Editing Virginity (section)

====Hinduism====
In Hinduism, premarital virginity on the part of the bride is considered ideal.<ref name=hindu>{{cite book|last=Lipner|first=Julius|author-link=Julius J. Lipner|title=Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|year=1998|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-05182-8 |pages=375 pages, see:268}}</ref> The prevailing Hindu marriage ceremony, or the [[Vedic wedding]], centers around the ''[[Kanyadan]]'' ritual, which literally means ''gift of a virgin,'' by father of the maiden through which the Hindus believe they gain greatest spiritual merit, and marriages of the daughters are considered a spiritual obligation.<ref name=marriage>{{cite book|last1=Ramusack|first1=Sharon|first2=Barbara N.L.|last2=Sievers.|title=Women in Asia: restoring women to history Restoring women to history|year=1999|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-21267-2|pages=266 pages(see page 30)}}</ref> The purity of women is especially valued in South Asia, where Hinduism is most commonly practiced.<!--Because of this, women are often denied access to higher education because it requires being in the presence of men more often than not. However, with time there have been changes in the ideology of Hinduism. The idea of a pure virgin is very valued, but it is also important that women are fertile and able to bear sons. It's seen as destructive for women to menstruate unless they have a husband, who may turn it into something more productive. An aspect of Hinduism is men exerting control over women and furthermore, their offspring and possessions. Hinduism has the distinction of being one of the oldest religions. However, adultery is only condemned if it effects family matters. This may possibly be a reflection of the reasons male control over females is so important.--> Sex had never been a taboo in ancient India and intactness of the hymen had nothing to do with virginity.<ref name="ero">{{cite book|last=Walker|first=Benjamin|title=The Hindu world: an encyclopedic survey of Hinduism, Volume 2 The Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism, Benjamin Walke|year=1968|publisher=Praeger|pages=571–572}}</ref>