Bhaktisandesam / Manava Dharma Shastra

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Laws of Manu or " Manava Dharma Shastra "

What You Need to Know BY SOMA DAS

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Traditionally accepted as one of the supplementary arms of the

Vedas, 'The Laws of Manu' or 'Manava Dharma Shastra' is one of the

standard books in the Hindu canon, and a basic text for all gurus to

base their teachings on. This 'revealed scripture' comprises 2684

verses, divided into twelve chapters presenting the norms of

domestic, social, and religious life in India (circa 500 BC) under

the Brahmin influence, and is fundamental to the understanding of

ancient Indian society.

 

Background

The ancient Vedic society had a structured social order where the

Brahmins were esteemed as a highest and the most revered sect and

assigned the holy task of acquiring ancient knowledge and learning.

The teachers of each Vedic schools composed manuals in Sanskrit,

known as 'sutras', pertaining to their respective schools for the

guidance of their pupils, which were highly venerated by the Brahmins

and memorized by each Brahmin student.

 

The most common of these were the 'Grihya-sutras', dealing with

domestic ceremonies, and the 'Dharma-sutras', treating of the sacred

customs and laws. These extremely complicated bulk of ancient rules

and regulations, customs, laws and rites were gradually enlarged in

scope, written aphoristically and set to musical cadence and

systematically arranged to constitute the 'Dharma-shastras'. Of these

the most ancient and most famous is the 'Laws of Manu', the 'Manava

Dharma-shastra', a 'Dharma-sutra' belonging to the ancient Manava

Vedic school.

 

Genesis

It is generally believed that Manu, the ancient teacher of sacred

rites and laws, is the author of 'Manava Dharma-shastra'. The initial

canto of the work narrates how ten great sages appealed to Manu to

pronounce the sacred laws to them and how Manu fulfilled their wishes

by asking the learned sage Bhrigu, who had been carefully taught the

metrical tenets of the sacred law, to deliver his teachings. However,

equally popular is the belief that Manu had learnt the laws from Lord

Brahma, the Creator, and so the authorship is said to be divine.

 

Speculated Dates of Composition

Sir William Jones assigned the work to the period 1200-500 B.C., but

more recent developments state that the work in its extant form dates

back to the first or second century AD or could be even older.

Scholars agree that the work is a modern versified rendition of a 500

B.C. Dharma-sutra, which no longer exists.

 

Structure & Content

The first chapter deals with the creation of the world by the

deities, the divine origin of the book itself, and the objective of

studying it. Chapters two to six recounts the proper conduct of the

members of the upper castes, their initiation into the Brahmin

religion by sacred thread or sin-removing ceremony, the period of

disciplined studentship devoted to the study of the Vedas under a

Brahmin teacher, the chief duties of the householder - choice of a

wife, marriage, protection of the sacred hearth-fire, hospitality,

sacrifices to the gods, feasts to his departed relatives, along with

the numerous restrictions — and finally, the duties of old age. The

seventh chapter talks of manifold duties and responsibilities of

kings. The eighth chapter deals with the modus operandi in civil and

criminal proceedings and of the proper punishments to be meted out to

different caste. The ninth and the tenth chapters relate the customs

and laws regarding inheritance and property, divorce and the lawful

occupations for each caste. Chapter eleven expresses the various

kinds of penance for the misdeeds. The final chapter expounds the

doctrine of karma, rebirths and salvation. [Read Full Text]

 

Criticisms

Present-day scholars have criticized the work significantly. The

rigidity in the caste system and the contemptible attitude towards

women are not acceptable today. The almost divine reverence shown to

the Brahmin caste and the despicable attitude towards the 'Sudras'

(the lowest caste) is objectionable. The Sudras were forbidden to

participate in the Brahmin rituals and were subjected to severe

punishments whereas the Brahmins were exempted from any kind of

reprimand for crimes. The practice of medicine was prohibited to the

upper caste. Women were considered inept, inconsistent, and sensual

and were restrained from learning the Vedic texts or participating in

important social functions. They were kept in abject subjugation all

their lives.

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Translations

• The Institutes of Manu by Sir William Jones (1794). The first

Sanskrit work to be translated into a European tongue.

 

 

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Jai Shree Krishna !