Written by LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Date: 19 JUNE 2018

Time uploaded in London –  21-08  (British Summer Time)

Post No. 5129

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Manu Smrti- Third Chapter continued….

My Comments

1.Hospitality is a unique feature of Hindu culture. It is found in Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures with equal emphasize only among the ancient languages. Sita of Ramayana and Kannaki of Tamil epic Silappadikaram worried about their inability to feed and honour the guests. The concept of feeding complete strangers to get religious merits is unknown in other ancient cultures. This shows that Hindus are the sons of the soil and they developed the culture in their own land. This explodes the theory of Vedic Hindus coming from outside.

Another aspect coming to light in the slokas is that the culture and the values were same from Kanyakumari Kashmir. It is equally empahsized in both Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures.

2.Manu Smrti is the oldest law book, older than Hammurabi’s (I have pointed out the reasons for my conclusion already). Here is one more point: The Vedic deities are mentioned in the slokas quoted here. If it is composed in second century BCE we would not have come across Vedic Kuhu and Anumati

3. The five sacrifices given to five groups include trees, dogs, crows and people of Four Castes. That shows Manu is compassionate towards all living beings. Feeding dogs and crows as part of religious sacrifice is unknown in other cultures. This shows the uniqueness of Hindu culture. Feeding the crows and watering the plants as sacred thing is found in ancient Tamil books; it is one more proof to show that the culture in one from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
4. Sacrificing to goblins along with Vedic deities is also strange. But when we consider trees, crows and dogs are included in the list, it is not strange.

5.Manu asked the Hindus to give four things: Mat, Water, Room and KIND WORDS. It shows his high thoughts.

6.His definition of a GUEST is good; those who stay one night only are considered guests; he asks everyone to feed all the four castes; This does not correlate with the 40 or odd slokas/couplets which the Dravidians and Marxists use for their Anti Manu propaganda. They are later interpolations.

7. Another strange thing is ‘newly married’ get priority in eating; he wants them to enjoy life fully!

8.Manu says the householder can eat only after feeding kinsmen, servants and the guests! This is unknown in any part of the world except the Hindus from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

9. Ancient Tamil literature also confirm all the oblations to manes who live in SOUTHERN Direction. So Tamils were ardent Hindus as others in the North. It is in Tirukkural and Purananuru. This explodes the theory of half -baked theories of Vedic Hindus coming from outside India. No other ancient culture has such belief about SOUTH or daily oblations to manes with WATER. Use of water in every ceremony shows that it is a tropical culture.
10. He who prepares food for himself is a sinner is in Manu and Bhagavad Gita.
11. Last but not the least, Manu asks to honour people who comes once a year! Good Advice!!

Third Chapter continues……………………..

Sacrifice to Vedic Deities

3-83. Let him feed even one Brahmana in honour of the manes at the Sraddha which belongs to the five great sacrifices; but let him not feed on that occasion any Brahmana on account of the Vaisvadeva offering.

3-84. A Brahmana shall offer according to the rule (of his Grihya-sutra a portion) of the cooked food destined for the Vaisvadeva in the sacred domestic fire to the following deities:

3-85. First to Agni, and next to Soma, then to both these gods conjointly, further to all the gods Visve Devah, and then to Dhanvantari,

3-86. Further to Kuhu (the goddess of the new-moon day), to Anumati (the goddess of the full-moon day), to Pragapati (the lord of creatures), to heaven and earth conjointly, and finally to Agni Svishtakrit (the fire which performs the sacrifice well).

87. After having thus duly offered the sacrificial food, let him throw Bali offerings in all directions of the compass, proceeding (from the east) to the south, to Indra, Yama, Varuna, and Soma, as well as to the servants (of these deities).

To the Trees

3-88. Saying, ‘Adoration to the Maruts,’ he shall scatter some food near the door, and some in water, saying, ‘Adoration to the waters;’ he shall throw some on the pestle and the mortar, speaking thus, ‘Adoration to the trees.’

89. Near the head of the bed he shall make an offering to Sri fortune, and near the foot of his bed to Bhadrakali; in the centre of the house let him place a Bali for Brahman and for Vastoshpati (the lord of the dwelling) conjointly.

Goblins- Ghosts

3-90. Let him throw up into the air a Bali for all the gods, and in the day-time one for the goblins roaming about by day, and in the evening one for the goblins that walk at night.

91. In the upper story let him offer a Bali to Sarvatmabhuti; but let him throw what remains from these offerings in a southerly direction for the manes.

To the Crows

3-92. Let him gently place on the ground (some food) for dogs, outcasts, Candalas (Svapak), those afflicted with diseases that are punishments of former sins, crows, and insects.

