Manusmriti and Women

With the new Travel Policy of Nepal government against women. It again raised question upon the Manusmriti. Let us now review the allegation on Manu Smriti – that Manu Smriti is grossly anti-women and denigrates the Matri Shakti (motherly force).

We had discussed how Manu Smriti has been grossly interpolated. However, it is very easy to identify the fraud verses and separate them from the original Manu Smriti.

If we review this original Manu Smriti, one can proudly assert that there is perhaps no other text in the world (except Vedas of course!) that accords so much respect and rights to women. Even the modern feminist books would have to seek further amendments to match up to Manu Smriti.

I am yet to read a text that so unambiguously proclaims that women form the foundation of a prosperous society.

3.56. A society that provides respect and dignity to women flourishes with nobility and prosperity. And a society that does not put women on such a high pedestal has to face miseries and failures regardless of how many noble deeds they perform otherwise.

This is not merely the flattery of womenfolk. It is a truth – very harsh for those who denigrate women and the sweetest nectar for those who glorify the motherly force. This law of nature applies to a family, society, cult, nation, or entire humanity.

We became slaves despite all our greatness because we neglected this advice of Maharshi Manu. We did not heed this advice for centuries, and hence our situation turned from bad to worse. In the late nineteenth century, thanks to efforts of reformers like Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, we started considering the Vedic message seriously and hence observed a gradual upturn.

Many conservative Muslim countries of today consider women as half-intelligent and unworthy of equal rights at par with men. Hence these places are worse than hell. Europe followed the derogatory Biblical concept of women for ages and hence was among the most superstitious places in the world. Then, thanks to the reformation era, things changed and Bible ceased to be taken seriously. As a result, rapid progress happened. But now women are typically stereotyped as a sensual object of pleasure and not as a respectful motherly force. And hence, despite all the material progress, the Western world is still inflicted with insecurity and a lack of inner peace.

Let's review some more shlokas from Manu Smriti and attempt to imbibe them in our society:

Importance of happy women

3.55. A father, brother, husband, or brother-in-law should keep their daughter, sister, wife, or sister-in-law happy and pleased through gentle words, respectful behavior, gifts, etc. Those who desire prosperity should ensure that women in their family are always happy and do not face miseries.

3.57. A family where women remain unhappy due to the misdeeds of their men is bound to be destroyed. And a family where women are always happy is bound to prosper forever.

3.58. A family- where women feel insulted or discriminated against and curse their menfolk- is destroyed in the same manner as poison kills all those who eat it.

3.59. One desiring glory should ensure that he keeps women in the family by giving them respect and pleasing them with good ornaments, dresses, food. Women should always be revered under all circumstances.

3.62. A person who does not keep her wife happy causes misery for the entire family. And if the wife is happy, the entire family appears as happiness incarnate.

9.26. Women give birth to the next generation. They enlighten the home. They bring fortune and bliss. Hence women are synonymous with Prosperity.

This shloka forms the basis of women being called Ghar ko Laxmi or ‘Goddess of Fortune in Home‘ in Nepal and other Hindu families even today.

9.28. A woman is the source of all kinds of happiness in all generations – be it from children, or from noble benevolent deeds or through conjugal bliss, or through the service of elders.

In other words, a woman is the primary source of bliss in many forms – sometimes as a mother, sometimes as a daughter, sometimes as a wife, and sometimes as a partner in spiritual deeds. It also means that the participation of women is necessary for the conduct of any religious or spiritual activity.

9.96. Man and Woman are incomplete without each other. Hence the most ordinary religious duty would demand the participation of both.

Thus, those who deny Vedas or Vedic rituals to women are anti-Hindu and anti-Humanity.

4.180. A wise man should not indulge in fights and arguments with his family members including mother, daughter, and wife.

9.4. A father who does not marry his daughter to a deserving groom deserves condemnation. A husband who does not fulfill just the demands of her wife deserves condemnation. A son who does not take care of her widow mother deserves condemnation.

Polygamy is a sin

9.101. Husband and Wife should remain together till death. They should not approach any other partner, nor commit adultery. This, in summary, is the Dharma or religion of all human beings.

Thus those societies which justify polygamy or sex-slavery or temporary marriage are bound to suffer miseries because they neglect the core tenet of Dharma.

Autonomy of Women

9.11.  Women should be provided autonomy and leadership in managing the finances, maintaining hygiene, spiritual and religious activities, nutrition, and overall management of the home.

The shloka clearly puts aside false claims that women do not have the right to conduct religious rituals of Vedas. On contrary, women should lead such rituals. Thus all those people who suggest that women do not have the right to study or practice Vedas are against Manu and Vedas. Such bigoted people are the cause for the misery of the nation. We should simply not tolerate such mindsets that demean women.

