does spouse mean only the husband?and is only HIS acceptance of any consequence?

as you asked me a question in ur answer to the first question,i shall answer.i have not heard of Rani Lakshmibai's name as being Lakshmibai Gangadhar Rao...nor was Rani Chennamma of Kittur known as Chennamma Mallasarja.okay,i'll stick to my own state.Look at the names of all those queens and other women of the state.none changed their names post marriage.i guess this custom was established around the time india got it's independence....don't get the correlation,though.maybe it's just an ironical coincidence.

i'd said that i will not comment on any of ur answers.i elaborated so much just coz u asked a question.

"You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars guides you too.”
~ Amrta Shrii Shrii Anandamurti(Indian born Guru, 1921-1990)