Origins of various Codes &
their importance in Society
1. Before civilization
2. Civilization
3. After civilization
Deepak Ramakrishnan
Krishna Prasad
Shaikh Shoaib
Sarina Tellis
Jaideep Parchure
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Origins of various Codes &
their importance in Society
1. Before civilization
• Code of Hammurabi (1792 BC)
2. Civilization
• Laws of Manu (300 BC and 300 AD)
• 10 commandments (1300BC)
• Chanakya (350-275 BC)
• Buddhism (2500 years ago)
3. After civilization
• Washington rules of civilization (16th
century)
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The Code of
Hammurabi
(1792 BC)
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The Code of Hammurabi - 1792 BC
Hammurabi’s Code
was this law code.
• Hammurabi ruled the Babylonian
Empire for 42 years. At the end of
his long reign,
• Hammurabi’s legal decisions were
collected and inscribed on a stone
tablet in a Babylonian temple.
• The 282 laws of the Code of
Hammurabi represent one of the
earliest known legal systems.
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“If a man stole the property of church or state, that
man shall be put to death; also the one who
received the stolen goods from his hand shall be
put to death.”


The laws governed such
things as lying, stealing,
assault, debt, business
partnerships, marriage, and
divorce.
In seeking protection for all
members of Babylonian
society, Hammurabi relied
on the philosophy of equal
retaliation,
otherwise
known as “an eye for an
eye.”
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Code of Hammurabi
• One section codified criminal law, the branch
of law that deals with offenses against others,
such as robbery and murder.
• Another section codified civil law, the branch
that deals with private rights and matters, such
as business contracts, taxes, and property
inheritance.
Hammurabi’s code was the first attempt by a ruler to codify, or arrange
and set down in writing, all of the laws that would govern a state.
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Importance to Society
Code of Hammurabi set the
standard for all future societies
 Legal scholars call it the first great
legal document of civilization

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Taken from Junior Scholastic, “Laying Down the Law”, September 18, 2006, p.16-17.
Law of Manu
(300 BC and 300 AD)
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Law of Manu


An ethical text written in
between 300 BC and 300 AD
This text sets the social
standards for the classical
era and contains the roots of
modern Hinduism
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Law of Manu
One of the basic assumptions of the
Law of manu is the Varna System
 Based on older Rig-Veda account of
the division of the cosmic man (page
82)
 Law of Manu is more explicit in its
explanation of the 4 varnas

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Law of Manu
4 Varnas
 1st three are the twice born
 The 4th (Shudras) are a once born
 Explains the specific duties (dharma)
of each varna

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Brahmin Duties

Studying, teaching, sacrifice,
officiating at sacrifice, giving gifts, and
accepting gifts
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Kshatriya Duties

Protection of people, giving gifts,
performing sacrifices, studying,
and nonattachment to sense of
pleasure
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Vaishya Duties

Protection of cattle, charity,
performance of sacrifice, trading,
lending on interest, and agriculture
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Shudra Duty

Service
without envy
of the above
three castes
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Reincarnation

Members of each varna
were expected to perform
their duties faithfully and to
move gradually through the
system, incarnation by
incarnation. Mobility
through the caste system
could only be achieved
through reincarnation.
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The Brahmins – 4 stages

Upper caste men were expected to pass
through 4 stages in his life




1. Be a student of the Vedas
2. Be a householder and marry within his
caste
3. When his grandchildren are grown, he is
to retreat to the forest and live for some
years as a hermit, meditating and offering
sacrifices
4. He may become a wandering beggar
(Sannyasi)
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Women and The Law of
Manu
 These 4 life stages
were only for men
 Women were to stay in
the home under the
control and protection of
the chief male in the
household
 Women should not do
anything independently
 Father – husband –
sons
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More on Women and The
Law of Manu
Women are meant for children
 They are to be worshipped
 The moral and ethical ideals of the
time


No theft, murder, sexual immorality
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Sacred Cows



Even at this early date, Indian
society placed a premium on the
life of cattle
“The Vaishya, having gone
through the sacraments, and
having accepted a wife, should
engage himself in trade and the
protection of cattle”
Among the greater sins is the
“killing of cattle”
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Why cows?



