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Manu S

The Manu-smriti is traditionally the most authoritative Hindu code, attributed to the legendary first man Manu. It prescribes dharma for Hindus according to their social class and life stage, covering topics like cosmology, sacraments, marriage customs, and the conduct of women. While discussing religious and secular laws, it has profoundly influenced Hindu thought, particularly justifying the caste system.

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26 views2 pages

Manu S

The Manu-smriti is traditionally the most authoritative Hindu code, attributed to the legendary first man Manu. It prescribes dharma for Hindus according to their social class and life stage, covering topics like cosmology, sacraments, marriage customs, and the conduct of women. While discussing religious and secular laws, it has profoundly influenced Hindu thought, particularly justifying the caste system.

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kanojiyapawan040
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Manu-smriti -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia https://www.britannica.

com/print/article/363055

Manu-smriti
Manu-smriti, (Sanskrit: “Laws of Manu” or “The Remembered Tradition of Manu”)
traditionally the most authoritative of the books of the Hindu code (Dharma-shastra) in
India. Manu-smriti is the popular name of the work, which is officially known as Manava-
dharma-shastra. It is attributed to the legendary first man and lawgiver, Manu. The
received text dates from circa 100 CE.

The Manu-smriti prescribes to Hindus their dharma—i.e., that set of obligations incumbent
on each as a member of one of the four social classes (varnas) and engaged in one of the
four stages of life (ashramas). It contains 12 chapters of stanzas, which total 2,694. It deals
with cosmogony; the definition of the dharma; the sacraments (samskaras); initiation
(upanayana) and the study of the Vedas (the sacred texts of Hinduism); marriage,
hospitality, funeral rites, dietary restrictions, pollution, and means of purification; the
conduct of women and wives; and the law of kings. The last leads to a consideration of
matters of juridical interest, divided under 18 headings, after which the text returns to
religious topics such as charity, rites of reparation, the doctrine of karma, the soul, and hell.
The text makes no categorical distinction between religious law and practices and secular
law. Its influence on all aspects of Hindu thought, particularly the justification of the caste
system, has been profound.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Matt Stefon.

Citation Information
Article Title: Manu-smriti
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 27 December 2023
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Manu-smriti
Access Date: January 29, 2024

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Manu-smriti -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia https://www.britannica.com/print/article/363055

2 of 2 29-01-2024, 14:49

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