Manusmrithi: fundamentally an age-old Constitution ..... Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Manusmrithi: fundamentally an age-old Constitution

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Pioneer (14-06-2021)

It has become a fashion these days to ridicule and speak badly about Manusmrithi, Manu Dharma Sastra, Brahmanism, Hindu religion and the connected beliefs. Few and little-known political sociologists here and there unequivocally profess hatred towards ancient dharma, thousands of years of old ancient Hindu religion, Manu dharma etc. An attempt to make it clear to such critics about Brahmanism, ancient dharma, human dharma which they criticize day in and day out is all the more necessary, hoping that they would set themselves right.

These same people resort to conduct seminars and symposia with a subject on Anti Brahmanism and “upper caste domination” and liberally use a word “spiritual democracy”. In fact, in each and every word of Manusmrithi it is crystal clear that the so-called spiritual democracy is reflected. These people also indulge in criticizing from one side the Hindu religion and praising the other side the Buddhism, Islam and Christianity!

If, according to them, these three religions are spiritual fragrances, then even the Hinduism is equally and to that matter more a spiritual fragrance. From one side they profess casteless society and from the other side they divide Brahmins and Dalits and speak of them differently. It is a known fact that the same Brahmins whom these people are criticizing, have been in forefront, in almost all revolutionary movements, and the names of such persons need not be mentioned as they are very popular. Any reform in the society anywhere in the country Brahmins played their role. Why criticize then for no reason?  

If anyone feels that he or she knows everything and no one need tell them anything then they should be treated as stupid according to Late Pullella Srirama Chandrudu, an Indian scholar of Vedanta, Vyakarana and Alankara Sastra and a prolific writer of Sanskrit and Telugu literature. Writing introduction to a book on “Manusmrithi” in Telugu authored by Late Komaragiri Yoganananda Laxmi Narasimha Rao popularly known as KYL, Late Pullella mentioned that if anyone desires to know about justice, injustice, virtue, sin, heaven, hell, life and death, god, relationship etc one has to look at Vedas. He said that this is the belief of all Hindus and even all Indians. Among several books written by KYL Manusmrithi needs special mention.

Manusmrithi or Manu Dharma Sastra whose basis is Vedas is an all-time great book, a work of genius. Author KYL in his introduction and as well as in subsequent chapters enunciated several aspects with appropriate examples and said that for all types of Justice-dharma the foundation is laid in Vedas. Manusmrithi is nothing but an extension of Vedas philosophy and principles. For the entire Hindu community, it is a constitution like book. In fact, based on this, India’s first Governor General Warren Hastings brought out a comprehensive legal code.

Taking cue from him, William Jones who was Supreme Court Judge while Hastings was Governor General got it translated and printed in English. For this work British Government honoured Jones with “Sir” title. The then British Government always respected Indian and Hindu literature and also the ancient culture, tradition and religious beliefs and with a view to enrich the British officers about the legal procedures they got Manusmrithi translated in to English. While this was so, it is unfortunate that some of our Indians indulge in criticism and ridicule them.     

Manu Code is a fundamental encyclopaedia and applicable for all times. It has included in it a variety of ancient codes on dharma and thus evolved itself as the best available code of dharma and influenced for centuries the Hindu and Indian society which is similar to a perennial river or a great river that after its origination takes into its fold several rivulets and during the course of its flow converts the land as fertile before it joins the ocean.

In fact, Manusmrithi has even influenced the world society too in different ways. Manu Code is nothing but a Human Code of dharma and several extraordinary human beings or may be humans with supernatural powers might have compiled it after years of hard work. As long as we protect this, it protects us….and if we attempt to destroy it, in turn it might destroy us. On the name of Brahmanism and unnecessary opposition to it as well as opposing the Hinduism let us not attempt to denigrate Manu dharma.

Manusmrithi professes all virtues only…it speaks of welfare of society and variety of procedures everyone has to adopt in life. It has never belittled women…it only mentioned about proper protection to women like the “Nirbhaya” Act or to that matter the SHE Teams. It is crystal clear in the Shloka “Yatra naaryastu poojyamte…phalaa kriyah” meaning where woman is respected there, we find gods and goddesses. In the society visualized by Manu woman has a respectable place. It has in it 2684 Shlokas.

Only when you read it with open mind one will be able to understand it. One has to understand the inner meaning in it. Whatever is mentioned in it may not be applicable for all the times to come and in some areas, it might require amendments like we do for our constitution. However, the basic structure of Manusmrithi shall remain intact. At least let us take the best part of it and apply in our life.  

         ‘Hinduism’, whether a religion or not, but, is as a way of life and questioning it is nothing but questioning the way of life of millions of people who followed it for centuries. Indian culture and Hindu culture are one of the best cultures in the whole world. It has come to stay despite umpteen social revolutions and continue to stay as a live way of life for more and more centuries to come. The reason for this is that, its roots are in Vedas.

            Those who criticise Manusmrithi should understand that it was fundamentally an age-old constitution which suited those times in toto when it was written and with the passage of times all that was mentioned in it may not be relevant to the modern times but certainly the spirit of it can be imbibed.