Essay name: Vishnu Smriti (Study)
Author:
Minu Bhattacharjee
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Vishnu-Smriti: an ancient Sanskrit Sutra dealing with the rules of various traditions and customs such as Dharmashastra, Caste, Monarchy, Law, Penances and Asceticism. The Vishnu-smriti in one hundred chapters is presented in the form of a dialogue between Vishnu and Prithvi (the goddess Earth).
Chapter 1 - Introduction
7 (of 24)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
7
It is clear from the above discussion that the
principal sources of Dharma were conceived to be the Vedas
the smrtis and the customs.
Though Veda is said to be the
sources of Dharma, yet it is difficult to find any positive
precepts (Vidhi) in the Vedas on matters of Dharma in a sys-
tematic form. There are incidental references in the Vedas
to various topics dealt with in the Dharmasastras of later
times. There are many Vedic passages that throw light on
marriage, different kinds of sons, adoption, partition, in-
heritence, 艣r膩ddha etc.
23 funerals'
we find references to wedding?
24 conception 25
in a concise form in the Raveda. It may perhaps be presumed
that the later rituals of Vivaha, garbhadh膩na and antyesti
owe their origin to these hymns. we find innumerable hymns
that are recited at different rituals and ceremonies.
The yajurveda represents an advanced stage in the
ritualistic litanies. The Yajurveda is concerned with the
艣rauta ceremonies as described in the grautas奴tras.
We
hardly, get any material help from it for the study of the
domestic rites and ceremonies. On the other hand, we get
ample informations in the Atharvaveda about popular beliefs
23.
24.
RV.
X.17, X. 85
RV. X.14, X.15, X.16, X.18.
25.
RV. X.184, X. 185.
