St Thomas Christians of India (Nasrani) had one of the strictest marriage laws re: degrees of separation of any civilization in history prior to weste

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I remember reading this but cannot find a citation. Does anyone know? And also the reasoning behind such a far degree of separation?

If I recall one could not even marry a 5th or even 8th cousin, a far cry from European and the Middle Eastern custom and law at the time, christians or muslims, and even still (eg cousin marriages in MENA)
 
One reason, certainly not the only one, is that Hindus (Brahmins, etc) married close relatives, and Syriac Christians considered such practices incestuous. There were exceptions - Knanaya, dispensations, not knowing lineage fully, etc.

See this work, this practice was mentioned by Theodore of Canturbury and cited by Pope St. Fabian, Bishop of Rome:

Anti-Nicene Fathers, Vol 08: The Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts and Epistles, The Clementia:
Decrees of Fabian, Taken from the Decretals of Gratian

Also found here:
Decrees of Fabian, Pope of Rome:
IV.

Marriage relations in the fifth generation may unite with each other; and in the fourth generation, if they are found, they should not be separated.4

Concerning relations who enter affinity by the connection of husband and wife, these, on the decease of wife or husband, may form a union in the fifth generation; and in the fourth, if they are found, they should not be separated. In the third degree of relationship, however, it is not lawful for one to take the wife of another on his death. In an equable manner, a man may be united in marriage after his wife’s death with those who are his own kinswomen, and with the kinswomen of his wife.

4 35, Q. 2 and 3, De propinquis. From the Poenitentiale of Theodorus
 
seems awfully restrictive.

one of my great great grandfathers was born in 1838, and most of his descendants are my 3rd cousins. If I met any of them, I didn’t know the relationship.

A fifth cousin would be even more distant, the closest relative would have been born during the 18th Century.

I’m sure that I must have met some of my 5th cousins as a matter of course, but I don’t know who they are and don’t really recognize them as relatives at all.

I didn’t hear anything this year, maybe I missed it, but in previous presidential election years, they’ve pointed out that Obama and Bush were cousins
 
Thank you for the reasoning on your response SM. Brahmin theory is interesting.

I actually don’t think it was degrees of separation but rather cousins. I wish I could find a citation. This would put the practice closer to what Kielbasa said was odd, which isn’t surprising considering no one does this today.

I remember this because the author focused on how strict it was. If I recall, if someone was found to have mutual GGGrandparents (8 degrees of separation on that chart), the marriage was impermissible. As I mentioned, this was a unique practice in history.

Also, according to the chart, first cousin is 4th degree.
 
Kielbasi said:
one of my great great grandfathers was born in 1838, and most of his descendants are my 3rd cousins. If I met any of them, I didn’t know the relationship.
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This would be impermissible. However, I doubt you all have been living in the same location, had extensive knowledge of extended family, etc. All things occurring in this area at that time period. In addition, to my Knowledge, this was not practiced in Europe (assuming Europe by your name).
 
Medical_Student said:
Thank you for the reasoning on your response SM. Brahmin theory is interesting.

I actually don’t think it was degrees of separation but rather cousins. I wish I could find a citation. This would put the practice closer to what Kielbasa said was odd, which isn’t surprising considering no one does this today.

I remember this because the author focused on how strict it was. If I recall, if someone was found to have mutual GGGrandparents (8 degrees of separation on that chart), the marriage was impermissible. As I mentioned, this was a unique practice in history.

Also, according to the chart, first cousin is 4th degree.
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While trying to find more research on this practice in Kerala (quite difficult to find online, in English)… I came across this:
One of my distant relatives has plans to marry his cousin (mom’s sister’s daughter). Is that possible in a Hindu marriage ceremony or should he go with the Special Marriages Act?
This has to happen in kerala.
1 Answer
Aravind Aldk
Aravind Aldk
Written 15 Oct 2015
In south India it is common for Hindu cross cousins to marry, with matrilateral cross-cousin (mother’s brother’s daughter) marriages.
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I don’t think your friend can marry his mom’s sister’s daughter.

By Hindu Law, she is effectively his sister.
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In Hindu tradition , mother and all her sisters are viewed as mothers.
their kids are seen as your siblings.
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In your friends case , Hindu customs see both of them as siblings and silibings can’t marry , its incestuous marriage. As far as incest goes Marriage between blood relatives are prohibited both law and in community wise.
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Allowed cousin marriages [for a guy ] in Hindu customs are
Father’s sister’s daughter
Mother’s brother’s daughter
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Incestuous by Syriac Christian standards
 
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