9.12. A woman who is kept constrained in a home by noblemen (husband, father, son) is still insecure. Thus it is futile to restrict women. Security of women would come only through her own capabilities and mindset.

This shloka explains the futility of attempting to restrict a woman to a home in name of providing her security. On contrary, to secure her, she should be given the right training so that she can defend herself and avoid getting misled by bad company. The prevailing notion of cornering women within a small home is against Manu’s ideology.

 

Protection of Women

9.6. Even a weak husband should attempt to protect his wife.

9.5 Women should keep themselves away from vices. Because when women lose a character, the entire society is destroyed.

5.149. A woman should always ensure that she is protected. It is the duty of the father, husband, and son to protect her.

Please note that this protection does not imply restriction as clear from verse 9.12 cited in the previous section. But a society that does not protect its womenfolk from attacks of perverts writes its own destiny of doom.

It is because of this inspiration that many brave warriors laid their lives to protect the dignity of their women when butchers from West and Central Asia invaded India. The sacrifices of Alha-Udal and the valor of Maharana Pratap brings a gush of glory in blood.

It's a shame that despite such a chivalrous foundation of our culture, we have women either oppressed in the backyard of homes or commoditized as sensual-items instigating lust. When we ourselves have turned invaders instead of protectors of the dignity of women, who can help us!

 

Marriage of Women

9.89. It is better to keep the daughter unmarried than force her to marry an undeserving person.

9.90-91. A woman can choose her own husband after attaining maturity. If her parents are unable to choose a deserving groom, she can herself choose her husband.

Thus the concept of parents deciding the groom for their daughter is against Manu. A mature daughter has full rights to choose her husband. Parents act as facilitators for the marriage and not final decision-makers, as wrongly practiced in many societies.

 

Property Rights of Women

9.130. A daughter is equivalent to a son. In her presence, how can anyone snatch away her right over the property?

9.131. A daughter alone has the right over the personal property of her mother.

Thus, as per Manu, while the daughter has an equal share as her brothers over the property of her father, she has exclusive rights over the property of her mother. The reason for this special treatment of women is to ensure that women are never at mercy of anyone. After all happy dignified women form the foundation of a happy society!

9.212-213. If a person has no kins or wife, then his wealth is distributed equally among his brothers and sisters. If the elder brother refuses to give due share to other brothers and sisters, he is punishable by law.

To further ensure the safety of women, Manu recommended harsh punishments for those who rob away the wealth of a woman, even if they are her relatives.

8.28-29. If a woman is alone because she has no children, or no men to provide for her security in her family, or is a widow, or whose husband has gone abroad, or who is unwell, then it is the duty of the government to ensure her safety and security. If her wealth is robbed by her relatives or friends, then the government should provide strict punishment to the culprits and have her wealth returned back.

 

Prohibition of Dowry

3.52. Those relatives who rob away or thrive on wealth, property, vehicles, or dresses of a woman or her family are the wiliest of people.

Thus any kind of dowry is a strict NO-NO as per Manu Smriti. No one should dare attempt to take away the property of a woman.

The next shloka takes this concept further and states that even the slightest exchange of tangible items amounts to sale/purchase and hence against principles of noble marriage. In fact, Manu Smriti suggests that marriage along with dowry is a marriage of ‘Devils’ or Asuri Vivah.

 

Strict Punishment for harming Women

8.323. Those who abduct women should be given a death sentence.

9.232. Those who kill women, children, or scholarly virtuous people should be given the strictest punishment.

8.352. Those who rape or molest women or incite them into adultery should be given the harshest punishment that creates fear among others to even think of such a crime.

Interestingly, a judge of sessions court suggested today that castration seems the best punishment to prevent an alarming increase in rape cases. Refer http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Castrate-child-rapists-Delhi-judge-suggests/articleshow/8130553.cms

We are in agreement with such a law.

8. 275. One should be punished if he puts false allegations or demeans mother, wife, or daughter.

8.389. Those who abandon their mother, father, wife, or children without any reasonable reason should face severe punishments.

Ladies First

The concept of "Ladies First" seems to originate from Manu Smriti.

2.138. A man in a vehicle should give way to the following – aged person, diseased person, one carrying burden, groom, king, student, and a woman.

3.114. One should feed the following even before feeding the guests – newly married women, girls, and pregnant women.

May we all work together to implement this true Manuvaad by showering respect and ensuring the dignity of the motherly force. How else can prosperity be restored in the society, nation, and world?

PDF Files of Manusmriti:- 

From:- Internet Archive