Manu Smriti and Women

in your topic you hav said that women should be engaged in managerial work of home.cant women ,like men, do job outside home also?

can a women practise brahmacharya even after marriage

what does veda says about marriage?i have read in swami dayanand saraswati topic that the main purpose of marriage is procreation. Then why people have to marry?is there nothing about commitment in marriage?

most of the principles are just re-iteration from what has been brought by the last prophet from the almighty – a complete set of principles, respect towards woman can be had from islam
for instance – burrying the newly born daughters by the idol worshippers in arab, prior to the blessing of prophetism to mohammed (pbuh), was curbed and stopped by mohammed (pbuh).& respect towards women, was not confined to just physical beauty/ color/ body language

The essential difference between Hindu and other religions is there are many women gods. Sometimes they are more powerful than men gods. Another thing is there are many animal gods. That is enough to prove that Hindu treated not only man and women equal but even animals and tree also .

Manusmriti came into prominace after 1857 the first war of independance. The East India company was dissolved and the queen undertook governance of India. The first decisions they took was to rule india as per the respective religious codes . It was easy to formulate code for Muslims as per Koran and sharia rule. They could not find any Hindu book for that. Some one suggested the manusmriti but it was in sanskrit and had to be translated in english. A british missionary translated that and it quickely got translated into German, french and many other european languages. However When British found that manusmriti was formulated much before the so called oldest British constitution and it received extremely good reports from other european countries the british decided to damn Manusmriti and it continued to receive bad publicity from english educated elites of that time

While talking about Manusmriti one must bear in mind as to when this scripture was composed . According to the experts it was composed much before Ramayan period and even before Christ period. The experts believe it was about 10000 years back. The geopraphy of this country was different . There is no mention of Ganga Jamuna and Sindhu. There is mention of rivers called Iravati and Saraswati. Unfortunely the so called experts also have not understood the content of of this great work. For example the inter nationally renowed american expert Wendy Doniger has translated a shloka which said “The Rishis go to the forest and do Tapa” which every Hindu can understand , she has translated as ” The hermits go to forest and create heat” Such a laughable translation. I do not want to critisize her because she has done such huge work and deserves lot of respect. But what i would like to plead with the indian experts here please read the manusmriti in original work preferable in sanskrit. You will be amazed at the kind of work our forfathers have done . But kindly bear in mind the period of composition and you will definitely appreciate Manusmriti.

In India, a sense is prevailing to give equal status to girls in terms of education, monetary rights etc. Ancient India reverred women and they could reach heighest levels in the society. However, women conditions started deteriorating after our country got enslaved.
“Yatra naryah pujayante, tatra ramante devta”. This is Hinduism on women.
It is so pleasing to see the condition of women again improving, though it will take time as it has been ruined by hundreds of years of slavery.
However, condition of women in Islam is highlighted by Ali Sina: “http://alisina.org/blog/2012/08/03/the-place-of-women-in-islam/”
We are proud to feel that our women do not need to shed their blood like Malala.

