By Swami Harshananda
Smṛtis are law-books which prescribe the code of conduct for the individual and the society. Out of the several smṛtis known to us, Āñgirasa Smrti is one of the shorter works, but quoted even by authorities like Yājñavalkya.
A perusal of the printed texts and several manuscripts available now, shows that the verses vary from 32 to 151! The book deals mainly with prāyaścitta or expiation for various forbidden acts like accepting food and drink from antyajas (people of lowest castes), for injuring cows and for deadly sins. Its views on satī or sahagamana (wife dying on the funeral pyre of her dead husband) have been criticised by other works.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore