ILR (1904) Mad. 206. That case proceeds upon the view of Mr. Justice Muthusami Ayyar that pl. 29 of chapter I, Section 1

of the Mitakshara is confined to such ceremonies as if unperformed would entail a forfeiture of caste or status and upon the assumption that

marriage in the ease of a male amongst Brahmins is not included in the initiatory ceremonies (Samskara). Reliance is also placed upon a text of

Narada (quoted and interpreted in the Smrithi Chandrika, chapter XIII., pl. 33 and 34). Before examining this decision further, it is'' necessary to

point out that amongst Sudras marriage is an initiatory ceremony or Samskara and perhaps the most important of all the Samskaras performed for

them. In commenting on the second hemistich of verse 10 of the Acharadbyaya of Yagnavalkya rendered by Mandlik thus ""their (of the twice-

born) ceremonies from conception to the funeral are performed with Mantras,"" the groat commentator Apararka observes ""that for the Sudra the

Samskaras are without Mantras."" He adds on the authority of the Brahmapurana ""But the Sudra shall have the marriage Samskara alone. By the

use of the word ''alone'' either the absence of the Mantras or of the previous Samskaras is meant, Then there is the alternative for them

notwithstanding the injunction."" Commenting on the effect of the Samskaras dealt with in the first half of verse 13 of Yagnavalkya rendered by

Mandlik thus ""In this manner, the sin produced from the seed and the womb is destroyed"" (Mandlik, page 161), Apararka says this is intended to

apply to the four castes, not merely to the twice-born. In the Samskara Mayukha of Nilakanta, the great Bombay authority, the author commenting

on the second half of verso 10 of Yagnavalkya already quoted observes ""By reason of the statement that to them (the twice-born) the ceremonies

(from conception to death) are with Mantras, it is to be inferred that to the Sudra they are without Mantras. Amongst them as he has no study of

the Vedas he has not the ceremonies which are incident to it like the Upanayana and the Vedavratas."" The Samskara Bhaskara which is a work of

authority on initiatory ceremonies says in leaf 2 (Bombay Sanskrit Edition, Venkateswara Press) ""the sixteen Samskaras beginning with

Garbhadanam are for all, They are accompanied by Mantras only for the twice-born."" In the Samskara Ratnamala, Volume 39, Anandasrama

Series, the author commenting on the same sloka of Yagaavalkya observes ""It is to be inferred that to the Sudra the ceremonies from

Garbhadanam to the last rites are without Mantras''."" He adds ""Yama says after stating the Samskaras but the Sudra should have the Samskaras

done thus without Mantra Among them those (Samskaras) have no application like Upanayana and Kandavratas which are incident to Vedic study

as he has no Vedic study, &c. Banerjee in his Tagore Lectures, First Edition, page 31, speaks of marriage as the only sacrament for women and

Sudras. See also West and Bubler, page 1064, Note (6) citing Colebrook''s Digest. The foregoing texts are sufficient authority for the position that

marriage is a Samskara or initiatory ceremony amongst Sudras and as such it ought to be performed in their ease. What I have said so far is

sufficient for the disposal of this ease. But as the decision in Govindarazulu Naradmham v. Devarabhotla Venkatanarasayya ILR (1904) Mad 206,

deals with an issue of great importance as regards the position of the marriage ceremony in the case of the Hindus it is necessary to examine the

principles on which the obligatory character of the marriage ceremony rests. There are two paths laid down for the Hindu in the sacred tests (see

Mahadeva Sastri''s Bhagavat Gita with Sankara''s commentary, page 2). One is the path of work or attachment to the things of this world and the

other the path of non-attachment or renunciation. The four asramas or stages of life are prescribed for the regenerate classes or at all events for the

Brahmin. The journey from stage to stage in regular order of succession is contemplated as progress along the path of worldly work. And every

Hindu of the twice-born classes, has to pass from each stage to the next and until he developes complete non-attachment in the last, the stage of

the ascetie, when he prepares himself for final liberation. It is true that it is laid down in the Srutis (see the text of Jabala Upanishad, volume 29,