woh To jhansi wali Rani Thi
सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंशों ने भृकुटी तानी थी,
बूढ़े भारत में भी आई फिर से नयी जवानी थी,
गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी,
दूर फिरंगी को करने की सबने मन में ठानी थी।
चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में, वह तलवार पुरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
कानपूर के नाना की, मुँहबोली बहन छबीली थी,
लक्ष्मीबाई नाम, पिता की वह संतान अकेली थी,
नाना के सँग पढ़ती थी वह, नाना के सँग खेली थी,
बरछी, ढाल, कृपाण, कटारी उसकी यही सहेली थी।
वीर शिवाजी की गाथायें उसको याद ज़बानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
लक्ष्मी थी या दुर्गा थी वह स्वयं वीरता की अवतार,
देख मराठे पुलकित होते उसकी तलवारों के वार,
नकली युद्ध-व्यूह की रचना और खेलना खूब शिकार,
सैन्य घेरना, दुर्ग तोड़ना ये थे उसके प्रिय खिलवाड़|
महाराष्ट्र-कुल-देवी उसकी भी आराध्य भवानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
हुई वीरता की वैभव के साथ सगाई झाँसी में,
ब्याह हुआ रानी बन आई लक्ष्मीबाई झाँसी में,
राजमहल में बजी बधाई खुशियाँ छाई झाँसी में,
सुघट बुंदेलों की विरुदावलि-सी वह आयी थी झांसी में,
चित्रा ने अर्जुन को पाया, शिव को मिली भवानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
उदित हुआ सौभाग्य, मुदित महलों में उजियाली छाई,
किंतु कालगति चुपके-चुपके काली घटा घेर लाई,
तीर चलाने वाले कर में उसे चूड़ियाँ कब भाई,
रानी विधवा हुई, हाय! विधि को भी नहीं दया आई।
निसंतान मरे राजाजी रानी शोक-समानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
बुझा दीप झाँसी का तब डलहौज़ी मन में हरषाया,
राज्य हड़प करने का उसने यह अच्छा अवसर पाया,
फ़ौरन फौजें भेज दुर्ग पर अपना झंडा फहराया,
लावारिस का वारिस बनकर ब्रिटिश राज्य झाँसी आया।
अश्रुपूर्ण रानी ने देखा झाँसी हुई बिरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
अनुनय विनय नहीं सुनती है, विकट शासकों की माया,
व्यापारी बन दया चाहता था जब यह भारत आया,
डलहौज़ी ने पैर पसारे, अब तो पलट गई काया,
राजाओं नव्वाबों को भी उसने पैरों ठुकराया।
रानी दासी बनी, बनी यह दासी अब महरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
छिनी राजधानी दिल्ली की, लखनऊ छीना बातों-बात,
कैद पेशवा था बिठूर में, हुआ नागपुर का भी घात,
उदैपुर, तंजौर, सतारा,कर्नाटक की कौन बिसात?
जब कि सिंध, पंजाब ब्रह्म पर अभी हुआ था वज्र-निपात।
बंगाले, मद्रास आदि की भी तो वही कहानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
रानी रोयीं रनिवासों में, बेगम ग़म से थीं बेज़ार,
उनके गहने कपड़े बिकते थे कलकत्ते के बाज़ार,
सरे आम नीलाम छापते थे अंग्रेज़ों के अखबार,
‘नागपुर के ज़ेवर ले लो लखनऊ के लो नौलख हार’।
यों परदे की इज़्ज़त परदेशी के हाथ बिकानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
कुटियों में भी विषम वेदना, महलों में आहत अपमान,
वीर सैनिकों के मन में था अपने पुरखों का अभिमान,
नाना धुंधूपंत पेशवा जुटा रहा था सब सामान,
बहिन छबीली ने रण-चण्डी का कर दिया प्रकट आहवान।
हुआ यज्ञ प्रारम्भ उन्हें तो सोई ज्योति जगानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
महलों ने दी आग, झोंपड़ी ने ज्वाला सुलगाई थी,
यह स्वतंत्रता की चिनगारी अंतरतम से आई थी,
झाँसी चेती, दिल्ली चेती, लखनऊ लपटें छाई थी,
मेरठ, कानपुर,पटना ने भारी धूम मचाई थी,
जबलपुर, कोल्हापुर में भी कुछ हलचल उकसानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
इस स्वतंत्रता महायज्ञ में कई वीरवर आए काम,
नाना धुंधूपंत, ताँतिया, चतुर अज़ीमुल्ला सरनाम,
अहमदशाह मौलवी, ठाकुर कुँवरसिंह सैनिक अभिराम,
भारत के इतिहास गगन में अमर रहेंगे जिनके नाम।
लेकिन आज जुर्म कहलाती उनकी जो कुरबानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
इनकी गाथा छोड़, चले हम झाँसी के मैदानों में,
जहाँ खड़ी है लक्ष्मीबाई मर्द बनी मर्दानों में,
लेफ्टिनेंट वाकर आ पहुँचा, आगे बढ़ा जवानों में,
रानी ने तलवार खींच ली, हुया द्वंद असमानों में।
ज़ख्मी होकर वाकर भागा, उसे अजब हैरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
रानी बढ़ी कालपी आई, कर सौ मील निरंतर पार,
घोड़ा थक कर गिरा भूमि पर गया स्वर्ग तत्काल सिधार,
यमुना तट पर अंग्रेज़ों ने फिर खाई रानी से हार,
विजयी रानी आगे चल दी, किया ग्वालियर पर अधिकार।
अंग्रेज़ों के मित्र सिंधिया ने छोड़ी राजधानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
विजय मिली, पर अंग्रेज़ों की फिर सेना घिर आई थी,
अबके जनरल स्मिथ सम्मुख था, उसने मुहँ की खाई थी,
काना और मंदरा सखियाँ रानी के संग आई थी,
युद्ध श्रेत्र में उन दोनों ने भारी मार मचाई थी।
पर पीछे ह्यूरोज़ आ गया, हाय! घिरी अब रानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
तो भी रानी मार काट कर चलती बनी सैन्य के पार,
किन्तु सामने नाला आया, था वह संकट विषम अपार,
घोड़ा अड़ा, नया घोड़ा था, इतने में आ गये सवार,
रानी एक, शत्रु बहुतेरे, होने लगे वार-पर-वार।
घायल होकर गिरी सिंहनी उसे वीर गति पानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
रानी गई सिधार चिता अब उसकी दिव्य सवारी थी,
मिला तेज से तेज, तेज की वह सच्ची अधिकारी थी,
अभी उम्र कुल तेइस की थी, मनुज नहीं अवतारी थी,
हमको जीवित करने आयी बन स्वतंत्रता-नारी थी,
दिखा गई पथ, सिखा गई हमको जो सीख सिखानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।
जाओ रानी याद रखेंगे ये कृतज्ञ भारतवासी,
यह तेरा बलिदान जगावेगा स्वतंत्रता अविनासी,
होवे चुप इतिहास, लगे सच्चाई को चाहे फाँसी,
हो मदमाती विजय, मिटा दे गोलों से चाहे झाँसी।
तेरा स्मारक तू ही होगी, तू खुद अमिट निशानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

