Laws of Manu or 'Manava Dharma Shastra' Ancient Hindu Code of Conduct for Domestic, Social, and Religious Life By Subhamoy Das, About.com Guide See More About:hindu scriptures & epicshindu beliefshindu rites & ritualshindu g urus & saintshindu gods & goddesses The Laws of Manu - Penguin Classics translated by Wendy Doniger, Emile Zola (199 1) Penguin Books Sponsored Links Masters in Law LLM in International Business Law Recognised UK Degree, Learn more... www.LSBF.org.uk/LLM God Can Help You Learn From This True Life Story A Prayer That Can Change Your Life www.LifesGreatestQuestion.com God -total Union with God Why Jesus is the Only Way to Union? The Answer May Surprise You. www.hallvworthington.com Hinduism Ads Manu Debt Collection Laws Religion Laws Hindu Matrimonial Family Law Laws Sponsored Links 2011 Cute Kid of the Year Submit Your Babies Photo Today! Judged by Professional Agents TheCuteKid.com God Explained Discover Who or rather What, God is and what happens on the other side. www.godexplained.org Traditionally accepted as one of the supplementary arms of the Vedas, Laws of Ma nu 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 do mestic, social, and religious life in India (circa 500 BC) under the Brahmin inf luence, and is fundamental to the understanding of ancient Indian society. Background to the Manava Dharma Shastra 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 ac quiring ancient knowledge and learning. The teachers of each Vedic schools compo sed manuals in Sanskrit, known as 'sutras', pertaining to their respective schoo ls 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 ceremon ies, and the 'Dharma-sutras', treating of the sacred customs and laws. These ext remely complicated bulk of ancient rules and regulations, customs, laws and rite s were gradually enlarged in scope, written aphoristically and set to musical ca dence 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 of the Laws of Manu It is believed that Manu, the ancient teacher of sacred rites and laws, is the a

uthor of Manava Dharma-shastra. The initial canto of the work narrates how ten g reat sages appealed to Manu to pronounce the sacred laws to them and how Manu fu lfilled their wishes by asking the learned sage Bhrigu, who had been carefully t aught 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, th e Creator, and so the authorship is said to be divine. Speculated Dates of Composition of the Laws of Manu 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 A.D. or could be even older. Scholars agree that the work is a mo dern versified rendition of a 500 B.C. 'Dharma-sutra,' which no longer exists. Structure & Content of the Laws of Manu The first chapter deals with the creation of the world by the deities, the divin e origin of the book itself, and the objective of studying it. Chapters two to s ix recounts the proper conduct of the members of the upper castes, their initiat ion into the Brahmin religion by sacred thread or sin-removing ceremony, the per iod 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, prot ection 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 responsibil ities of kings. The eighth chapter deals with the modus operandi in civil and cr iminal proceedings and of the proper punishments to be meted out to different ca ste. The ninth and the tenth chapters relate the customs and laws regarding inhe ritance and property, divorce and the lawful occupations for each caste. Chapter eleven expresses the various kinds of penance for the misdeeds. The final chapt er expounds the doctrine of karma, rebirths and salvation. Read the Full Text Translation of Manu Smriti Criticisms of the Laws of Manu Present-day scholars have criticized the work significantly. The rigidity in the caste system and the contemptible attitude towards women are not acceptable tod ay. The almost divine reverence shown to the Brahmin caste and the despicable at titude towards the 'Sudras' (the lowest caste) is objectionable. The Sudras were forbidden to participate in the Brahmin rituals and were subjected to severe pu nishments whereas the Brahmins were exempted from any kind of reprimand for crim es. The practice of medicine was prohibited to the upper caste. Women were consi dered inept, inconsistent, and sensual and were restrained from learning the Ved ic texts or participating in important social functions. They were kept in abjec t subjugation all their lives. Translations of Manava Dharma Shastra The Institutes of Manu by Sir William Jones (1794). The first Sanskrit work to b e 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 Muse Guimet", published in Paris (1893). The Laws of Manu (Penguin Classics) translated by Wendy Doniger, Emile Zola (199 1) Suggested Reading The Laws of Manu: Full Text Translation by G. Buhler

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