Anandasrama Series, '' pages 242 and 243) that if he has conquered his passions and cultivated the feeling of non-attachment he may pass direct

without going through the intermediate stages to the Asrama of the Sanyasin (see Medhadhithi''s commentaries on verse 36 of Manu, chapter VI,

and also the Mitakshara on verses 56 and 57 of the Prayaschittadhyaya of Yagnavalkya, page 309 of the Sanskrit Edition. But except for him who

has thus qualified for entry direct into other Asramas than that of house-bolder the stage of house-holder is practically compulsory. The twice-born

Hindu is not to be a student as long as he chcoses. He may remain a Naishtika Brahmachari devoted to life-long studentship under strict

conditions. Slokas 49 and 50 of Yagnavalkya, Acharadyaya, have been translated as follows by Mandlik, ""the Naishtika Brahmacharin is to live

near the Acharya: in his absence near his son or his wife, or. his fire. In this manner the Brohmachain using his body, and subduing his senses,

attains the world of Brahma, and is not bot again,"" I translate the commentary of the Mitakshara on these verses as follows ""In this manner, i.e., in

the manner stated, Naishtika, i.e., one who conducts himself till death, he shall live all his life near his preceptor. He shall not be his own master

after the period of receiving instruction in the Veda. In his absence near his son; in the absence of the latter near his wife, in her absence near the

fire, disciplining his body in the manner stated, his senses being controlled the Brahmachari attains the world of Brahma, i.e., achieves

deathlessness, Never is he born here again,"" Apararka in his commentary on the same verses at pages 71 and 72 of Volume 46 of the

Anandasrama Series enters into a more elaborate explanation of the two classes of Brahmaaharis, Upakurvana and Naishtika, the former being

one who passes to the stage of Grahastha in the ordinary course of life and the latter being one who stays with his preceptor for life under rigid

rules of self-disoiplitie, In chapter II of Manu, verses 243 to 249 deal with the Naishtika Brahmachari. It is enough to quote the first of those verses

in order to indicate that the life of the Naishtika is a life of discipline under the teacher for life to qualify for liberation. Verse 243 (Buhler''s ''

Translation'') says ""But if a student desires to pass his whole life in the teacher''s house, he must diligently serve him, until he is freed from this

body."" But to the Upakurvana or a student who remunerates his teacher to pass on with his leave to the next stage of life Manu has the following

injunction: Chapter III, verse 2, says ""A student who has studied in due order the three Vedas, or two, or even one only, without breaking the rules

of studentship, shall enter the order of house-holders."" Verse 4 says ""having bathed, with the permission of his teacher, and performed according

to the rule the Samavarthanam (the rite on returning home), a twice-born man shall marry a wife of equal caste who is endowed with auspicious

bodily marks."" The house holder''s entry into the nest stage of Vanaprastha or the hermit in the forest is thus enjoined. Manu, chapter VI, verse (1),

says ""A twice-born Snataka, who has thus lived according to the law in the order of householders, may, taking a firm resolution and keeping his

organs in subjection, dwell in the forest, duly (observing the rules given below)."";. The following slokas relate to the entry into the fourth stage

namely that of the ascetic. Chapter VI, verses 33, 34, 36 and 37. ""But having thus passed the third part of (a man''s natural term of) life in the

forest, he may live as an ascetic during the fourth part of his existence, after abandon ing all attachment to worldly objects. He who after passing

from order to order, after offering sacrifices and subduing his senses, becomes tired with (giving) alms and offerings of food, an ascetic, gains bliss

after death. Having studied the Vedas in accordance with the rule, having begot sons according to the sacred law, and having offered sacrifices

according to his ability, he may direct his mind to (the attainment of) final liberation. A twice born man who seeks final liberation, without having

studied the Vedas, without having begotten sons, and without having offered sacrifices, sinks downwards,"" The obligatory character of marriage or

entry into the order of house-holder is thus propounded by Manu with great emphasis. Verses 51 and 52 of Yagnavalkya, Acha-radhyaya and

also verses 45, 56 and 57 of the Prayasahittadhyaya (see pages 167, 249 and 250 of Mandlik) enforce the same view. Both the commentators of

