*In Defense of Manusmriti: A Journey Through Time and Travails* https://www.shrikantsoman.org/post/in-defense-of-manusmriti *Shrikant Soman* In the current political and social scenario, 'Manusmriti' stands as one of the most condemned words, and anyone even remotely referring to it reverentially often faces outright condemnation. Everything has become highly politicized, and in this process, we risk losing an important piece of our social development and the evolution of our cultural and religious thought that has brought us to where we are today. We cannot surgically cut out this part as if it were a cancerous growth in our societal development. The purpose of this blog is to delve into the roots of this perception, to understand Manusmriti and its rightful place in our social evolution, recover this often-misunderstood piece of history, and give it its due recognition in our historical development. To understand Manusmriti accurately, we need to rise above the prevailing political narrative and make an honest attempt to comprehend it in its own right, stripping away any partisan coloring. The title, 'In Defense of Manusmriti,' is not intended to convey support for all its contents or its applicability in today's times. Instead, this phrase signifies an honest attempt to understand its historical significance and context. 1. What is Manusmriti - its origin, content, purpose The Manusmriti, or the Mānava-Dharmaśāstra, stands as one of the most ancient and influential legal and ethical treatises of Hindu tradition. Its origins are shrouded in the mists of antiquity, attributed to the legendary lawgiver Manu, considered the progenitor of humankind in Hindu cosmology. While the exact date of its compilation is debated among scholars, it is generally placed between 200 BCE and 200 CE, evolving over centuries through various layers of commentary and interpretation. At its heart, Manusmriti was intended as a comprehensive code of dharma – a guide for righteous conduct, societal order, and moral living. It delved into a vast array of subjects, from the creation of the universe (cosmogony) to the duties of kings and commoners (rājadharma and prajādharma), civil and criminal law, the roles of different social classes (varnas), rituals, sacraments (samskaras), and even personal purification. It sought to establish a framework for an ordered society, articulating the duties and responsibilities incumbent upon individuals based on their station in life and stage of existence. Crucially, this framework was rooted in two cardinal principles believed to be essential for human evolution: 'Svabhava' and 'Svadharma'. Svabhava refers to one's inherent nature, inner inclination, innate propensities, and natural skill sets – the unique blueprint of an individual's being. Svadharma is the corresponding duty or action aligned with that unique nature, meaning one's rightful place and purpose in the cosmic and social order. These concepts were understood not as restrictive dictates, but as aids to individual and collective flourishing, recognizing that each human being, based on their unique stage of evolution and inner disposition, possesses different needs and talents. This nuanced understanding of individual differences was precisely what was intended to be considered. This original philosophical underpinning of Svabhava and Svadharma was, in theory, at the root basis of the Varna system. 2. Temporal Value of any Rulebook or Doctrine, Valid for the period in which it is prescribed. Same is with Manusmriti Every epoch, every civilization, crafts its own guiding principles, its own rulebooks, born from the crucible of its unique challenges, beliefs, and understanding of the world. Just as ancient Roman law reflected the realities of its empire, or Hammurabi's Code addressed the societal norms of Mesopotamia, Manusmriti emerged from a specific socio-cultural milieu of ancient India. _....... read full article at link given above_