[INDOLOGY] Fwd: Manusmriti ...

[Olivelle, J P]

Sorry, this was not sent to the list. Here it is.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Patrick Olivelle <jpo at austin.utexas.edu<mailto:jpo at austin.utexas.edu>>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Manusmriti ...
Date: October 29, 2020 at 9:35:11 AM CDT
To: rajam <rajam at earthlink.net<mailto:rajam at earthlink.net>>
Cc: Indology <indology at list.indology.info<mailto:indology at list.indology.info>>

There is no statement of Manu that states all women are prostitutes. There are statements which emphasizes the need for women to be under male control/protection, the need to guard them from even the slightest attachment to sensual pleasure (saṅga). See Manu 5.148ff, and 9.1ff.

Patrick



On Oct 28, 2020, at 11:36 PM, rajam via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info<mailto:indology at list.indology.info>> wrote:

Dear List Members,

I need your help in understanding something from Manusmriti.

Is there any passage/rule in this text that states that ‘all women are prostitutes’? Or anything close to such thought?

In Tamilnadu, there is a severe extremist movement wanting to burn Manusmriti. As the next election is approaching, the political scene is getting ugly as usual. One party’s propaganda includes that Manusmriti should be removed/burned down since it looks at women as prostitutes.

I was wondering if any of you would kindly check Manusmriti and let me know if he really declared that all women are prostitutes.

I would very much appreciate your help.

Thanks and regards,
V.S.Rajam


_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY at list.indology.info<mailto:INDOLOGY at list.indology.info>
indology-owner at list.indology.info (messages to the list's managing committee)
http://listinfo.indology.info (where you can change your list options or unsubscribe)
This message is from an external sender. Learn more about why this <<
matters at https://links.utexas.edu/rtyclf.                        <<




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.indology.info/pipermail/indology/attachments/20201029/d4c46930/attachment.htm>