Prabhupāda: Same age.
Bhavānanda: Same.
Jayapatākā: American system.
Prabhupāda: No, here also, some cases. Gandhi's wife was one year older than Gandhi, yes. Kaustubha Gandhi, she was seventeen years old, and Gandhi was sixteen years old, and they were married. There are many cases.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That was arranged by their parents, or they did it themselves?
Prabhupāda: Yes, by their parents. Except in Bengal, in other provinces they do not take much care of the age. Generally the bridegroom is older. Boy is older than the girl. (break) ...was married, he was eleven years old.
Hṛdayānanda: Eleven years old.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And his wife, my mother-in-law, was seven years. Dr. Rajendra Prasada, the president, he was married when he was eight years old.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (laughing) How old was his wife?
Prabhupāda: He was sleeping. The marriage party goes to the bride's house. So it was to be... The time fixed was at twelve o'clock or one o'clock. So the bridegroom was sleeping. So all the men made: "Oh, get up! Get up! You have to be married! Now you get up! Get up! Get up!"
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He didn't understand.
Prabhupāda: He did not know what is marriage. "Get up! Get up! You have to be married now."
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So in such cases they would live separately, though, until they grew older.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Until the girl is twelve, fourteen. She must be pub..., be puberty period. Then...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But still, they know who they are married to.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they don't have any anxiety.
Prabhupāda: Yes.