Written by London Swaminathan
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 19 November 2018
GMT Time uploaded in London –14-28
Post No. 5679
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Manava Dharma Shastra (Manu Smrti)
We have already looked at the slokas `1 to 110’ of the Fifth Chapter.
Now we continue from Sloka/ couplet 5- 111
My Comments
1.Amazing thing about Manu smrti is that it is not only talking about cleaning or washing oneself, but also cleaning objects as if it is a science journal (see slokas 111 to 114).
2.Hindu’s belief of Dharba grass continue until today. Though now and then we see some scientific explanation for using the grass, nothing is proved beyond doubt. Further research is required.
3.Cow dung and Cow’s urine have anti- bacterial properties is proved and accepted now; but Manu talks about purification by fruits which is not popular nowadays.
4.Sloka 127. Even a Brahmin’s word will certify the purity of a thing or a task. It is no wonder Manu says that because Manu puts so many strict conditions on Brahmins. When one is truthful and honest anyone will accept his word. Foreign travellers who visited India also praised their honesty.
(My personal experience:- My mother used to buy vegetables from the vendors at our door step; whatever she takes from thevendor, she used to show to her, ‘look madam I am taking these many….;’ then the vendor woman would comment, Oh Madam, you are all Iyers/brahmins; you would not lie to us; so you don’t need to show me what you take inside the house.)
- Slokas 129, 130 about Purity of woman’s mouth and artisan’s hand are very interesting. This shows Manu’s high respect for both artisans and women.
6.Sloka 134 about 12 impurities give the list of 12 impurities in the body.
7.Sloka 148 is THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL SLOKA WHICH ANTI MANU MISCREANTS USE TO SHOW THAT HINDU WOMEN ARE NOT INDEPENDENT. BUT IT IS IN SANGAM TAMIL LITERATURE AND OTHER LITERATURE AS WELL. NO ONE HAS PRAISED WOMEN LIKE MANU; HE SAYS THE FAMILY WHERE A WOMAN IS MADE TO SHED TEARS WILL BE DESTROTED COMPLETELY. HE SAYS RELATIVES OF A WOMAN MUST BUY HER CLOTHES AND ORNAMENTS AND KEEP THE WOMEN ALWAYS HAPPY. HIDING THOSE SLOKAS, FOREIGN MISCREANTS, DRAVIDIAN AND MARXISTS MISCHIEF MAKERS QUOTE THIS COUPLET ONLY, THAT TOO OUT OF CONTEXT.
8.SLOKAs 155 and 156 are similar to Tamil Veda Tirukkural which says that a woman who worships her husband alone, and not god, can perform miracles.
9.Sloka 158 is very interesting because Manu talks about widows . This shows Manu never knew Sati or supported Sati. He lived in the age of Rig Veda 5000 or 6000 years ago. But later accumulations are added to original Manu Smrti like we add amendments to our constitution now and then.
- DASYU- Sloka131 talks about Dasyu. This word was also abused by foreign miscreants who translated them as Tribal people; Kalidasa and others use it for robbers. The real meaning is Robbers, Thugs, thieves
XXX
now the original slokas…………………..
HOW TO CLEAN GEMS AND VESSELS
5-111. The wise ordain that all objects made of metal, gems, and anything made of stone are to be cleansed with ashes, earth, and water.
- A golden vessel which shows no stains, becomes pure with water alone, likewise what is produced in water as shells and coral, what is made of stone, and a silver vessel not enchased.
- From the union of water and fire arose the glittering gold and silver; those two, therefore, are best purified by (the elements) from which they sprang.
- Copper, iron, brass, pewter, tin, and lead must be cleansed, as may be suitable (for each particular case), by alkaline (substances), acids or water.
DHARBA GRASS
5-115. The purification prescribed for all sorts of liquids is by passing two blades of Kusa grass through them, for solid things by sprinkling them with water, for objects made of wood by planing them.
- At sacrifices the purification of (the Soma cups called) Kamasas and Grahas, and of (other) sacrificial vessels (takes place) by rubbing (them) with the hand, and (afterwards) rinsing (them with water).
- The Caru and (the spoons called) Sruk and Sruva must be cleaned with hot water, likewise (the wooden sword, called) Sphya, the winnowing-basket (Surpa), the cart (for bringing the grain), the pestle and the mortar.
HOW TO CLEAN GRAINS
5-118. The manner of purifying large quantities of grain and of cloth is to sprinkle them with water; but the purification of small quantities is prescribed (to take place) by washing them.
- Skins and (objects) made of split cane must be cleaned like clothes; vegetables, roots, and fruit like grain;
Cleaning with Fruits
5-120. Silk and woollen stuffs with alkaline earth; blankets with pounded Arishta (fruit); Amsupattas with Bel fruit; linen cloth with (a paste of) yellow mustard.
- A man who knows (the law) must purify conch-shells, horn, bone and ivory, like linen cloth, or with a mixture of cow’s urine and water.
- Grass, wood, and straw become pure by being sprinkled (with water), a house by sweeping and smearing (it with cow dung or whitewash), an earthen (vessel) by a second burning.
- An earthen vessel which has been defiled by spirituous liquor, urine, ordure, saliva, pus or blood cannot be purified by another burning.
HOW TO CLEAN THE FLOOR
5-124. Land is purified by the following five modes, viz.
by sweeping, by smearing (it with cowdung), by sprinkling (it with cows’ urine or milk), by scraping, and by cows staying (on it during a day and night).
- Food which has been pecked at by birds, smelt at by cows, touched with the foot, sneezed on, or defiled by hair or insects, becomes pure by scattering earth over it.
