They are straight from the heart, they do not pretend they know things even though many may find it difficult to admit.
In an Ocean called Hinduism., one gets doubts all the time and one is encouraged to question it.
Atharva Veda on Effort.
When I keep posting on researched articles, I find people are interested, intrigued and many have started reading Sanatana Dharma Texts, setting aside the prejudice of them being myths(propagated by the west) in anew Light.
At the same time they get some doubts and they convey it to me.
Some through direct email or by comments to the Posts .
One such comment is below.
‘Even though I am Hindu and yeah I don’t believe in idol worshipping but sometimes I doubt what was the first society or first rules made on earth whether it’s Hinduism or other Relevant religion.. Please can u light on some confusion’
It requires a Hinduism to allow you to say that you do not follow some of its tenets and yet say I am a Hindu!
Sanatana dharma does not call it as heresy.
It calls it as enquiry which it feels it ought to clarify and clear.
As to the Moral principles rules by a society for the first time in the world, it is undoubtedly Hinduism.
It is in the form of Vedas.
Vedas are nothing but the exposition of Dharma, loosely translated as righteousness.
It is much more than that.
Dharma is the Natural state of Being, unsullied by experience.
The effort of the Vedas lie in the direction of making the Pure Self to realize its pristine nature.
In this effort many deities are worshiped in the abstract form, which later became Gods with forms.
In this endeavour, Hinduism lays down rules throughout the Vedas.
Right from the Rig Veda, which states,
‘bathram karnebi srunuyaama devaa”
Let Noble thoughts reach my ears from all directions, thereby indicating what is good and what is not Good.
As disipline for a Man the Taittriya Explains the duties and responsibilities of an individual.
In Shikshavalli,
Bhriguvalli,
Narayanavalli, and Ananadavalli.
In this the responsibility of a celibate, householder,the semi renounced, and the renounced are explained in detail
Not only this.
These texts expalin the necessity of respecting nature,Plants, animals, food, air.
Shikshavaali begins with ‘Annanna Nindhyaath Tat vratahm’
Take a Vow,
Never insult food( By not taking it or wasting it or eat alone
Goes on to add,
It is because of food one lives and one is made of food.
If a religion can pay so much respect to such an intricate issue, by making it a part of Teaching syllabus at the beginning, can there be any doubt which Religion, Society gave the first Rules to the Mankind?
It is Sanatana Dharma, first through the Vedas later through the Smritis, Manu Smriti being one of them.
I shall be writing in detail on Taittiya Mantra Kosa.
The Mansusmriti,Hinduism, one of the Books on Code of Conduct covers a wide range of subjects, from Naminf the individual to even Toilet practices.
Toilet Rules, Manusmriti.
Manusmriti,Laws of Manu.jpg
A Brahmana who desires energy must not look at a woman who applies collyrium to her eyes, has anointed or uncovered herself or brings forth a child.
Let him not eat, dressed with one garment only; let him not bathe naked; let him not void urine on a road, on ashes, or in a cow-pen.
Nor on ploughed land, in water, on an altar of bricks, on a mountain, on the ruins of a temple, nor ever on an ant-hill.
Nor in holes inhabited by living creatures, nor while he walks or stands, nor on reaching the bank of a river, nor on the top of a mountain.
Let him never void faeces or urine, facing the wind, or a fire, or looking towards a Brahmana, the sun, water, or cows.
He may ease himself, having covered the ground with sticks, clods, leaves, grass, and the like, restraining his speech, keeping himself pure, wrapping up his body, and covering his head.
Let him void faeces and urine, in the daytime turning to the north, at night turning towards the south, during the two twilights in the same position as by day.
In the shade or in darkness a Brahmana may, both by day and night, do it, assuming any position he pleases; likewise when his life is in danger.
The intellect of a man who voids urine against a fire, the sun, the moon, in water, against a Brahmana, a cow, or the wind, perishes.
