In Buddhist Law,1 the position of woman was different. The religion was more practical and elastic as well as highly ethical due to the eight principles of life enjoined on each man: 

In Buddhism every human being-man or woman is a free agent able to work out his own salvation independent of any supernatural agency or the medium of priests or rituals. The inequality between man and woman is wiped out. Hence woman in the Buddhist Law has a special place.

Buddhist marriage is a simple ceremony it is purely a civil contract.

The age at which a girl is allowed independent choice is twenty. If a girl contracts a marriage before this period without the consent, expressed or implicit, of her guardians or parents, it is null and void. This rule is not binding on widows and divorcees as their first marriage has already freed them from paternal control.

Polygamy is allowed in Buddhist Law. A man can marry a second time during the lifetime of the first wife; but a woman has not a similar choice.