Manu and the commentators of Yagnavalkya have come to the conclusion after a full discussion of Sruti and Smriti texts that the stage of house -

holder is obligatory on all the twice-born. But to those who have pursued the path of non-attachment, Naishtika Brahmacharya or perpetual

studentship or entry from studentship into the stage of the hermit or ascetic direct is open. Some indeed have maintained that there is no warrant for

the asramas of hermit and ascetic and that the stage of house-holder is the only one in which a man is at liberty to pass his life. The text of

Gautama, Sacted Books of the East, volume II, verse 36 at page 193, supports that view. ""But the venerable teacher (prescribes) one order only,

because the order of householders is explicitly prescribed (in the Vedas)."" And, in verse 1 he expresses it as the opinion of ""some"" that ""he (who

has studied the Veda) may make his choice (which) among the orders (he is going to enter)."" Gautama''s view is however rejected by Medhathithi

and Vignanes wara, But that rejection is not to be understood as a sanction to each man to follow which order he likes or to be in no order at all,

Marriage is a Vyavasthitha Vikalpa or fixed alternative, i e, compulsory when certain conditions exist (see Jaiminiya Nyayamala, chapter 12, pada

4, adhikarna 7) and not an Aicheehika Vikalpa or alternative to be chosen according to pleasure (Jaiminiya Nyayamala, chapter 12, pada 3,

adhikarna (4), Except to the man who pursues the path of non-attaehment to all others the order of a house-holder is a necessary stage in the

journey of life. A person is not justified in being in none of the Asrams. Daksha (Manmathanath Dutt''s) ''Translations'', page 434, says ""a twice''

born person should not live even for a day without following any order. If he lives without following an order he is required to perform a penitential

rite."" See the Sanskrit text in volume 48, Anandhasrama Series, page 72. Apararka (Anandasrama Series, volume 46) relies on the same text of

Daksha. He further adds on the authority of a text whose author is not named ""a, man is not fit for Karma, O King, without a wife whether he is a

Brahman, Kshathria, Vaisya or Sudra. The wife is the chief factor for men in the attainment of Dharma, Artha and Kama"" which are three out of

the four ends of life, the last being final liberation. The stage of the householder is extolled by Gautama in verse 3 of chapter III. page 190, Sacred

Books of the East, volume II. ""The house-holder is the source of these (the four orders), because the others do nob produce offspring."" Manu

expresses the same view. He says in sloka 78, chapter III, ""because men of the three (other) orders are daily supported by the householder with

gifts of sacred knowledge and food, therefore (the order of) house-holders is the most excellent order."" In chapter VI again he returns to the same

theme Verse 87 runs ""The student, the house-holder, the hermit and the ascetic, these (constitute) four separate orders, which all spring, from (the

order of) house-holders. ""Verse 88"" But all (or) even (any of) these orders, assumed successively in accordance with the Institutes (of the sacred

law) lead the Brahmana who acts by the preceding (rules) to the highest state."" Verse 89"" and in accordance with the precepts of the Veda and of

the Smriti, the house-keeper is declared to be superior to all of them; for ha supports the other three"" (Buhler''s ''Translation''.)

There is again a text of the Yajurveda which is referred to by the commentators on Manu and Yagnavalkya and which is to the following effect:

That a person is born with three debts--one of which is to the pithris and that debt is discharged by the begetting of offspring. Manu refers to the

same rule in chapter VI, verses 35 and 94. Verse 94 says a twice-born man who, with collected mind, follows the tenfold law and has paid his

(three) debts, may, after learning the Vedanta according to the prescribed rule, become an ascetic."" Both Medhathithi and Vignaneswara quote the

Vedic text in their commentaries on Manu and Yaganvalkya to enforce the view that the stage of house-holders is compulsory to all who have not

attained to the level of non-attachment which fits them for perpetual studentship or the stages of hermit and ascetic.