Let him not blow a fire with his mouth; let him not look at a naked woman; let him not throw any impure substance into the fire, and let him not warm his feet at it.
Let him not place fire under a bed or the like; nor step over it, nor place it when he sleeps at the foot-end of his bed; let him not torment living creatures.
Let him not eat, nor travel, nor sleep during the twilight; let him not scratch the ground; let him not take off his garland.
Let him not throw urine or faeces into the water, nor saliva, nor clothes defiled by impure substances, nor any other impurity, nor blood, nor poisonous things.
Manusmṛti Chapter 4, verses 44-56
Far from his dwelling let him remove urine and ordure, far let him remove the water used for washing his feet, and far the remnants of food and the water from his bath.
Early in the morning only let him void faeces, decorate his body, bathe, clean his teeth, apply collyrium to his eyes, and worship the gods.
Manusmṛti Chapter 4, verses 151-152.
All those cavities of the body which lie above the navel are pure, but those which are below the navel are impure, as well as excretions that fall from the body.
Flies, drops of water, a shadow, a cow, a horse, the rays of the sun, dust, earth, the wind, and fire one must know to be pure to the touch.
In order to clean the organs by which urine and faeces are ejected, earth and water must be used, as they may be required, likewise in removing the remaining ones among twelve impurities of the body.
Oily exudation, semen, blood, the fatty substance of the brain, urine, faeces, the mucus of the nose, ear-wax, phlegm, tears, the rheum of the eyes, and sweat are the twelve impurities of human bodies.
He who desires to be pure must clean the penis by one application of earth and then water, the anus by applying earth and then water three times, the left hand alone by applying it ten times, and both hands by applying it seven times.
Such is the purification ordained for householders; it shall be double for students, treble for hermits, but quadruple for ascetics.
When he has voided urine or faeces, let him, after sipping water, sprinkle the cavities, likewise when he is going to recite the Veda, and always before he takes food.
People malign Manu without studying his work in full.
Texts are often taken out of context to suit one’s convenience.
Manu Smriti
Whatever be the subject, deep thought seems to have gone into and these Laws are arrived at after taking into consideration the stability of the Society and the welfare of the individual.
However Social Order seems to take priority.
The Laws of Manu on selecting a Bride , to me, seems very rational.
As parents most of us follow the same without articulating or even aware of it.
To ensure Offspring without Genetic disorders Manu prohibits marriage with immediate blood relatives.
And with chronic illness and birth defects.
He insists on not marrying from a Family without a Male Heir.
Boys’ parents know how difficult it is to interact with a child with no brother/s for they normally are unaware of Mael view-point.
And in the event of the demise of the girl’s father, if there are no Males to interact on behalf of the Girl, it creates n running the Family at times of crisis.
Manu pays scant regard to the wealth of the Girl’s Family.
He has also provided some physical marks which might have a bearing on the character of the Bride.
Some of his observations are vindicated by Science, like the one regarding excessive Body hair-normally the extra hair growth is because of imbalance in Hormones.
Read the Laws of Manu on this.
Though this appears to apply for Brahmins, my view is that these laws are meant for the three Varnas, Brahmana, Kshatriyas,an Vaisyas as Manu simply lays down these rules for the Dwijas(twice Born)
That is those who wear Upaveeda.
These three varnas must wear Upaveedas.
Therefore these rules of Manu apply to all the three castes.
4. Having bathed, with the permission of his teacher, and performed according to the rule the Samavartana (the rite on returning home), a twice-born man shall marry a wife of equal caste who is endowed with auspicious (bodily) marks.
5. A damsel who is neither a Sapinda on the mother’s side, nor belongs to the same family on the father’s side, is recommended to twice-born men for wedlock and conjugal union.
