Kanyasulkam, in Hinduism, is the custom of a price being paid by the bridegroom to the bride’s family. This practice of bride price comes under the asura vivaha, one of the eight forms of marriage recognized by the Smritis (non-Vedic sacred literature). According to Manu and Yajnavalkya, the ancient law givers in Hindu religion, the asura rite refers only to the money or gifts given to the girl’s family as a condition precedent to the marriage. It is not known how the term asura, literally meaning ‘a demon,’ came to be associated with the form of marriage involving bride price. Marriage by purchase was the order of the day among the ancient Assyrians and, perhaps the term asura could be traced to this Assyrian custom. The price paid by the bridegroom was originally a compensation to the bride’s family for her loss, a certain portion was given to the bride as a marriage gift. The bride price was usually paid in cash or kind among the Tamils of the Sangam Age (agama works 9