Passing now to the grounds of decision in Govindarazulu Narasimham v. Devarabhotla Venkatanarasayya ILR (1904) Mad. 206, the first that

invites our attention is the statement ""nowhere is marriage in the case of a male included in the initiatory ceremonies."" Having regard to the

numerous statements in authoritative works on the Samskaras that marriage is an essential Samskara it is perfectly plain the learned pleaders who

argued the case failed to draw the attention of the learned Judges to such texts. Mr, Mayne says ""A Hindu marriage is the performance of a

religious duty,"" Hindu law page 108, Banerjee says in his Tagore Lectures, first edition, page 30: ''''It is regarded as one of the ten Samskaras

necessary for regeneration of men of the twice - born classes"" West and Buhler say (page 873, note (f) ""marriage is a Samskara that is strongly

enjoined."" The Samskara Mayukha, the Samakara Bhaskara and the Samskara Ratnamala, all of them authoritative treatises on the Samskaras but

none of which has yet been translated into English deal exhaustively with the Samskaras. Marriage is there shown by them to be among the most

important. See the Samskara Mayukha leaf 6, Samskara Bhaskara leaf 2, and the Samskara Batnamala pages 2--5, An-andasrarna series, volume

39 These works show that according to Gautama the Samskaras are forty, of which marriage is one. According to Angiras they are twenty-five

including marriage. According to Asvalayana and othes they are sixteen and marriage is among the number. The Samskara Ratnamala quotes the

sages in lull and pointy out at page 6 the fruit of the several Samskaras. As regards marriage, ""the fruit of the Samskara is stated to be the

discharge of the debts to the Gods and the Pitris--"" The learned Chief Justice in Govindarazulu Narasimham v. Devarabhotla Venkatanarasayya

ILR (1904) Mad. 206 refers to the opinion of Cole-brooke at page 301 of volume II of Jagannadha''s Digest and also to the note in Stokes, H. L,

Books, at page 398 and observes ""we cannot find that Mr, Colebrooke had any sufficient authority for including marriage among the ceremonies

necessary to perfect the class of a twice-born man."" The statement would no doubt be correct if it was intended to mean that in order to become a

twice born person marriage is not a necessary condition. But Mr. Colebrooke does not say and it is not necessary for the purpose of establishing

the obligatory character of marriage to say it, that marriage is a necessary condition to make a parson twice-born. All that he says is that marriage

is among the obligatory Samskaras. The eight ceremonies or'' Samskaras he refers to, are also those that are prescribed for girls as made without

Mantras. See leaf 2, Samskara Bhaskara. He includes marriage as an additional Samskara on the authority of Jagannadha himself who speaks of

ton Samsharas at page 295 of the Digest. There is also another reason for separating marriage from the Samskaras that precede it for as pointed

out at page 300 of the Digest it is not a Samskara which a father does for the sons as he does in the ease of the preceding Samskaras but one in

which the son himself participates as the active agent. Stress has been laid on the text of Narada in chapter XIII. Versa 34 is as follows ""Or, no

paternal wealth being left, the initiatory ceremonies must be invariably performed for their brothers by those previously initiated contributing the

required funds from their own portions,"" The Smriti Chandrika no doubt in pl. 41 of chapter IV quotes this verse as prescribing the rule in case

there is no patrimony and adds the comment in pl. 42 ""that the ceremonies contemplated by this text commence in Jatakarma and end in

Upanayana."" The marriage of an unmarried brother is certainly not a duty cast on the married brothers when there is no patrimony. And the

limitation of verse 34 of Narada''s text in the particular case of no patrimony to the ceremonies that end with Upanayana does not justify the

inference that the author of the Smriti Chandrika regarded marriage as a Simskara which was nob obligatory. Dr. Jolly''s note which is perfectly

correct with reference to the comment of the Smriti Chandrika is perhaps appended by mistake to verse 33 instead of verse 34. There is no note

under verse 34 and it may be Dr. Jolly''s observation is not applicable to the case put in versa 33 of Narada. But, however this may be, there can

be no doubt that the Smriti Chandrika is no authority for the position that marriage is not an obligatory Samskara. There remains one important

matter to be noticed. I have not been able to find on what authority Mr. Justice Muthusami Ayyar based his observations in Ponnappa Pillai v.

