The manifestation of civilization

through Culture:
An Innovation of Dharmasastra

Dr. Sushree Sasmita Pati

Assistant Professor,
School of Sanskrit,
G.M.University, Sambalpur, Odisha
Email- sspati2014@gmail.com
 Culture
 Latin word (cultura) means – development by education or training.
 Sanskrit word (संस्कृ तिः)- That which is well made/refined.
 Sri Aurobindo- The whole aim of culture is to lift inner and outer experience
of human up to something which at first he/she is not, to lead him/her
towards knowledge and to teach him/her recognize the spirit of truth of being
one. (The greatness of India and culture,p-8)
 Culture takes the initiating and supporting the motives, principles to build a
civilization.
 Culture is the result of group characteristics not the individual one.
 Factors to create culture:
i. People living together in a geographical location for a long time.
ii. Maintaining certain values.
 Two concepts of Culture:
a. Prakriti- The inherent nature or tendency
b. Vikriti- The perversion
 Civilization
 Latin word (Civis)- The Citizen
 Sanskrit word (सभ्यता)- The quality of civilized people with a noble purpose.
Ex-आ समुद्रात्तु वै पूर्वादा समुद्राच्च पश्चिमात्। तयोरेवान्तरं गिर्योरार्यावर्तं विदुर्बुधाः॥(मनु.2.22)
 The action or process of civilizing or being civilized, developed state of
human society. (Oxford English Dictionary)
 The civilization is a sum of material, economical, spiritual, political, moral
etc. while discovering the right amount of Harmony and organizing its
expressive motives and movements of eternal spirit with the help of culture.
 Indian Civilization is based on the eternal instinct of human being called
Dharma.
 The success mantras of Indian Civilization are “ culturally influenced
universal brotherhood, philosophic thoughts on life, belief in spiritual
intuition, harmony with nature, labour intensive etc.” (The greatness of India and
culture,p-10)

 As civilization develops culture, culture becomes the outgrowth of

civilization.
 Dharmasastra on
Culture &Civilization
 Dharma- वेदोऽखिलो धर्ममूलं स्मृतिशीले च तद्विदाम्।

आचारश्चैव साधूनामात्मनस्तुष्टिरेव च॥(मनुस्मृतिः.2.6)

 Sadachara- अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनः।

चत्वारि सम्प्रवर्धन्ते आयुर्धर्मो यशो बलम्॥(मनुस्मृतिः.2.121)

 Purusartha- चतुराश्रमम्, चतुर्वर्णम्, संस्कारः

 Panchamahayagas- ब्रह्म-देव-पिता-भूत-मनुष्ययज्ञ (आश्वालयनगृह्यसूत्रम्-3.1.1-2)

 Vyavahara- राजशासनम्, दण्डविधानम्, दायभागः etc.

 Literature- वेद-स्मृति-उपनिषद्वाक्यानां परिपालनम्। (मनुस्मृतिः.2.10)

 Prayaschitta- विध्यपराधे प्रायश्चित्तं दोषनिघातार्थं विधीयते..॥(वैखानसश्रौतसूत्रम्.20.1)

Thank you!