Manu in Hinduism

The creation of Universe and Man has always been questioned regardless in every society and civilization; as science was not so progressed in the early stage of civilization and people believed religion can answer all the questions therefore unlike any other religion Hinduism also answer the questions with the concept of MANU

Manu

Etymologically “Manu” came from the word “Manushya” means “Man” in English. According to Brahma Puran : “.. Brahma gave form to a Man and a Woman. The man was Swayambhu Manu and the Woman was named Shatrupa. Humans are descended from Manu…” Manu is not a single person; it’s a class of persons who are protoplasts of each Manavantars, now Manavantars is one of fourteen part of a Kalpa each lasting 306,720,000 years according to the Hinduism. Each day of Brahma is considered a Kalpa, Brahma is going to live 51 years according to Purans. So there was many Manu previously and will be in the future.

Each Manu is the first human being for his human race in his time. According to several Purans we found at list 30 Kalpa list, and Hindu believers believes that now we are living in kalpa of white boat (sveta varaha kalpa) in the Kali Yuga or age of vice and Sraddhadeva Manu is the current Manu of the current world.

Manu has great importance in Hindu law for the application of his Manusmriti; it is one of the earliest and most authoritative law texts followed by the Hindus, Manusmriti covers a wide range of topics such as, definitions of what is right and fit (dharma), the sacraments, initiation and Vedic study, forms of marriage, hospitality and funerary rites, dietary laws, pollution and purification, rules for women and wives, royal law, many sorts of juridical matters, and also more religious matters, which include donations, rites, the doctrine of karma (“giving-back”), the soul, and punishment in many sorts of hells. The framework for the notions and rules, it represents is the ancient model of a four-class society. It also discusses women right or oppression according to some commenters. It is a collection of 2685 Sanskrit verses divided into 12 divisions, also known as Manav Dharam Shastra. The Laws of Manu was written somewhere between 200 BCE and 200 CE. Although no details of this eponymous author’s life are known, it is likely that he belonged to a conservative Brahman class somewhere in Northern India. Hindu apologists consider the Manusmriti as the divine code of conduct.

Manu has great importance and effect in Hindu society in the everyday life. It is one of the main and original sources of Hindu law and therefore it is important to understand the concept of Manu and his Laws to understand Hindu law

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Rayhanul Islam

Advocate Rayhanul Islam is the founder and Editor in Chief of Law Help BD. He is also a researcher. Critical thinking is his main focus. He is on a quest to bring positive change to the legal sector of Bangladesh. He promotes legal knowledge and human rights concept to the root level. e-mail: [email protected]

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