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The authors of Dharmasutras declare themselves to be ordinary people and state that they have attempted to codify Dharma based on the three main sources, namely, the Shrutis, Smrtis and conduct of shishtas (unselfish, virtuous and learned personages prior to them).<ref name=":0" /> This article aims to address some prevalent misconceptions and highlight those perspectives depicting harmony in relationship between  one's personal stage of life (ashrama) and his role in the society (varna) as laid down in these ancient texts.

The authors of Dharmasutras declare themselves to be ordinary people and state that they have attempted to codify Dharma based on the three main sources, namely, the Shrutis, Smrtis and conduct of shishtas (unselfish, virtuous and learned personages prior to them).<ref name=":0" /> This article aims to address some prevalent misconceptions and highlight those perspectives depicting harmony in relationship between  one's personal stage of life (ashrama) and his role in the society (varna) as laid down in these ancient texts.

== Origin of Dharmasutras ==

== Importance of Samayacharas ==

The central theme of three main sutragranthas of the Kalpa Vedanga is Dharma; Shrauta sutras comprehend the dharmik activities for the larger welfare of the society, the Grhyasutras lay down the dharmas governing the individual in particular. Dharmasutras are set of treatises, which often confused with the Dharmashastras, are precursors to personal law codes and include the details of prevalent samayacharas (traditional practices prevalent at the time of their composition) in their discourse.<ref name=":0" />

The central theme of three main sutragranthas of the Kalpa Vedanga is Dharma; Shrauta sutras comprehend the dharmik activities for the larger welfare of the society, the Grhyasutras lay down the dharmas (in  relation to yajnas) governing the individual in particular. Dharmasutras are set of treatises, which often confused with the Dharmashastras, are precursors to personal law codes and include the details of prevalent samayacharas (traditional practices prevalent at the time of their composition) in their discourse.<ref name=":0" />

The term Dharmasutra is elliptically used for the full title "Samayacharika Dharma" or "Smarta Dharmasutra". These dharmasutras nowhere claim that they deal with dharma in its entirety and openly declare that they are going to expound Samayacharika dharmas which are otherwise called Smarta dharmas.

The term Dharmasutra is elliptically used for the full title "Samayacharika Dharma" or "Smarta Dharmasutra". These dharmasutras nowhere claim that they deal with dharma in its entirety and openly declare that they are going to expound Samayacharika dharmas which are otherwise called Smarta dharmas. The Apastamba Dharmasutra, for instance, opens with the words,

 

== Subject Matter of Dharmasutras ==

== Subject Matter of Dharmasutras ==

'''Ashrama Dharmas''': A large portion of the sutragranthas describe the Ashrama dharmas. According to the scheme of life envisaged in the dharmasutras, the entire life of a dvija is divided into four stages - Brahmacharya, Grhastha, Vaanaprastha and Sanyasa ashramas respectively. Rules and regulations governing a person in each stage of life are well explained long before any other civilization. The first stage is the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]], prior to which a person attains the status of a Dvija during the Upanayana samskara. In this stage, a Brahmacharin must devote his energy to acquire education at the house of an acharya. In this context the dharma of a Brahmacharin, his conduct, the dos and donts, holidays, his dinacharya, gurusushruta, the duties of a preceptor are clearly laid out with few modifications over the changing ages. On the completion of the education, which primarily included the chaturdashavidyas, he becomes a [[Snataka (स्नातकः)|Snataka]] (graduate) governed by the [[Snataka Dharma (स्नातकधर्मः)|Snataka dharmas]]. Crossing this stage he enters the next stage of life, the [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|Grhasthashrama]].  The Dharmasutras draw special attention to the snataka dharmas exhorting a graduating student to lead a dignified code of conduct and prepares him for the life ahead to put his education to good use. The grhasthashrama is highly commended in these sutragranthas and regarded as Ashrama ''par excellence''. The statement that all other ashramas depend on the grhastha for their sustenance and for the perpetuance of the race and culture, finds primary importance in these sutras. Thus we find that Grhasthashrama dharmas are well elaborated here, dwelling on daily duties of a grhastha (including the time of rising up and cooking etc), the laws of marriage, conjugal relations and deviations, children and sons, succession laws, treatment of women and conduct towards people of other ashramas, rites for housewarming and building a house, rites for the ancestors and new-borns, and so forth.  

'''Ashrama Dharmas''': A large portion of the sutragranthas describe the Ashrama dharmas. According to the scheme of life envisaged in the dharmasutras, the entire life of a dvija is divided into four stages - Brahmacharya, Grhastha, Vaanaprastha and Sanyasa ashramas respectively. Rules and regulations governing a person in each stage of life are well explained long before any other civilization. The first stage is the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]], prior to which a person attains the status of a Dvija during the Upanayana samskara. In this stage, a Brahmacharin must devote his energy to acquire education at the house of an acharya. In this context the dharma of a Brahmacharin, his conduct, the dos and donts, holidays, his dinacharya, gurusushruta, the duties of a preceptor are clearly laid out with few modifications over the changing ages. On the completion of the education, which primarily included the chaturdashavidyas, he becomes a [[Snataka (स्नातकः)|Snataka]] (graduate) governed by the [[Snataka Dharma (स्नातकधर्मः)|Snataka dharmas]]. Crossing this stage he enters the next stage of life, the [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|Grhasthashrama]].  The Dharmasutras draw special attention to the snataka dharmas exhorting a graduating student to lead a dignified code of conduct and prepares him for the life ahead to put his education to good use. The grhasthashrama is highly commended in these sutragranthas and regarded as Ashrama ''par excellence''. The statement that all other ashramas depend on the grhastha for their sustenance and for the perpetuance of the race and culture, finds primary importance in these sutras. Thus we find that Grhasthashrama dharmas are well elaborated here, dwelling on daily duties of a grhastha (including the time of rising up and cooking etc), the laws of marriage, conjugal relations and deviations, children and sons, succession laws, treatment of women and conduct towards people of other ashramas, rites for housewarming and building a house, rites for the ancestors and new-borns, and so forth.  

Gaarhasthya is followed by the [[Vanaprasthashrama (वानप्रस्थाश्रमः)|Vanaprasthashrama]]. It is the order of the forest dwelling munis and rshis who have left behind an active participation in the grhastha activities. A householder may choose at a proper time to leave his household and withdraw to the forests alone or along with his wife. He leaves behind the care of family activities, to his subsequent generations, to practice meditation and attain higher spiritual goals.   

Gaarhasthya is followed by the [[Vanaprasthashrama (वानप्रस्थाश्रमः)|Vanaprasthashrama]]. It is the order of the forest dwelling munis and rshis who have left behind an active participation in the grhastha activities. A householder may choose at a proper time to leave his household and withdraw to the forests alone or along with his wife. He leaves behind the care of family activities, to his subsequent generations, to practice meditation and attain higher spiritual goals. Many types of Vanaprasthas and their mode of living are described in here but no great importance is attached to this Ashrama.   

 

 

== Manava Dharmasutra and Manusmrti ==

== Manava Dharmasutra and Manusmrti ==