Team Agniveer:
Does the contents on Manusmriti from below link is from original or corrupted one?
http://themotherindia.com/2013/01/02/sanskrit-tidbits-22an-introduction-to-manusmriti/

Dear Agniveer,
Please lodge a complain to the Wikipedia who gives wrong translations of manusmriti when we search in Google women in Hinduism.
Please Agniveer we have to be united together.

Dear Brother,
Does hinduism support widow remarriage?
Likely it accepts elder woman, may be a widow, marrying a young man?
Kindly reply this.

Aryans who came from middle East were not moorti poojaks (idol worshippers). They were worshippers of Panch mahabootas ( earth(pritvi), water(aap), energy(tej) wind(vaayu), akaash(expanse). Agni was important energy source and Agnihoti Brahmis were given the task of keeping fire for 24 hours for lending to others. The Aryans did not go southwards till ramayan period.. In fact Manusmriti defined vindhya as the southern boundry of Aaryavarta with sea on east and west. The rivers mentioned are Saraswati and Iravati etc but not Ganga and jamuna and not even Sindhu. Ram was the first king who went southward to protect the rishies who went southwards for colonizing along the river Godavari. The Rakshasa who had monkey like features( Vaanara) were the southern rulers.They were were very scared of Agni ( Yagnya) and will try to destroy the same. Ram had to go southwards to protect these colonies of Rishis.( Read Pandit satwalekar Ramayan) . Rama brought with him some vanaras( moneky like negroid features ) to north. That is why we find mention of Hanuman even in Mahbharat.

This website is deplorable. The author cherry-picks facts and ignore all the ill treatment of women EXPLICITLY prescribed in the Manu smirti. He should be ashamed to call himself educated, far less a Hindu.

Manu Smriti has been handed down by oral tradtition over a period of several years. If you see the geography of the area occupied by Aryans where there is mention of rivers Iravati and Sarawati, but no mention Ganga and Jamuna. There is no mention of any geographical region below Vindya. In fact Vindya was southern border of Aryavart. The present bengal was formed by modern rivers like GangaJamuna and Brahmputra which filled up part of ocean and utimately became bengal. This also must have taken several years. So there is no point in finding what was original and what was addition . This means Manusmriti is much much older than any modern culture. The point to be noted during this period a book was compiled for some kind of governance during this period . It is not necessary to compare the same with modern period. There is also not no need to feel embarassed about treatment to women and shudras if we see what americans and european were doing with african and indian slaves taken to various places from africa and india. You will find a big indian population in Indonesia and Malaysia , which were slaves taken by european in 16th to 18 th century. The Europeans Americans do feel shy about it . Why should be feel shy about the status of women and dalits in those days?

