PHILOSOPHY OF HINDUISM 35
keeping his organs in subjection, dwell in the forest, duly (observing the rules given below.)
VI. 2. When a householder sees his (skin) wrinkled, and (his hair) white, and the sons of his son, then he may resort to the forest.
VI. 3. Abandoning all food raised by cultivation, all his belongings,, he may depart into the forest, either committing his wife to his sons, or a companied by her.
VI. 33. But having passed the third part of (a man’s natural term of) life in the forest, he may live as an ascetic during the fourth part of his existence, after abandoning all attachment to worldly objects.
The inequality embodied in these rules is real although it may hot be quite obvious. Observe that all these sacraments and Ashramas are confined’ to the twice-born. The Shudras are excluded’ from their benefit. Manu of course has no objection to their undergoing the forms of the ceremonies. But he objects to their use of the Sacred Mantras in the performance of the ceremonies. On this Manu says:—
X. 127. “Even Shudras, who were anxious to perform their entire duty, and knowing what they should perform, imitate the practice of good men in the household sacraments, but without any holy text, except those containing praise and saluation, are so far from sinning, that they acquire just applause.”
See the following text of Manu for women:—
II. 66. “The same ceremonies, except that of the sacrificial thread, must be duly performed for women at the same age and in the same order, that the body may be made perfect; but without any text from the Veda.”
Why does Manu prohibit the Shudras from the benefit of the Sacraments ? His interdict against the Shudras becoming a Sannyasi is a puzzle. Sannyas means and involves renunciation, abandonment’ of wordly object. In legal language Sannyas is interpreted as being equivalent to civil death. So that when a man becomes a Sannyasi he is treated as being dead from that moment and his heir succeeds immediately. This would be the only consequence which would follow if a. Shudra become a Sannyasi. Such a consequence could hurt nobody except the Shudra himself. Why then this interdict ? The issue is important and I will quote Manu to explain the significance and importance of the Sacraments and Sannyas. Let us all ponder over the following relevant texts of Manu:
II. 26. With holy rites, prescribed by the Veda, must the ceremony on conception and other sacraments be performed for
So also are the women.