Polygynandry is a combination of polyandry, polygyny and monogamy. According to tradition two or more brothers or non-brothers marry a woman. This results in polyandry. Then each one of them marries a woman as his exclusive female spouse. This results in monogamy. This practice also gives rise to polygyny. How ? , when a man in relation to his common wife and exclusive wife and exclusive wife is considered together , his marriage becomes polygynous one. Hence, the simultaneous existence of polyandry, polygyny and monogamy gives rise to polygynandry. The word polygynandry was coined by D.N.Majundar (1962: Himalayan polyandry).
Polygynandry may happen in another way. Brothers may practice polyandry. But in due course they may adopt polygyny to suit their younger brothers. According to rule a woman becomes the wife of not only all brothers but also all brothers to be born. The disparity in the ages of brothers is so wide that the eldest brother marries another girl, who is Thus the practice gives rise to These two forms of polygynandry are considered the wife of all the brothers, polygyny-cum-polyandry or polygynandry. shown in the following two diagrams.
