The Manusmriti: Its historical and religious significance in the evolution of Hinduism

 The Manusmriti is the most important and authoritative Hindu Law Book (Dharmashastra), which served as a foundational work on Hindu law and jurisprudence in ancient India. Until the modern times, it was the standard reference for adjudicating civil and criminal cases by both the rulers who patronized Vedic faith and the people who practiced Hinduism. Manu in Hindu tradition is considered to be the first of Brahma’s sons and a progenitor of human race. The laws that were proposed by Manu to govern human conduct and society reflect the conditions, needs and values of the times in which they were formulated. The laws favour a paternalistic society and family system, vesting the authority to regulate them with men, and proposing rather a subordinate status and subservient role to women. It also acknowledges and justifies the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society. Brahmanas and Kshatriyas are given many privileges and greater leniency in matters of punishment for misconduct, while Sudras are given the least number of privileges but the harshest of punishments even for minor misdemeanours. Although most of laws do not fit into the present day value system. 

The Manusmriti contains about 2600 shlokas in the 12 chapters that deals with the different ways in which a human can get happiness. The contents are the genesis of the universe, procedures of performing ceremonies, the methods of fulfilling vows, holy baths, sexual life, performing marriages, Mahayagya (religious sacrifices), method of pacifying deceased ancestors etc., regular ablutions and routines, edible and non-edible things, cleanliness, impurity, the duty of the wife, vanaprastha, liberation, detachment, the duty of royal people, the relegation of duty, the duty of women and men, the duty of departments, the annihilation of the wicked,etc, the narrow, parochial castes, the duty in emergency, and repentance. The objective of the universe, actions, the merits and defects coveted to deeds, place and castes, the duty of the clan and liberation.

It is true that the most of laws proposed by Manu do not fit into the present day value system but it reflects the conditions, needs and values of the times in which they were formulated. Hence, it is important to study Manusmriti with an open mind to understand its historical and religious significance in the evolution of Hinduism from its early days to its present form.

 


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