Laws of Manu - Do Hindus still follow them today?

[Bishka]

I have a question for all the Hindus on this site.

The Laws of Manu, are they ALL still followed today?

For example:
"In childhood, a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead, to her sons; a woman must never be independent.

The husband who wedded her with sacred texts, always gives happiness to his wife, both in season and out of season, in this world and in the next.

Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure elsewhere, or devoid of good qualities, yet a husbnad must be constantly worshiped as a god by a faithful wife.

No sacrifice, now vow, no fast must be performed by women apart from their husbands; if a wife obeys her husband, she will for that reason alone, be exalted in heaven." (Manu 5.148, 153-55)

So, I'm wondering do you follow that today? Do you make your wife(if you are married) treat you like a god, even if you are 'destitue of virute' or 'seeking pleaure elsewhere"?

 

[Bishka]

This is all of the Laws of Manu I know so far because I do not have them in front of me. So don't get on me about not knowing everything, I'm just wondering if you follow these parts of the Laws of of Manu. Wish I did, anyone know where I can get a cheap copy of Hindu texts? Thanks.

 

[Valjean]

I think they're cultural curiosities, not a part of modern Indian law.

 

[Arkangel]

I have a question for all the Hindus on this site.

The Laws of Manu, are they ALL still followed today?

For example:
"In childhood, a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead, to her sons; a woman must never be independent.

The husband who wedded her with sacred texts, always gives happiness to his wife, both in season and out of season, in this world and in the next.

Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure elsewhere, or devoid of good qualities, yet a husbnad must be constantly worshiped as a god by a faithful wife.

No sacrifice, now vow, no fast must be performed by women apart from their husbands; if a wife obeys her husband, she will for that reason alone, be exalted in heaven." (Manu 5.148, 153-55)

So, I'm wondering do you follow that today? Do you make your wife(if you are married) treat you like a god, even if you are 'destitue of virute' or 'seeking pleaure elsewhere"?

Come tell this to my mother, my grandmother or any of my aunts and you will get a answer :biglaugh:

 

[Valjean]

LOL! A bit on the conservative side, eh?

 

[Arkangel]

LOL! A bit on the conservative side, eh?

No the opposite, I dont think gods take trash out every night:biglaugh:

 

[Jyothi]

"pitru rakshati kowmare
bharto rakshati yowvane
putro rakshati vardhakye
nah stri swatantryamarhati"

this was your first question

there are many interpretations to this verse - the interpretation you have for rakshati is controlled or subjected or ruled - in common indian languages raksha is protection and rakshati is to be protected. meaning a woman is to be protected by her father in her teens, her husband in her youth and by her son in her old age. now the last verse is where it says that "a woman does not deserve freedom"

western translators assumed this particular verse to be most important and changed protection to control. i would rather ignore the last verse and assume that to be part of the local lingua or the practice of the period rather than think othewise.

the other three verses you have quoted are true, or almost true representations of the sanskritic verses of manusmriti; however women were also allowed seperation from a husband under certain circumstances.

anyways to answer your question - no manusmriti is not practiced formally in india - today indian common law which takes after british common law is practiced.

but on a more informal or personal count, i for one do protect my wife, do everything possible to make her happy, look after and provide for my mother in her old age, and in turn i think my wife considers me as her prime priority - the same way i consider her mine. is that caused by manusmriti? in terms of cause and effect, you should consider that ancient india has had many rulers such as manu who had attempted to codify law, i think essentially the indian ethos helped created manusmriti rather than otherwise.

hope it helps

 

[Surya Deva]

The laws of Manu have influenced Indian culture for a long time. It is indeed true that traditionally women had to reveer their husbands as their lord, and you will find that a few decades ago this was the case and there were lot of double standards towards women, even today, but to a much lesser extent. The husband, even if he had no good qualities, seeked sexual pleasure elsewhere, or abused her, still was sacrosanct to his wife and she had to forgive him all the time - this was expected of her. So the husband was given free reign to do anything he wanted by society.