93. That Brahmana who thus daily honours all beings, goes, endowed with a resplendent body, by a straight road to the highest dwelling-place (i.e. Brahman).
94. Having performed this Bali offering, he shall first feed his guest and, according to the rule, give alms to an ascetic (and) to a student.

Equal to Cow Donation/ Go Daana

3-95. A twice-born householder gains, by giving alms, the same reward for his meritorious act which (a student) obtains for presenting, in accordance with the rule, a cow to his teacher.

96. Let him give, in accordance with the rule, to a Brahmana who knows the true meaning of the Veda, even a small portion of food as alms, or a pot full of water, having garnished the food with seasoning, or the pot with flowers and fruit.
97. The oblations to gods and manes, made by men ignorant (of the law of gifts), are lost, if the givers in their folly present (shares of them) to Brahmanas who are mere ashes.
98. An offering made in the mouth-fire of Brahmanas rich in sacred learning and austerities, saves from misfortune and from great guilt.
99. But let him offer, in accordance with the rule, to a guest who has come (of his own accord) a seat and water, as well as food, garnished (with seasoning), according to his ability.
100. A Brahmana who stays unhonoured (in the house), takes away (with him) all the spiritual merit even of a man who subsists by gleaning ears of corn, or offers oblations in five fires.

Give Four Things!

101. Grass, room for resting, water, and fourthly a kind word; these (things) never fail in the houses of good men.

One Night Stay is a Guest

102. But a Brahmana who stays one night only is declared to be a guest (atithi); for because he stays (sthita) not long (anityam), he is called atithi (a guest).
103. One must not consider as a guest a Brahmana who dwells in the same village, nor one who seeks his livelihood by social intercourse, even though he has come to a house where there is a wife, and where sacred fires are kept.
104. Those foolish householders who constantly seek (to live on) the food of others, become, in consequence of that (baseness), after death the cattle of those who give them food.
105. A guest who is sent by the setting sun in the evening, must not be driven away by a householder; whether he have come at supper- time or at an inopportune moment, he must not stay in the house without entertainment.

Hospitality to Guests

106. Let him not eat any dainty food which he does not offer to his guest; the hospitable reception of guests procures wealth, fame, long life, and heavenly bliss.
107. Let him offer to his guests seats, rooms, beds, attendance on departure and honour while they stay, to the most distinguished in the best form, to the lower ones in a lower form, to equals in an equal manner.
108. But if another guest comes after the Vaisvadeva offering has been finished, the householder must give him food according to his ability, but not repeat the Bali offering.

Non Brahmin Guests

109. A Brahmana shall not name his family and (Vedic) gotra in order to obtain a meal; for he who boasts of them for the sake of a meal, is called by the wise a foul feeder (vantasin).
110. But a Kshatriya who comes to the house of a Brahmana is not called a guest (atithi), nor a Vaisya, nor a Sudra, nor a personal friend, nor a relative, nor the teacher.
111. But if a Kshatriya comes to the house of a Brahmana in the manner of a guest, (the house-holder) may feed him according to his desire, after the above-mentioned Brahmanas have eaten.

Feed all the Four Castes

112. Even a Vaisya and a Sudra who have approached his house in the manner of guests, he may allow to eat with his servants, showing (thereby) his compassionate disposition.
113. Even to others, personal friends and so forth, who have come to his house out of affection, he may give food, garnished with seasoning according to his ability, at the same time with his wife.

Newly Married Get Priority

114. Without hesitation he may give food, even before his guests, to the following persons, (viz.) to newly-married women, to infants, to the sick, and to pregnant women.
115. But the foolish man who eats first without having given food to these (persons) does, while he crams, not know that (after death) he himself will be devoured by dogs and vultures.
116. After the Brahmanas, the kinsmen, and the servants have dined, the householder and his wife may afterwards eat what remains.
117. Having honoured the gods, the sages, men, the manes, and the guardian deities of the house, the householder shall eat afterwards what remains.
118. He who prepares food for himself (alone), eats nothing but sin; for it is ordained that the food which remains after (the performance of) the sacrifices shall be the meal of virtuous men. (It is in Bhagavad Gita)

Once a Year!

119. Let him honour with the honey-mixture a king, an officiating priest, a Snataka, the teacher, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, and a maternal uncle, (if they come) again after a full year has elapsed since their last visit.
120. A king and a Srotriya, who come on the performance of a sacrifice, must be honoured with the honey-mixture, but not if no sacrifice is being performed; that is a settled rule.

to be continued………………….