Pappuvayyangar ILR (1882) Mad. 1 that the phrase ""the like"" in p. 29, Mitakshara, chapter I, Section 1, refers only to such ceremonies as if

unperformed would entail a forfeiture of caste. The discussion in the Mitakshara from pl. 17 to 29 is with reference to the question whether

property arises by birth or by partition, As usual with the author ha first propounds the problem, see pl. 17. He states the argument of the

opponent strengthening it by apt quotations in pl, 18-22. In pl. 23--26 he states his argument in answer to the opponent''s view and in pl, 27 his

conclusion, namely, that property is by birth. Some texts apparently inconsistent with this view are explained away as referring to particular

exceptions. PI. 27 after stating the conclusion explains the text showing that the father has greater power than the mere holder of a joint interest as

applicable to moveables. Another text which deals with a single member''s power over immovablea is explained as confined to exceptional cases.

There is no referance in pl. 28 to the single member being the manager. But the text, however, is generally cited as dealing with the powers of a

manager, The explanation of that text in pl. 29 (Colebrooke''s '' Translation'') is as follows: ""while the sons and grandsons are minors, and

incapable of giving their consent to a gift and the like, or while brothers are so and continue unseparated; even one parson, if capable, may

conclude a gift, hypothecation, or sale, of Immovable property, if a calamity affecting the whole family require it, or the support of the family render

it necessary, or indispensable duties, such as the obsequies of the father or the like, make it unavoidable,"" The words in the Mitakshara which have

been rendered in English by Colebrooke by the clause ""or indispensable duties such as the obsequies of the father or the like make it unavoidable

are simply. They simply mean"" father''s shradha etc. which have to be necessarily done."" It will be noticed that Mr. Colebrooke has by using the

words ""indispensable"" and ""unavoidable"" added to the stringency of the condition under which an alienation is permissible. The word ''Adi'' which

is translated"" or the like ""means"" beginning with and merely indicates that the father''s ceremony which is named is one out of a group of

ceremonies. There is no implication that forfeiture of caste is a consequence of a failure to perform the obsequies and that a similar consequence

flows from a failure to perform other ceremonies which are grouped together with the obsequies of the father, If we dismiss this idea then of

forfeiture of caste as the penalty which must characterise the class of ceremonies for which the Immovable property of the family may be alienated

by the manager there is nothing in pl, 29 of the Mitakshara which prevents our holding that a debt borrowed for defraying the expenses of the

marriage of the son is recoverable from the family property as having been incurred for a family purpose in a case of necessity, The importance of

the marriage ceremony in the case of every Hindu subject to the exceptions already noticed is so well recognised by the Mitakshara that in the

commentary at page 416 on sloka 289 of Yagnavalkya, Vignaneawara observes ""Harita says a person who is in no Asrama (after leaving

studentship) for a year shall perform Prajapatya Krichra and enter the (next) Asrama. After the second year the penance of Athi Krichra; after the

third Kriahrathi Kriahra; beyond that Chandrayana, This is in case (the Asrama) is not available-But if available ordinarily the purifications

prescribed Upapathakas should be ordered according as the abstention was intentional or not,"" It is unnecessary for our present purpose to

explain these expiatory rites, The above passage from the Mitakshara is decisive of the obligatory character of the marriage ceremony. This

passage is quoted in leaf 199 of the Samskara Bhaskara with approval. I have therefore no hesitation in holding that the marriage of the second

defendant for which the loan was contracted by the first defendant and the mortgage executed was a proper family purpose and the third

defendant''s interest in the mortgaged property is consequently liable for the mortgage debt, I would sot aside the decree of the Subordinate Judge

as regards the third defendant and restore that of the District Munsif. I make no order as to costs.