"Lord
Buddha rejected all this nonsense (Laws of Manu). We have to use common
sense in this age." ~ IFICOULDTELL
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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.
Translations
• The Institutes of Manu by Sir William Jones (1794). The first
Sanskrit work to be translated into a European tongue.
• The Ordinances of Manu (1884) begun by A. C. Burnell and completed
by Professor E. W. Hopkins, published in London.
• Professor George Buhler's
Sacred Books of the East in xxv volumes (1886).
• Professor G. Strehly's French translation Les Lois de Manou, forming
one of the volumes of the "Annales du Musée Guimet", published
in Paris (1893).
• The Laws of Manu (Penguin
Classics) translated by Wendy Doniger, Emile Zola (1991)
BY SOMA DAS
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