The Dharmasastra: An Introductory Analysis

This book contains thirty-one learned articles on different subject of Dharmasastra to give a meaningful introduction to Dharmasastra literature of India. Although subject matter of Dharmasastra is traditionally arranged in three sections; namely acara, vyavahara and prayascitta relating to custom, behaviour and ethics respectively, articles included in this book have been designed in a very modern way of postulation. That, origin and development of Dharmasastra are the subjects of history of this literature, is placed at the outset. Unlike other topics included in it, modern value of Dharmasastra has been successfully dealt with in it at last. Between these two an introductory analysis is made of subjects like origin of religion, law, rajadharma, ancestor worship, stages of life, inheritance, sacraments, sraddha, adoption, expiation, spiritualism, pilgrimage, etc.