A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1151

c5.1151

MANU-SANHITĀ. The well-known law-book, the Code of Manu, or Institutes of Manu. It is attributed to the first Manu, Swāyam-bhuva, who existed nearly thirty millions of years ago, but it bears the marks of being the production of more than one mind. This is the first and chief of the works classified as Smriti, and is a collection or digest of current laws and creeds rather than a planned systematic code. It is the foundation of Hindu law, and is held in the highest reverence. The work belongs to a period later than that of the Vedas, when the Brāhmans had obtained the ascendancy, but its deities are those of the Vedic rather than the Epic or Purānic age. It is apparently anterior to the philosophical schools. The fifth century B.C. is supposed to be about the time when it was composed, but the rules and precepts it contains had probably existed as traditions long before. It is commonly called the Code of Manu, and was current among the Mānavas, a class or school of Brāhmans who were followers of the Black Yajur-veda; but it deals with many subjects besides law, and is a most important record of old Hindu society. It is said to have consisted originally of 100,000 verses, arranged in twenty-four chapters; that Nārada shortened the work to 12,000 verses; and that Sumati made a second abridgment, reducing it to 4000, but only 2685 are extant. It is evident that there was more than one redaction of the laws of the Mānavas, for a *Brihan* or *Vrihan Manu*, ‘great Manu,’ and *Vriddha Manu*, ‘old Manu,’ are often referred to. Sir W. Jones’s translation, edited by Haughton, is excellent, and is the basis of all others in French, German, &c. The text has often been printed.