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Hindu Intro
Hindu Intro
Law is a system of rules that describes the right procedure or behavior of living in a society. Hindu
Law is therefore the set of rules and regulations that governs the behavior of Hindus in a society.
For instance, the ceremony of saptpadi, the practice of taking seven steps by bride and bridegroom
before the sacred fire is a part of Hindu law. This ceremony is practiced widely by Hindus to get
married. It is not only recognized by modern legislation and statutes but also observed as a
centuries-old custom.
The origin of Hindu law is believed to be divine. The key ideal before a Hindu has always been
the achievement of the moksha, the attainment of salvation. Hindu law, over five thousand years
has gone through phases. It is regarded that the origin of Hindu law is based on religious texts
like the Vedas, the Upnishads, the Geeta, or any other Hindu scripture. A view emerging from
these texts leads to the recognition of the law as Dharma. The term dharma can be loosely
translated as “duty”. Many Hindu Jurists believe that Law is an enforceable part of Dharma. Thus,
the Law is Dharma.
The other view regarding the origin of Hindu law is that it is derived from customs and usages.
The belief is that the primary sources of Hindu laws are Shrutis, Smritis, Upnishads, customs,
digests, and commentaries. The Hindu Laws practised during the colonization were based on
Manusmriti. However, the genesis of Hindu law cannot be determined accurately owing to its
centuries-old origin.