The gift, the metrical, of God to humanity is Yoga/meditation. The method that any person can use to connect directly with God and connect directly with the highest state of enlightenment. The fact that this tool is not gifted to one specific person for one specific time or place is the true grace and love of God to all of humanity. It proves there is no need for angels, prophets, son of god, godmen, superman, x-men and etc. Just need to look inside ourselves and we can reproduce that same experience what others in Dharmic history have done, like Krishna, Rama, Buddha, or the Guru Gobind Singh. Yoga/meditation is not based on any form of history centrism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiapfo68tlA

Hello, I was looking for rules regarding and concepts about Menstruation ritual in Vaidic documents or in Manusmriti. I couldn’t find anything mentioned in above article, and also search couldn’t find anything in this page. Could any one guide me to some source and discussion about menstruation ritual in Hindus? I would appreciate much.

There is no point in arguing about things which are not clear to anyone and there is no confirmed one single document or copy of vedas or manu.
One should only focus on the following aspects:
1. There should not be any castesim
2. Everyone should be treated with respect
3. Everyone has right to education
4. Woman should have complete freedom just like men
5. One should strive towards social and economic upliftment
Instead of spending time here, let us do some concrete affirmative actions so that coming generations dont suffer and we focus more on good health living.

dear agniveer ji
from the bottom of my heart i would like to thank u and the prestigious Arya Samaj for your sincere efforts. Because of u and arya samaj last
tuesday i converted to vedic dharma from islam .
my name was wajid ali . now my name is Ayush Bharat i work for spreading the true sanatan dharma under the pen name of Acharya Bharatanand . I sincerely want to thank you for showing me the true path . my paramatma bless you.
yours
Acharya Bharatanand / wajid ali

Can you care to explain below Quotes from Manu:
1. Killing of a woman, a Shudra or an atheist is not sinful. Woman is an embodiment of the worst desires, hatred, deceit, jealousy and bad character. Women should never be given freedom. (Manu IX. 17 and V. 47, 147)
2. When he has touched a Kandala, a menstruating woman, an outcast, a woman in childbed, a corpse, or one who has touched a (corpse), he becomes pure by bathing
3. A low-caste man who tries to place himself on the same seat with a man of a high caste, shall be branded on his hip and be banished, or (the king) shall cause his buttock to be gashed
4. A Kshatriya, having defamed a Brahmana, shall be fined one hundred (panas); a Vaisya one hundred and fifty or two hundred; a Sudra shall suffer corporal punishment

inequality leads to injustice which shall ruin you. koi dekhe na dheke uapr wala dekh raha hai. brahmani /sanatani dharma /karma gone to hell still many filthy headed guys are not ashamed of there idiotic / nonsense craft. visnu raped varndha/tulsi wife of jalandher on orders of shiva who was unable to win . iyapa was born from visnu’s conspiracy to kill bhasmasur thereby his pregnancy by shiva. vasisth s/o prostitute guru of dasrath married sagotra kausalya had daughter santai married sringi ,could’t have son though gone old as advised gone for asvamedh yaga and sringi’s pooja khir in pot given half eaten by kasalya passed to sumitra who ate some further passed to kakeyi who ate some retuned back to sumitra to finish thus 1 beget son 1st 2 beget son from 2nd and 1 beget son from 3rd wife were born in due course of time with difference of couple hours in their delivery . thus vasisth’s grand son parasar born to chandali elder to ram while mallah was taking lunch n not to let braman wait he was ferried by his daughter satyawati who was raped thus vyas who wrote vedas mahabharta upnisads etc was son of low caste sudra woman step mother of bhisam grand mother of kauravs and beget sons of pandu called pandvas whose mother was kunti sister of krisna’s father while krisna’s sister subhdra 4th wife of arjun when krisna’s 4th wife bhadra was daughter of his paternal aunt. most powerful surya’s son karna eldest s/o kunti was denied equality by pandavas even to attend meeting when duryodhan made king giving angadesh to him refusing them any right as they were beget sons of their father’s brother . so mahabharat was result of inequality. none is high or low ‘deeds make so. how son born to brahmani and son born to kshtryani by same sudra person can be high or low unless their deeds are examined where as scriptures are in interest of few selfish people who are cheaters caused jambudvip into pieces n conversions to buddhism , jainism , christiniaty , islam ,…

