Hinduism on Pre-Pubescent marriage for girls

SKANDA PURANA 4.40.34-35

34. If a virgin girl has her first menstruation in her father’s house without her marriage being solemnised, her father should be known as a *Bhrūṇahā* (‘destroyer of a foetus’) and that girl a Vṛṣalī (Śūdra (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shudra#purana) girl). He who, out of delusion, marries her will be the husband of a Śūdra girl.

35. He is an *Apāṅkteya* (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/apankteya#purana) (not fit to sit in the same row as the others at the time of meals). The very conversation with him should be abandoned forever.

SKANDA PURANA 4.40.38-43

38. Women are enjoyed first by Suras (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sura#purana), Soma (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/soma#purana), Gandharva (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gandharva#purana) and Vahni (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vahni#purana). Men enjoy them afterwards. They are not defiled by anything.

39. Soma gave women cleanliness; Pāvaka (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pavaka#purana) (Fire-god (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/fire-god#hinduism)), purity above all. Gandharvas (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gandharvas#hinduism) gave them auspicious speech. Therefore, women are always pure.

40. Agni (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/agni#purana) enjoys a virgin at the time of the menstruation, the Moon when the (pubic) hair begin to grow and Gandharvas when the breasts begin to develop. Hence a girl is to be given in marriage before this.

41. A girl with hairs visible (before marriage is consecrated) kills her children; she with the breasts in developed form destroys the family; she who has menstruated destroys the father. Hence one should avoid all (such girls).

42. Hence one who is desirous of the benefit of gift of a virgin should give her in marriage before Agni and others enjoy her. If not, the giver does not enjoy any benefit; one who receives her in marriage falls down (incurs sin).

43. One who gives away a girl not enjoyed by Soma and others, attains the benefit of the religious gift. Giving her who has been enjoyed by Devas, the donor does not attain heavenly pleasures.

SOURCE:

https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc423778.html


Hinduism not only promotes pre-pubescent marriage, but also promises disgrace and sin if one doesn't marry his daughter before she starts menstruating.

a) Out of fear of the appearance of the menses let the father marry his daughter while she still runs about naked. For if she stays (in the house) after the age of puberty, sin falls on the father. (Vashishta Dharmasutra, 17.70.

b) A girl should be given in marriage before (she attains the age of) puberty. He who neglects it, commits sin. Some (declare, that a girl shall be given in marriage) before she wears clothes. (Gautama dharmasutra, 18.21-23)

c) Let him give his daughter, while she still goes naked, to a man who has not broken the vow of chastity and who possesses good qualities, or even to one destitute of good qualities; let him not keep (the maiden) in (his house) after she has reached the age of puberty. He who does not give away a marriageable daughter during three years doubtlessly contracts a guilt equal to (that of) destroying an embryo. Such will be the case if anybody asks her in marriage, and also if nobody demands her. Manu has declared that at each appearance of the menses (the father incurs the guilt of) a mortal sin. (Baudhyana Dharamsutra, 4.1.11-13)

This one is interesting in the liberty it gives to men:

A damsel whose menses begin to appear (while she is living) at her father's house, before she has been betrothed to a man, has to be considered as a degraded woman: by taking her (without the consent of her kinsmen) a man commits no wrong. (41) (Vishnu Smriti, 24. 41. {One commentator Nanda says that this rule was made for lower caste women. Though later on, the author who quoted Nanda says that outcasting young unwedded girl has become/is in vogue among Brahmanical families too.}

"The purpose of marraige, he (a hindu) declares, quoting his sacred writs in proof, is to beget sons - as many sons as possible, beginning as soon as possible, of a wife as young as possible". - quoted from Mother India, chapter 4.

Srila prabhupada says: Practically, I'll say, in our childhood age, my sisters were married between nine to twelve years. My eldest sister was married when she was nine years old, before my birth. She is the eldest. And my second sister was married at the age of twelve, twelve years. And my third sister was married at the age of (indistinct) years. So by the (indistinct) years, the marriage must be finished. That was the duty of the father. I remember, because my second sister was going twelve years, my mother said to my father that "I shall go to the river and commit suicide. The daughter is not married." Source: http://www.prabhupada.org.uk/articles1/48_53/48.htm