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VOL. 6, ISSUE 3 (2020)
The legitimacy of tradition: Mimansa’s theory of interpretation and customs within the Vedic Legal Order in Ancient India
Authors
Dr. Anil Kumar
Abstract
The Vedic age of Hindu civilization
(1500BC-800BC) is an era which some European scholars declared to be that of
different culture and religion. While some Hindu scholars claim that their
civilization is much older and extend as far as 6000 year back [1].
The chronological contradiction is not important rather it is more significant
to understand the Vedic methods of resolving the textual conflict which was
well explained in the different texts of Dharma (Law). This article is an
attempt to understand the logic of accepting the Vedas as the superior
authority of Dharma and the methods and test for deciding the validity of its
uses that were used by contemporary societies and produced various Mimamsa
literature, which are helpful for understanding the rupture and continuity of
the customs. This article also outlines four foundational rules of
interpretation derived from ancient Indian Sanskrit Mimamsa theory.
These principles provide a hierarchical framework for understanding
texts: Shruti prioritizes explicit, grammatically complete
meaning; Linga resolves ambiguity through contextual or technical
reference; Vakya mandates the grammatical connection of disjointed
sentences to ensure clarity; and Prakarna requires reading incomplete
clauses in conjunction with related passages to achieve a cohesive
understanding of the subject matter and classification of interpretation of law
in Ancient India in order to legitimise the customs and tradition in Indian
Society.
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Pages:346-349
How to cite this article:
Dr. Anil Kumar "The legitimacy of tradition: Mimansa’s theory of interpretation and customs within the Vedic Legal Order in Ancient India ". International Journal of Law, Vol 6, Issue 3, 2020, Pages 346-349
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