- As long as the foul smell does not leave an object defiled by impure substances, and the stain caused by them does not disappear, so long must earth and water be applied in cleansing inanimate things.
PURITY AND BRAHMANAS
5-127. The gods declared three things (to be) pure to Brahmanas, that on which no taint is visible, what has been washed with water, and what has been commended as pure by the word of a Brahmana.
- Water, sufficient in quantity in order to slake the thirst of a cow, possessing the proper smell, colour, and taste, and unmixed with impure substances, is pure, if it is collected on pure ground.
- The hand of an artisan is always pure, so is every vendible commodity exposed for sale in the market, and food obtained by begging which a student holds (in his hand) is always fit for use; that is a settled rule.
MOUTH OF A WOMAN IS ALWAYS PURE
5-130. The mouth of a woman is always pure, likewise a bird when he causes a fruit to fall; a calf is pure on the flowing of the milk, and a dog when he catches a deer.
- Manu has declared that the flesh of an animal killed by dogs is pure, likewise that of a beast slain by carnivorous animals or by men of low caste (Dasyu), such as Candalas.
- 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.
12 IMPURITIES IN HUMAN BODY
5-134. In order to cleanse (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 exudations, 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 organ by one (application of) earth, the anus by (applying earth) 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.
- Let him who desires bodily purity first sip water three times, and then twice wipe his mouth; but a woman and a Sudra (shall perform each act) once (only).
- Sudras who live according to the law, shall each month shave (their heads); their mode of purification (shall be) the same as that of Vaisyas, and their food the fragments of an Aryan’s meal.
- Drops of water from the mouth which do not fall on a limb, do not make (a man) impure, nor the hair of the moustache entering the mouth, nor what adheres to the teeth.
- Drops which trickle on the feet of him who offers water for sipping to others, must be considered as equal to (water collected on the ground; they render him not impure.
- He who, while carrying anything in any manner, is touched by an impure (person or thing), shall become pure, if he performs an ablution, without putting down that object.
- He who has vomited or purged shall bathe, and afterwards eat clarified butter; but if (the attack comes on) after he has eaten, let him only sip water; bathing is prescribed for him who has had intercourse with a woman.
- Though he may be (already) pure, let him sip water after sleeping, sneezing, eating, spitting, telling untruths, and drinking water, likewise when he is going to study the Veda.
- Thus the rules of personal purification for men of all castes, and those for cleaning (inanimate) things, have been fully declared to you: hear now the duties of women.
PERSONAL PURIFICATION OF WOMEN
5-147. By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house.
- 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.
- She must not seek to separate herself from her father, husband, or sons; by leaving them she would make both (her own and her husband’s) families contemptible.
- She must always be cheerful, clever in (the management of her) household affairs, careful in cleaning her utensils, and economical in expenditure.
- Him to whom her father may give her, or her brother with the father’s permission, she shall obey as long as he lives, and when he is dead, she must not insult his memory.
- For the sake of procuring good fortune to brides, the recitation of benedictory texts (svastyayana), and the sacrifice to the Lord of creatures (PraJapati) are used at weddings; (but) the betrothal by the father or guardian is the cause of (the husband’s) dominion over his wife.
- 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 husband must be constantly worshipped as a god by a faithful wife.
OBEYING HUSBAND IS ENOUH- TIRUVALLUVAR
- No sacrifice, no 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.
- A faithful wife, who desires to dwell after death with her husband, must never do anything that might displease him who took her hand, whether he be alive or dead.
- At her pleasure let her emaciate her body by living on pure flowers, roots, and fruit; but she must never even mention the name of another man after her husband has died.
NO SATI MENTIONED, NO ‘SATI’ PRACTISED!!
5-158. Until death let her be patient of hardships, self-controlled, and chaste, and strive to fulfil that most excellent duty which is prescribed)for wives who have one husband only.
- Many thousands of Brahmanas who were chaste from their youth, have gone to heaven without continuing their race.
- A virtuous wife who after the death of her husband constantly remains chaste, reaches heaven, though she have no son, just like those chaste men.
- But a woman who from a desire to have offspring violates her duty towards her (deceased) husband, brings on herself disgrace in this world, and loses her place with her husband in heaven.
- Offspring begotten by another man is here not considered lawful, nor (does offspring begotten) on another man’s wife (belong to the begetter), nor is a second husband anywhere prescribed for virtuous women.
- She who cohabits with a man of higher caste, forsaking her own husband who belongs to a lower one, will become contemptible in this world, and is called a remarried woman (parapurva).
- By violating her duty towards her husband, a wife is disgraced in this world, (after death) she enters the womb of a jackal, and is tormented by diseases (the punishment of) her sin.
- She who, controlling her thoughts, words, and deeds, never slights her lord, resides (after death) with her husband (in heaven), and is called a virtuous (wife).
- In reward of such conduct, a female who controls her thoughts, speech, and actions, gains in this (life) highest renown, and in the next (world) a place near her husband.
- A twice-born man, versed in the sacred law, shall burn a wife of equal caste who conducts herself thus and dies before him, with the sacred fires used for the Agnihotra, and with the sacrificial implements.
- Having thus, at the funeral, given the sacred fires to his wife who dies before him, he may marry again, and again kindle the fires.
169.(Living according to the preceding rules, he must never neglect the five great sacrifices, and, having taken a wife, he must dwell in his own house during the second period of his life.
FIFTH CHAPTER FINISHED
TAGS- Manu on women, Hindu woman, Purity, cleaning, mouth
–SUBHAM–
