What is Manu smriti? Is it relevant today?
In recent times, we often see debates on TV and social media about the Manusmriti . Some people are burning it, some are defending it, and many of us are just confused. To be honest, most of us have never even seen this book. We don't know what is written inside it. We only get to know about it through these controversies and angry debates. Because of this, we often wonder—is it a holy book? Should we follow it? Or should we reject it? To understand this properly, we first need to clear our basics about Hindu scriptures. What is authority and what is not. Sruti vs. Smriti In Sanatana Dharma, our scriptures are divided into two main categories: Sruti and Smriti . Sruti ("That which is heard"): These are the Vedas and Upanishads. They contain eternal truths about the soul (Atman), God, and the cosmic order. These truths never change. They are like the laws of gravity—true yesterday, true today, and true tomorrow. Smriti ("That which is remembered"): These a...