“Shudr-aiv bharya………” – 3/12.Brahman men can marry Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaish and even Shudra women but Shudra men can marry only Shudra women.
“Na Brahman kshatriya..” – 3/14. Although Brahman, Kshatriya and Vaish men have been allowed inter-caste marriages, even in distress they should not marry Shudra women.
“Heenjati striyam……..” – 3/15. When twice born [dwij=Brahman, Kshatriya and Vaish] men in their folly marry low caste Shudra women, they are responsible for the degradation of their whole family. Accordingly, their children adopt all the demerits of the Shudra caste.
“Shudram shaynam……” – 3/17. A Brahman who marries a Shudra woman, degrades himself and his whole family ,becomes morally degenerated , loses Brahman status and his children too attain status of shudra.
“Chandalash ……………” – 3/240. Food offered and served to Brahman after Shradh ritual should not be seen by a chandal, a pig, a cock,a dog, and a menstruating women.
“Balye pitorvashay…….” – 5/151. Girls are supposed to be in the custody of their father when they are children, women must be under the custody of their husband when married and under the custody of her son as widows. In no circumstances is she allowed to assert herself independently.
“Na ast strinam………..” – 5/158. Women have no divine right to perform any religious ritual, nor make vows or observe a fast. Her only duty is to obey and please her husband and she will for that reason alone be exalted in heaven.
http://nirmukta.com/2011/08/27/the-status-of-women-as-depicted-by-manu-in-the-manusmriti/

Great Article. blog post – I am thankful for the details . Does someone know where my business could possibly access a blank permit search version to type on ?

All these arguments and counter arguments are useless.
The beauty of the Hindu system of thought (I will not call it a religion) is that the it is dynamic and living system. It is not a static like other religions where the final word had been written.
Smriti means man made thought and belief. Sruti means revealed knowledge. Smriti is always overridden by the Sruti and even Suruti itself continually evolves.
Great beautiful and highest philosophical and noble thoughts are available in the Gita and Upanishads.
As Swami Vivekanand put it the Hindu system provides for all classes of worship. From ritualistic idol worship to the highest Yoga which takes Man to the state direct realisation of God in his Absolute.
If there something useful and relevant take it. If there is something not useful or irrelevant, discard it. There is no dogma. Find the Truth for your self says Hinduism. There is no one book.
Like other religions the primary Truths are obscured due time. Still like a flowing river it does not stagnate.
Satya me va Jayate!

Leave alone whatever comments have been made for and mostly against manusmriti. The important thing is that Manusmriti is the oldest constitution to make laws for huamn beings and as group as to how the human beings should behave as individual and as well as group. In this way Manusmriti is far ahead of any constitution composed anywhere in the world.
The most important thing is that Manusmriti believes that the Atma ( soul) of every living beings is the same irrespective of whether it is human beings animal , or even the plants. ( Jagadishchandra Basu proved this much letter.)

यदि महानता शून्य में नही पनपती तो शून्य की उपासना करने वालों को आप महात्मा क्यों कहते हो ?
I challenge whole Agniveer team to have debate with me on Buddha and Buddhism issue

i think you need to get your research done well. of course, he has given importance to women and asked that women should be treated well but not because they deserved it but because that would give men a position in heaven. Other than that there are so many instances in the book that degrade women and give them unfair treatment quoting them would take pages..things like dowry, child marriage, divorce all have roots in this text but with different terms not as we understand in modern terms. And we all know that british never promoted sati and child marriage and that it existed even before they appeared around 1st century BC. The british prohibited it and also approved of widow remarriage.Things that Manu wouldn’t approve of. A woman’s position in the in the book always comes second. Of course many would say it is adulterated because reason 1 it is translated by British or reason 2 the learned ones who knew sanskrit gave their own interpretation..may be.. because let’s face it women were considered unfit to get knowledge her duty was to respect and take good care of household duties and her husband … but the point is this particular book has become the root for all stereotypes and exploitation of women and we have been very selective in choosing just like you chose the parts that praised women and gave them value. In the same way our society has chosen those parts from the text that exploit and degrade women and we have internalised it in such a way that today women are not given freedom in the name of tradition or culture. In any case i really feel…for you to say that in bold letters ”Even the modern feminist books would have to seek further amendments to match up to Manu Smriti.” is nothing but exaggeration. And also we need to look at both sides of the coin particularly that side which has contemporary significance. And that part is not even mentioned here.

A lot of time on discussion people quote chapter 5 verse 154. Please enlighten me