Manuvad, which can be translated as 'adherence to the doctrine of Manu', is not viewed favorably in India. It is a rallying cry against a section of Hindus, whether or not these people are familiar with the Manusmriti. Critics often highlight Manusmriti's recommendations of certain harsh punishments, but they fail to consider three important questions: are these recommendations merely meant as deterrents? The Manusmriti itself clearly affirms this. And secondly, was the Manusmriti ever utilized by Hindu kings? The answer is no; the Smriti texts themselves acknowledge this. Third, was the Hindu justice system geared for harsh punishments? The answer is also no. Therefore, critiquing the Manusmriti serves no purpose. Although this book is concise, it attempts to introduce the Manusmriti, describe the traditional view, explore ancient and modern scholarship, and emphasize its irrelevance in historical Hindu kingdoms.
Sprache
ISBN-13
979-8-224-81788-7 (9798224817887)
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Dhruba Chakravarti received his Ph.D. in 1990 in Biochemistry from the University of Calcutta, India. He has been writing on Hindu Dharma for decades, and this is his second book. He enjoys Photography.
