Manusamriti & Women:

Breaking the Myths

Discover the truth about Manusamriti and its perspective on women,

challenging the misconceptions and exploring its impact on society throughout
history.

by Ms. Heena Parveen & Aayush Bhardwaj

 Introduction

1) Manusmriti is an ancient and revered Hindu text that has had a profound influence on the legal, ethical,
and philosophical foundations of Hinduism for millennia.
2) Manusmriti encompasses a comprehensive compilation of rules, principles, and guidelines governing
human conduct and the structure of society.
3) Manusmriti has been criticized for its treatment of women, with detractors pointing to specific verses
within the text that seemingly endorse patriarchal norms, gender discrimination, and oppressive
practices targeting women.
4) However, a reexamination of Manusmriti's teachings suggests that the text does not only extend respect
and rights to women but also underscores their indispensable role in advancing and fostering prosperity
within society
 The Machinations of Max Muller:
Unraveling the Distortion of India's Cultural
Legacy
1) Max Muller was summoned by the British colonial powers to execute a calculated strategy designed to
foment discord and fracture the social fabric of Indian society as mentioned by his wife in his biography
titled “The life and letters” (1902)
2) Muller's principal aim was to disengage Indians from their deeply entrenched cultural roots by
disseminating a fabricated narrative through the production of spurious translations of the Manusmriti.
3) This orchestrated campaign had catastrophic consequences, particularly for women and marginalized strata
of society.
4) Women were subjected to reprehensible degradation of their dignity, depicting them as subservient to men,
bereft of the entitlement to education, intellectual pursuits, or self-determination.
 The Myths and Reality

1) Manusmriti 3.56: Women are essential to the prosperity and harmony of any society. Their empowerment is
an inexorable linchpin for universal good.
2) Manu Smriti 3.57: Women's happiness is the cornerstone of family and societal prosperity. When women are
unhappy, families and societies suffer. When women are happy, families and societies flourish.
3) Manu Smriti 3.58: Those who transgress against women's dignity invite ruin upon their families, akin to
poison that indiscriminately afflicts all who partake of it.
4) Manu Smriti 3.59: Bestowing respect upon women and delighting them with tokens of affection is
imperative for those who aspire to attain glory.
5) Manu Smriti 3.62: The happiness of a wife is the linchpin of familial harmony. A husband's failure to ensure
his wife's contentment heralds misery upon the entire family, while her happiness radiates as an ethereal
beacon, transforming the household into a veritable embodiment of joy.
 Embracing Autonomy and
Dispelling Misconceptions

1) Manu Smriti 9.11 : Women should be entrusted with leadership roles in financial management, hygiene,
spiritual and religious activities, nutritional oversight, and the comprehensive administration of their
households. They should also assume the mantle of leadership in Vedic rituals.
2) Manu Smriti 9.12 : Curtailing women's engagement with society is futile and counterproductive. True
security for women lies in cultivating their inherent capabilities and resilience.
3) Manu Smriti 9.26 : Women are synonymous with prosperity and happiness. They give birth to the next
generation, enlighten the home, and bring fortune and bliss.
4) Manu Smriti 9.28 : Women are fountains of happiness transcending generations. They infuse joy into the
world as mothers, daughters, wives, and as equal partners in spiritual endeavors.
 Embracing Autonomy and
Dispelling Misconceptions

1) Manu Smriti 9.96 : Men and women are incomplete without each other. Their joint involvement in even
the most rudimentary religious duties is essential. Those who deny women access to Vedas or Vedic rituals
oppose the tenets of Hinduism and the very essence of humanity.
2) Manu Smriti 4.180 : Conflicts and disputes within the family, particularly between mother, daughter, and
wife, are corrosive. It is important to nurture harmonious familial relationships and preserve domestic
tranquility
3) Manu Smriti 9.4 : Fathers, husbands, and sons who neglect their duties to mothers, daughters, and wives
are condemnable. These familial bonds are essential for upholding the moral and ethical fabric of society.
 Marriage of Women: Empowering
Choice and Denouncing Dowry

1) Manu Smriti 9.89 : It is far more preferable to leave a daughter unmarried than to compel her into a union
with an unsuitable partner.
2) Manu Smriti 9.90-91: Upon reaching maturity, a woman should choose her own life partner. Parents
should act as facilitators, not final arbiters.
3) Manu Smriti 3.52 : Those who exploit women and their families for wealth, property, vehicles, or
clothing in the name of dowry are the most cunning and deceitful individuals.
4) Manu Smriti 9.96 : A marriage involving dowry is a 'Devil's' or 'Asuri' Vivah. It is antithetical to the
principles of a virtuous union
 Strict Punishment for Harming Women:
Defending Women's Rights and Dignity

1) Manu Smriti 8.352 : Offenses such as rape, molestation, or enticing women into adultery incur the
most stringent and rigorous penalties.
2) Manu Smriti 8.275 : False allegations or derogatory actions against a mother, wife, or daughter are
met with swift and punitive measures.
3) Manu Smriti 8.389 : Neglecting familial duties, including the abandonment of one's mother, father,
wife, or children without justifiable cause, is considered a grave offense.
4) Manu Smriti 9.232 : The act of taking the life of women, children, or virtuous individuals is met with
uncompromising punishment.
5) Manu Smriti 9.323 : The abduction of women warrants the most extreme punishment - death.
 Property Rights of Women: A Testament
to Equality and Security

1) Manu Smriti 9.130 : In the presence of daughters, no one should dare diminish their right to inherit
property.
2) Manu Smriti 9.131: Daughters have exclusive rights to their mother's personal property.
3) Manu Smriti 9.212-213 : In the absence of direct heirs or a spouse, wealth should be shared equally
among siblings. An elder brother unjustly withholding the rightful shares of other siblings will face legal
repercussions.
4) Manu Smriti 8.28-29 : The government is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of vulnerable
women, such as widows and those without male guardians. Perpetrators who unlawfully usurp the wealth
of such women will face severe punishment, and the woman's property will be restored.
 Human Rights & Manusmriti

1) Manusmriti promotes fair treatment regardless of gender, caste, or social status, aligning with modern human rights
ideals.
2) Legal frameworks worldwide, including India, protect vulnerable groups, reflecting a shared commitment to human
rights principles.
3) Legal reforms in India, such as the Hindu Succession Act, safeguard women's property rights, consistent with human
rights principles.
4) Manusmriti's principles mirror the Indian Constitution's commitment to equality and non-discrimination, harmonizing
with modern human rights ideals.
5) Legal measures against forced and child marriages in several countries align with Manusmriti's challenge to traditional
arranged marriages, supporting the right to free and informed consent.
6) Manusmriti's ancient wisdom converges with contemporary legal systems in promoting justice, equality, and the
protection of human dignity, fostering inclusive and egalitarian societies.
 Conclusion
1) Manusmriti's penal system advocates greater consequences for greater privileges and responsibilities.

2) Birth-based caste systems are explicitly rejected in Manu's vision of society, emphasizing equality.

3) Advocating for caste-based preferential treatment contradicts Manusmriti's principles and the Vedas.

4) Manusmriti recommends severe penalties for those who harm society through their actions.

5) Debunks the notion that Shudras deserve harsher penalties when examining the authentic text.

6) Embracing Manusmriti's principles in a modern penal code could address corruption issues in
contemporary society.

7) Transformation requires commitment to education, merit, and accountability, rather than clinging to
discriminatory caste-based beliefs.
Thank you