SANCTIMONIOUS SANCTITY FOR RACIST CASTE PREJUDICE IN HINDU SCRIPTURES;
BRAHM SUTRA;
Manu Smiriti is the most infamous scripture,well known for caste prejudice not only against Shudras,but against women too.I have come across,many die hard Hindu apologists,who while denying any caste prejudice in Hinduism [scriptures],put forward the standard argument that 'all such related verses in Manu Smiriti are prakhipt [not original but adulterated] and have been incorporated by vested interests [enemies of Hinduism] for their sinister design to defame otherwise benign Hinduism.It will be pertinent here to point out,that despite my sincere efforts,i have failed to collect supposed original Manu Smiriti as it does not simply exist at all.The most primitive and authoritative bhashyakarta[commentator] of Manu Smiriti,Medhatithi,has nowhere mentioned such related verses as prakhipt and are integral part of his bhashya[commentary].On the contrary,it is an established fact that racist caste prejudice is integral part of Hindu scriptures,right from most primitive Vedas to somewhat latest Ramcharitmanas.
Brahmsutra is one of the most authoritative scripture with lot of reverence by believers and followers. Manu Smiriti is generally classified as hotbed of caste and gender prejudice,but i believe very few people know about Brahmsutra and Gotamdharamsutra for its sanctimonious sanctity for caste prejudice and no body till today has repeated prakhipt hypothesis about said scriptures.
*na shudraya matim dadhat [no body should encourage intellect of shudras].
*paduo ha va aitat shamshanam [shudras are movable cemetery].
*tasmat shudro baho pashu [shudra is more or less animal]'.
*ath ha asya vedam upshrunvat tropujtobhyam shrotra prati purnam udharanay,jeeva chedho dharnay sharirbheda...arthvidharnay hraday vidarnam [authoritative commentary by Aadi Shankra and Ramanuj,being presented][Brahmsutra,1/3/38 and Ghotamdharamsutra, 2/3/4].
And on account of the prohibition, in Smriti, of (the Sûdras') hearing and studying (the Veda) and (knowing and performing) (Vedic) matters.
Adi, Shankaracharya commenting on it writes,
"The Sûdras are not qualified for that reason also that Smriti prohibits their hearing the Veda, their studying the Veda, and their understanding and performing Vedic matters. The prohibition of hearing the Veda is conveyed by the following passages: 'The ears of him who hears the Veda are to be filled with (molten) lead and lac,' and 'For a Sûdra is (like) a cemetery, therefore (the Veda) is not to be read in the vicinity of a Sûdra.' From this latter passage the prohibition of studying the Veda results at once; for how should he study Scripture in whose vicinity it is not even to be read? There is, moreover, an express prohibition (of the Sûdras studying the Veda). 'His tongue is to be slit if he pronounces it; his body is to be cut through if he preserves it.' The prohibitions of hearing and studying the Veda already imply the prohibition of the knowledge and performance of Vedic matters; there are, however, express prohibitions also, such as 'he is not to impart knowledge to the Sûdra,'and 'to the twice-born belong study, sacrifice, and the bestowal of gifts.'--From those Sûdras, however, who, like Vidura and 'the religious hunter,' acquire knowledge in consequence of the after effects of former deeds, the fruit of their knowledge cannot be withheld, since knowledge in all cases brings about its fruit. Smriti, moreover, declares that all the four castes are qualified for acquiring the knowledge of the itihâsas and purânas; compare the passage, 'He is to teach the four castes' (Mahâbh.).--It remains, however, a settled point that they do not possess any such qualification with regard to the Veda."
Acharya Ramanuja commenting on the same Brahmasutra writes,
"The Sûdra is specially forbidden to hear and study the Veda and to perform the things enjoined in it. 'For a Sûdra is like a cemetery, therefore the Veda must not be read in the vicinity of a Sûdra;' 'Therefore the Sûdra is like a beast, unfit for sacrifices.' And he who does not hear the Veda recited cannot learn it so as to understand and perform what the Veda enjoins. The prohibition of hearing thus implies the prohibition of understanding and whatever depends on it."
