Manusmriti in the Vedic Conception

Manusmriti

In the Vedic conception of the world, the attributions of men and women inside the family and in the society differ to the greatest extent. According to the Laws of Manu, men have to respect the gods and various religious regulations. The women's main role however is to obey the male world: their fathers in the young age, their husbands once they are given into marriage and even their sons when they have reached an old age.

Thus, the basic principle that guides the division between the male and the female world is independence: in the Vedic world, the woman is not allowed to act independently. The text of the Laws of Manu emphasizes this idea over and over. Thus, it is imperatively stated that any woman of any age must obey her husband and the other men around her. She is forbidden thus to act independently, not only in society but in her own house as well: "147. By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house."

148. In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent." The woman is made to obey only, as long as she lives, according to the Vedic tradition: "151. Him to whom her father may give her, or her brother with the father's permission, she shall obey as long as he lives, and when he is dead, she must not insult (his memory)." It must be noted thus that the Laws of Manu were given as a guide on proper conduct and the duties of every individual according to the social class that they belonged to. The idea of social hierarchy is therefore a central concept of Hinduism, and it pervades all the Vedic teachings. As such, it does not come as a surprise that the women as well are inscribed in a certain social category that is considered to be inferior to that of men. The condition of the woman is obviously degrading in the ancient Indian society. Thus, she is never honored in any way for her own qualities or virtues, but only if she knows how to obey and please her husband in all his wishes. Moreover, the wife must obey her husband even when the latter is neither virtuous, nor faithful to her and her children: "154. Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure (elsewhere), or devoid of good qualities, (yet) a husband must be constantly worshipped as a god by a faithful wife." The justification that the laws offer for this unjust position attributed to women is that the women are naturally inclined to be heartless and unfaithful to their husbands: "15. Through their passion for men, through their mutable temper, through their natural heartlessness, they become disloyal towards their husbands, however carefully they may be guarded in this (world)." The inferiority of the women is therefore something inborn and inevitable. As a group, women are characterized as mutable and passionate, therefore unreliable and in need to be controlled by men. The main duty of women is therefore to obey their husbands.