A lecture entitled “Manu and Manav Dharma Shastra” was organised under the auspices of the Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) here last week with keynote address delivered by Prof VB Shastri, former Principal, Radhanath Training College, Cuttack.
Prof Shastri maintained that Manu is regarded as the father of mankind and as a living legal luminary of time present, time past and time future. Division of society into four classes or Varnas and division of human life into four stages or Ashrams are the monumental contributions of the lawgiver Manu.
In fact, the four classes, Brahman (intellectual), Kshatriya (warrior classes/ruler), Vaisya (businessman) and Sudra (manual labourer) are a bounden necessity that exists in every society and in all ages. The division of human life into four Ashrams is also another achievement of his erudition and scholarship, Prof Shastri said.
Prof Shastri also observed that women should always be held in high esteem. He recited a Sloka which means “Gods are pleased where women are worshipped”. He further pointed out that the ruler or the king is always respected and, in return, the king should always defend his innocent subjects from the onslaught of violence let loose by rogues. Manu has also allowed punishment as an effective measure towards curbing the sinners and the offenders of law.
Participating in a question-hour session, AYOS Director Dr Indulata Das paid glowing tributes to Maharshi Manu for having protected the lives of women from birth to death by making mandatory provisions like food, shelter, clothing and protection. She dispelled doubts and dogmas regarding Manu, who, she said, is misunderstood and misinterpreted not by the genuine scholars of the Manu Smriti but by the conceited ones. She cautioned the charlatans to abstain from such debunking of the greatest lawgiver of the mankind.
In his presidential address, Mahamedhananda Nath Saraswati opined that the Manu Smriti is a magnum opus of the mankind which has a universal appeal and that the Indian society in particular is largely indebted to Manu.
The welcome speech was given by Mihir Mishra and the meeting came to a close after Shanti Patha by Dr Trinatha Hota.