("appointment") is a Sanskrit word
that means "appointment." In order to conceive a son, a childless
widow might have intercourse with her deceased husband's brother or another
"assigned" man.
The infant is considered the deceased man's son, and his lineage
is preserved.
In the dharma literature, there is much disagreement
concerning the validity of this practice.
Some of these writings allow it, but only under certain
circumstances, while others categorically forbid it.
One of the rituals deemed Kalivarjya, or "forbidden in
the Kali [Age]," is Niyoga.
Kalivarjya was a legal method used to prohibit certain
religious acts that were specified in holy literature but were no longer
acceptable in modern times.
It first arose in the twelfth century.