.
BRAHM SUTRA;
Manu Smiriti is the most infamous scripture,well known for caste prejudice not only against Shudras,but against women too.I have come across,many die hard Hindu apologists,who while denying any caste prejudice in Hinduism [scriptures],put forward the standard argument that 'all such related verses in Manu Smiriti are prakhipt [not original but adulterated] and have been incorporated by vested interests [enemies of Hinduism] for their sinister design to defame otherwise benign Hinduism.It will be pertinent here to point out,that despite my sincere efforts,i have failed to collect supposed original Manu Smiriti as it does not simply exist at all.The most primitive and authoritative bhashyakarta[commentator] of Manu Smiriti,Medhatithi,has nowhere mentioned such related verses as prakhipt and are integral part of his bhashya[commentary].On the contrary,it is an established fact that racist caste prejudice is integral part of Hindu scriptures,right from most primitive Vedas to somewhat latest Ramcharitmanas.
Brahmsutra is one of the most authoritative scripture with lot of reverence by believers and followers. Manu Smiriti is generally classified as hotbed of caste and gender prejudice,but i believe very few people know about Brahmsutra and Gotamdharamsutra for its sanctimonious sanctity for caste prejudice and no body till today has repeated prakhipt hypothesis about said scriptures.
*na shudraya matim dadhat [no body should encourage intellect of shudras].
*paduo ha va aitat shamshanam [shudras are movable cemetery].
*tasmat shudro baho pashu [shudra is more or less animal]'.
*ath ha asya vedam upshrunvat tropujtobhyam shrotra prati purnam udharanay,jeeva chedho dharnay sharirbheda...arthvidharnay hraday vidarnam [authoritative commentary by Aadi Shankra and Ramanuj,being presented][Brahmsutra,1/3/38 and Ghotamdharamsutra, 2/3/4].
And on account of the prohibition, in Smriti, of (the Sûdras') hearing and studying (the Veda) and (knowing and performing) (Vedic) matters.
Adi, Shankaracharya commenting on it writes,
"The Sûdras are not qualified for that reason also that Smriti prohibits their hearing the Veda, their studying the Veda, and their understanding and performing Vedic matters. The prohibition of hearing the Veda is conveyed by the following passages: 'The ears of him who hears the Veda are to be filled with (molten) lead and lac,' and 'For a Sûdra is (like) a cemetery, therefore (the Veda) is not to be read in the vicinity of a Sûdra.' From this latter passage the prohibition of studying the Veda results at once; for how should he study Scripture in whose vicinity it is not even to be read? There is, moreover, an express prohibition (of the Sûdras studying the Veda). 'His tongue is to be slit if he pronounces it; his body is to be cut through if he preserves it.' The prohibitions of hearing and studying the Veda already imply the prohibition of the knowledge and performance of Vedic matters; there are, however, express prohibitions also, such as 'he is not to impart knowledge to the Sûdra,'and 'to the twice-born belong study, sacrifice, and the bestowal of gifts.'--From those Sûdras, however, who, like Vidura and 'the religious hunter,' acquire knowledge in consequence of the after effects of former deeds, the fruit of their knowledge cannot be withheld, since knowledge in all cases brings about its fruit. Smriti, moreover, declares that all the four castes are qualified for acquiring the knowledge of the itihâsas and purânas; compare the passage, 'He is to teach the four castes' (Mahâbh.).--It remains, however, a settled point that they do not possess any such qualification with regard to the Veda."
Acharya Ramanuja commenting on the same Brahmasutra writes,
"The Sûdra is specially forbidden to hear and study the Veda and to perform the things enjoined in it. 'For a Sûdra is like a cemetery, therefore the Veda must not be read in the vicinity of a Sûdra;' 'Therefore the Sûdra is like a beast, unfit for sacrifices.' And he who does not hear the Veda recited cannot learn it so as to understand and perform what the Veda enjoins. The prohibition of hearing thus implies the prohibition of understanding and whatever depends on it."
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