The Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu, is an ancient Sanskrit legal and religious text with no single identifiable historical author, traditionally attributed to the mythic figure Manu and compiled and redacted over an extended period by unknown hands, which is why the atlas records its author as anonymous. As primary scripture within the Hindu legal and religious tradition it is highly influential and historically important, especially for its treatment of caste, gender and ritual law. Its limit is that it is a composite text reflecting the views of its compilers at various points, not a single unified argument, and specific verses have been read very differently by different later commentators and modern readers, some of whom find its social prescriptions deeply objectionable, so the text itself and later interpretation or critique of it are separate questions needing separate sources.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
The Manusmriti is itself a primary Hindu legal and religious text of anonymous compilation, with no modern publisher of record; cited here as that primary text, treated at the top tier as primary scripture. NotesAn ancient Sanskrit dharma text setting out rules of law, caste duty and conduct, among the most influential and most controversial texts of the Hindu legal tradition. Use for the content of its prescriptions as the text itself states them; a primary text whose social prescriptions, including on caste and gender, are themselves the subject of extensive critical debate, so a claim about the text's historical influence or reception needs a scholarly source alongside it, not the text taken as a neutral description of Hindu practice generally.
Citation
AuthorAnonymous
Source Typeprimary-text
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Manu, Figures This source names Manu directly: "The Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu, is an ancient Sanskrit legal and religious text with no single identifiable historical author, traditionally attributed to the mythic figure Manu and compiled and..."
Claims Backed By This Source (40 claims)
This source backs 40 claims across the atlas. As facts: 23 well-attested. As cited relationships: 3 holds. Plus 14 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Yugas (World Ages), 18 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 holds, 8 general references.
- Doctrines, 7 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.
- Sources, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Figures, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Ages, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Articles, 2 claims: 2 well-attested.
- Vices, 2 claims: 2 general references.
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