Manu-Samhita

[Guest guest]

On 25 Nov 1998, Bhagavata-purana das wrote:

 

> Pamho. AgtSP.

>

> Some questions for which I never received answers: Are Manu-samhita

> standards for the different aspects of varnasrama development to be

> introduced right now in ISKCON society? Have the Manu-samhita laws full

> value in Kali-yuga?

 

The Samskaras Book recently put out in France mentions that there are 18

Dharma shastras and Manu samhita is only one of them. Different ones are

applicable in differnet yugas.

 

In Satya-yuga Manusamhita was appropriate

In Treta-yuga, there is a certain one--I forget

In Dvapara, the Likhita and Menkha-samhitas(sp?) were appropriate

In Kali-yuga the Parasara samhita and the Vishnusamhita are appropriate

 

The author adds that Manu samhita is still applicable in the Kali yuga except

where modified by Parasara or Visnu samhita.

 

It would be interesting to see what these latter samhitas have to say about

complexity of ritual and status of women, as compared with Manu samhita.

 

Also, judging from Srila Prabhupada's selective quoting from Manu samhita, I

would think that certain principles from it are to be followed and others

such as "all these rituals" are to be rejected. So I don't think anyone can

argue that it it is either 100% or 0% applicable.

Now it would be nice if someone could identify what part Srila Prabhupada

would want/not want applied.

 

Gerald Surya