It truly was a very regressive and unfair system, but today women are given a lot more respect in Indian society and are career-minded women. The Laws of Manu, though a Hindu text, are laws codified by man at the time. It is not actually the Hindu view point towards women. In that time, the woman really were protected and cared for by men and did not work themselves, it was the mans duty to look after her. They were not disrespected or oppressed though, they were highly respected and reveered and were considered either mothers, sisters, daughters or goddesses.

They had equal rights that men did to education and religon, they could even become teachers/gurus themselves and could perform the yajnas(fire sacrifices) alongside men. There are many such references to women gurus and rishis who openly disputed with men on philosophical issues. In fact the most central Indian Hindu text Rig Veda itself compiled by hundreds of rishis, of which 21 were women sages.

It would be interesting to note that Shakti, power, in Hinduism is "femine" Women have been given such a great place in Hinduism, that the biggest wars in Hinduism the war between Lord Rama and Ravana and the war of the Mahabharata was when a women was disrespected. In fact it is held that when a woman is disrespected, that is when society begins to degenerate.

This is what American Historian Will Durant (1885-1981)


"Women enjoyed far greater freedom in the Vedic period than in later India. She had more to say in the choice of her mate than the forms of marriage might suggest. She appeared freely at feasts and dances, and joined with men in religious sacrifice. She could study, and like Gargi, engage in philosophical disputation. If she was left a widow there were no restrictions upon her remarriage."

The ugly practice of Sati and Dowry which has been traditionally practiced in India is not found in the Vedas or in the laws of Manu.

In fact the laws of Manu you quoted, you missed this out:

Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands and brothers-in-law, who desire their own welfare." (Manu Smriti III, 55)

" Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers." (Manu Smriti III, 57).

"The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse, perish completely as if destroyed by magic." (Manu Smriti III, 58)

" Hence men who seek their own welfare, should always honor women on holidays and festivals with gifts of ornaments, clothes, and dainty food." (Manu Smriti III, 59)

I hope I leave you content and satisfied that women were not oppressed or maltreated in Hinduism, on the contrary, greatly respected and reveered.

 

[ChrisP]

Come tell this to my mother, my grandmother or any of my aunts and you will get a answer :biglaugh:

Hahaha yeah, we have a lot of Indian immigrants here, and one of my best mates is from Cochin (he's just gone back ) Women definitely run the show in most Indian households from what I've seen! On the plus side that leaves more time for guys to hold motor races, beer drinking contests and wild beach parties!!! Guess where I'm going at the end of this year!

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! w00t!

 

[akshar]

To bw honest im sure many would follow them if they knew them.

 

[Hema]

Vedas are the oldest books of the Hindus. They are the pillars of Hinduism. In the Vedic wedding both the man and woman take their seven steps side by side indicating equality. I will be getting married next year under Vedic rites. Yes, I do see God in my fiance. I have told him this and he in turn told me that he sees God in me also. In the Gita, it is stated that a true devotee sees God equally in all creatures. The Atman or soul is same in both man and woman. Hinduism is probably the only religion who sees God as mother and father.

 

[akshar]

The Book Of Manu cannot say this, i have read verses which say that man should be very respectful towards them, or they are in deep trouble.:sorry1: women!

 

[Valjean]

The laws of Manu are a cultural curiosity and have no more place in modern Hinduism than Sharia does in modern Islam, indeed, they should have less. Many are cruel and unjust. No reasonable person can support them.

 

[akshar]

I think some things which people post on this site are just made up, they make something up and give it numbers.

 

[Valjean]

I think some things which people post on this site are just made up, they make something up and give it numbers.

Quite right. 42% of us make things up all the time, and 37% of us believe everything we post.
Curiously, the remaining 5% of "facts" turn out to have been right 80% of the time.

 

[akshar]

"Akshar (on religious forums) is the best individual he is the avatari of all avatars" Rig Veda 12:89 thats what its like on this site, RF should find strong sources before letting anyone post senseless comment like that (just joking, its true )

 

[akshar]

Quite right. 42% of us make things up all the time, and 37% of us believe everything we post.
Curiously, the remaining 5% of "facts" turn out to have been right 80% of the time.

Yeah um i doubt 80% of the time they are right, they ARENT true over 80% of time.