6. In connecting himself with a wife, let him carefully avoid the ten following families, be they ever so great, or rich in kind, horses, sheep, grain, or (other) property,
7. (Viz.) one which neglects the sacred rites, one in which no male children (are born), one in which the Veda is not studied, one (the members of) which have thick hair on the body, those which are subject to hemorrhoids, phthisis, weakness of digestion, epilepsy, or white or black leprosy.
8. Let him not marry a maiden (with) reddish (hair), nor one who has a redundant member, nor one who is sickly, nor one either with no hair (on the body) or too much, nor one who is garrulous or has red (eyes),
9. Nor one named after a constellation, a tree, or a river, nor one bearing the name of a low caste, or of a mountain, nor one named after a bird, a snake, or a slave, nor one whose name inspires terror.
10. Let him wed a female free from bodily defects, who has an agreeable name, the (graceful) gait of a Hamsa or of an elephant, a moderate (quantity of) hair on the body and on the head, small teeth, and soft limbs
The major difference is that unlike the Fundamental Rights, Vedas can not be changed/amended.
As time changes, so are the customs and values.
Hence Manu Smriti also changes , depending on the Yuga.
What we now have as Manu Smriti , I am not sure is the one meant for Kali Yuga,
And The Manu Smriti reflects the Social Life.
Like the Films, the question of whether Society influences Life or the other way around, one is never sure.
With this back ground let us look at the quoted texts which are derogatory to women.
1.”Swabhav ev narinam …..” – 2/213. It is the nature of women to seduce men in this world; for that reason the wise are never unguarded in the company of females.”
I do not see anything derogatory here.
It is by way of explanation of Nature.
Being a Seductress is not repulsive, it becomes dangerous when one falls for it. without thinking of the consequences to himself and family.
By implication it is the nature of Men to go after women,
True, but we do not admit it.
“Avidvam samlam………..” – 2/214. Women, true to their class character, are capable of leading astray men in this world, not only a fool but even a learned and wise man. Both become slaves of desire.”
This follows the earlier one and this is a fact;we may not like the fact.
Some times we refuse to accept Nature, when explained.
We may not like Gravity,but it is.
Truth need not be palatable.
Look at the Empires that have Crashed,Misery befallen ,from Ramayana to French/Russian Revolution.
Dasaratha was a wise King,Draupadi was born in Fire ,yet one’s one moment of weak will sent Lord Rama to forest and another ensured Mahabharata war.
What Bloody Mary did and the Tsarina had for Rasputin History knows.
Expressing the consequences arising out of nature is not to defame.
3.Matra swastra ………..” – 2/215. Wise people should avoid sitting alone with one’s mother, daughter or sister. Since carnal desire is always strong, it can lead to temptation.
This actually insults Men, nothing is said of women here,
And it is also a sordid fact which none seems to acknowledge is the amount of Incest that goes on.
Other Smritis also say that after the Age of ten , a Girl must not sleep in the same bed with her father,brother.
Hinduism knows Human instincts and goes by it, not by misplaced ideological non sense.
Essentially we are animals by Instinct.
One has to evolve by practice.
This verse is by way of caution and I see nothing wrong in it.
Why should women object to this?
It is for their safety and welfare.
Read under ‘interesting and funny’ in my blog.
4.Naudwahay……………..” – 3/8. One should not marry women who has/ had reddish hair, redundant parts of the body [such as six fingers], one who is often sick, one without hair or having excessive hair and one who has red eyes.
This seems to be a correlation arrived at(may be true or untrue) between Physiognomy and Behavior.
Manu Smriti says of Men that a woman should not marry a Angaheena physically challenged,one who has deserted his wife/Family,has disease.
This is not an insult, is an advice.
5.Nraksh vraksh ………..” – 3/9. One should not marry women whose names are similar to constellations, trees, rivers, those from a low-caste, mountains, birds, snakes, slaves or those whose names inspires terror.
This reflects the belief of the times.
For example every Nakshatra has some or other stigma attached to it.
Chithrai Appan Theruvile-parents of children born in Chithra Nakshatra shall be on the streets, deserted by their children.
