swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 2 JANUARY 2019
GMT Time uploaded in London –16-26
Post No. 5873
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I have already given the influence of Manu Smrti in Cambodia. See my article posted yesterday. Now let us look at his impact in Thailand and Indonesia

In ancient Indonesia 8^th and 9th chapters of Manu Smrti are the main source of law books relating to civil and criminal law. Two law books called Devaagama and Svarajambu followed Manu. A Brahmin named Kaundinya II reformed the laws in the light of the Indian system according to Liang Shu.

Indian influence is seen in ViIetnam (Champa) as well. An inscription states that king Hari varma deva (1074-1080) was versed in four ,Upays and 18 titles or subjects of dispute . Jaya Indra varman IV of `12th century was conversant with all the Dharmasastras.

In Thailand also we see 18 titles of dispute, division of slaves into seven classes. Interest can’t exceed the principal and persons who can’t be witnesses  (in Thailand’ s Dhammasatha ( Dharma sastra))

In the legal treaties Sivasasana or Purvadigama , rules prescribed by Manu are used. It is stated in the Rsisasana that Manu was the first monarch who introduced the Sivasasana.

The Javanese treaties

Kutaramanava,
Svarajambu,
Adigama
are composed on the basis of Manu Smrti

Eight kind of thieves,six kind of great sinners (Atadayins) , homicide etc are discussed on the basis of Manu Smrti

There are other works in old Javanese which used Manu Smrti.

Malaya

Manu’s influence is quite considerable on the laws of Malay according to Winstedt; most of the patriarchal law of this country was of Indian inspiration

Most of the ten crimes for which death penalty are prescribed are like those in Hindu law. And heavier punishment for a person offending against a person of superior caste, modes of punishment like the cutting of the tongue, shaving the head etc, marrying a forcibly abducted girl, fine for sexual offences also reflects of Manu Smrti.

Manu Statue in Philippine

The installation of Manu’s Statue, in early times in the Philippines, is an index to the reverence to this great law giver. It is preserved in Art Gallery of the Senate Chamber of the Philippine republic

Burma

The Pali Dhammasaththa written by Dhammavilasa in 1174 has many of Manu’s rules


Next I will give Dr S Radhakrishnan’s (Philosopher  and President of India) views on Manu Smrti

Source book- Cultural Reciprocation between India and the World,  Sures Chandra Banerji, 1999, Delhi

–subham-