Is it?
No. It is a belief the people had.
6.Yasto na bhavet ….. …..” – 3/10. Wise men should not marry women who do not have a brother and whose parents are not socially well-known.
What is wrong in this?
Even to-day we check the family background before getting married.
The point about Brother is that one who s born with a Brother knows to deal with a Man better than the one with out a sibling.
This is a fact.
There are 40 quotes on the site,
As the blog is getting lengthy, I shall post in the next Post/s.
It does not say that Hindus alone should follow these rules.
Nor does it sat that only those who follow these Rules are Hindus.
These are suggested ways o Life as found by wise men.
We have these sets of Rules, not classified as rules as such in the Vedas, Puarana, Epics Like the Mahabharata and other literature .
So it becomes difficult to codify all these under one head.
But efforts have been made earlier with various Smritis, like Manu Smriti,Sukra Neethi,Vashista Needhi,Vidhura Needhi.
Even these texts are too long and at times difficult to understand.
Sree VatsaSomadeva Sarma,under the guidance of Kanchi Maha Periyavar, published a book in Tamil,’Vaidika Samvardini’,containing the essentials of behavior according to Hinduism.
These rules, contrary to popular misconception, is to be followed by all, not meant for only Brahmins.
One wil notice that these rules have a scientific bearing and are conducive to good Health , both mental and Physical.
The Rules:
Do not look at the Sun, during,
Sun Rise,,
Sunset,
At Noon,
as a Reflection in Water,
and during Eclipses.
2.Always perambulate in a Clockwise direction, Brahmins,Temples,Idols of God,Cow, Married woman, and Pipal tree (AswathaTree)
* King Dileepa did beget children because he perambulated these anti clock wise.
3. What not to do with Fire.
Blowing out by Mouth,
Jumping over,
Touching,
Keeping on the ground(keep on a non combustible) container,
Douse it with Water,
Warm the feet,
Drop unclean things and
add more fire to the existing Fire.
4.How to approach a Holy Rivers.
Do not keep your feet first.
Sprinkle water on the head first(Prokshana),
Then wash feet.
Do not take bath without clothes , have a cloth for private parts’
Do not spit or gargle .
If you need to, take water in a vessel and gargle.
Do not urinate or pass motion.
Do not Drop stones.
5.Never do the following for only for one self.
Cooking.
Prepare Garlands.
Prepare Snacks.
These are to be offered to God and Guests first.
6.How to Sleep.
Sleep only after washing and drying the feet.
Pray God.
Do not sleep. keeping the head in the North.
Do not sleep in a dilapidated building.
Do not Sleep in a Cot that is disrepair.
Never wake up one who is sleeping.
Never wake up the elders.
7.Do not do the following with a woman in Menstruation.
Do not go near them for the fist three days.
Do not talk with them nor hear them while eating.
Do not eat what is left after they eat.
You can approach them only after the fifth day.
8.How to treat a Cow.
perambulate in a Clock wise direction.
Scratching it.
Provide food .Never beat it in any form,
Never inform owner if the Cow grazes on the field.
8.Do not use the following which others have used,
Dress,
Footwear,Seats,Vessels used for drinking water, partaking Food,bed ,Japa Mala and Garlands.
10.Never,
Inhale the smoke from the Corpse,
expose yourself to Early morning Sun,
Shadows of Men,
Shadows of the morally deviant.
To be Continued.
Aswatha Stotra:
Among the trees Aswatha is the most religious for all Hindus. In most of the places, an idol of God is consecrated below the tree. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the family which plants the tree, does sacred thread ceremony to the tree and then conducts its marriage with the neem tree. Most of the serpent temples in Kerala and Ganesa temples in Tamil Nadu are below this tree. Women who are not able to beget children are asked to go round the tree daily. The great shade of the tree is used as the meeting place of senior citizens in every village.)
Atharva Veda on Effort.
You must be logged in to post a comment.