Cows form the core of religious sacrifices, for without
ghee or butter, which is produced from cow's milk, no
sacrifice can be performed.
In the Mahabharata, we have Bhishma saying: "Cows
represent sacrifice. Without them, there can be no
sacrifice…Cows are guileless in their behavior and
from them flow sacrifices…and milk and curds and
butter. Hence cows are sacred..."
Bhishma also observes that the cow acts as a
surrogate mother by providing milk to human beings
for the whole life. So the cow is truly the mother of the
world
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The Law of Manu and Time
Divine time is virtually endless
 In the beginning, there is Brahma.
There is peace, abundance, and
morality
 Then the world begins to decay.
Vishnu intervenes on behalf of
humanity, but the world continues to
decay. Famines, war, and general
immorality become the rule

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The Law of Manu and Time
Finally, the world is destroyed by
Shiva.
 When the cycle of time is
complete, the world dissolves
and souls depart into suspended
being
 After some time, the cycle
begins again and souls take up
new bodies

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Moral Aim of the Law of Manu
(importance to Society)

Pleasantness, patience, control of
mind, non-stealing, purity, control of
the senses, intelligence, knowledge,
truthfulness, and non-irritability
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Ten Commandments
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Ten Commandments
• The Ten Commandments, are a list
of religious and moral imperatives
that, according to the Hebrew Bible,
were spoken by God to the people of
Israel from the mountain referred to
as "Mount Sinai"
• Given to Moses in the form of two
stone tablets. They are recognized
as a moral foundation in Judaism,
Christianity and Islam.
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Ten Commandments
The 10 commandments
come from Exodus 20:117.
Here is the verse:
And God spoke all these
words, saying: "I am the
Lord your God, who
brought you out of the
land of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage.
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Chankya
(350-275 BC)
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
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

Born in 3 B.C.
Vishugupta – Kautilya – Chanakya
Pulled down Nanda Dynasty
King maker – Chandragupta Maurya
Responsible for the defeat of Alexander in India
His works include:-
􀂄 Artha Sastra
􀂄 Chanakya Neeti
􀂄 Chanakya Sutra
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Chankya’s work include
Artha Sastra
􀂄 6000 verses, mainly prose with about 380 shlokas, divided into
15adhikaranas (books) and 150 Chapters and 180 prakaranas
(sections dealing with one topic)


Chanakya Neeti
􀂄 Neeti defies definition like common sense
􀂄 Neeti is mother of all human sciences : aims at cultivation of
virtues and wisdom and striking a balance between
purusharthas
􀂄 Maxims in poetical form – 12 chapter 307 verses

Chanakya Suthra
 The sutra system
• 􀂄 572 sutra
• 􀂄 200-220 for rulers for enterprise management



Remaining for common folk for life management
Generic Principles of management
Quite different and offers a unique approach
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Chanakya Sutra for
Leadership Principles
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Leadership Principles of
Chankya
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Buddhism
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Buddhism




Buddhism is a major world
religion, or in a better sense,
philosophy.
It is the 4th largest religion of the
world, and has about
300,000,000 people living by it.
It explains the purpose of life,
injustices and inequality around
the world.
It also helps people by providing
a way of life that will lead to true
happiness.
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The History of Buddhism




It was all started by Buddha, who was a
prince in Lumbini, 2500 years ago.
He was very unhappy in his royal life, so he
set off on a 6 year journey, exploring other
religions.
After his long journey and much meditation
he was finally “enlightened”.
He found the middle path, the key to human
happiness. For the rest of his life he
wandered Asia, preaching his new religion.
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What Did Buddha Teach?


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He taught the 4 Noble truths
which sum up Buddhism religion
He also taught the noble eight
fold path
He taught to lead a moral life, be
mindful and aware of thoughts
and actions and to develop
wisdom and understanding
He also taught the 5 precepts
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What are the Four Noble
Truths?

The first was that life is suffering
• You can’t live without death, frustration, etc.

The second is that suffering is caused by
craving and aversion
• Getting what you want doesn’t guarantee
happiness, it deprives you of it

The third is that suffering can be overcome,
and true happiness attained
• If we stop craving useless things, and live each
day at a time (not living in the future) we will be
happy and free.

The fourth is that the Noble eight fold path
leads to the end of all suffering
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The Noble Eightfold Path
It taught 8 simple rules:
 To have a right
understanding
 To have right thoughts
 To use right speech
 To do right actions
 To deal with right livelihood
 To give a right effort
 To have a right
mindfulness
 To use the right meditation
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The 5 precepts
Do not take the life of anything living
 Do not take anything not freely given
 Abstain from sensual overindulgence
 Refrain from untrue speech
 Avoid intoxication

• Do not lose mindfulness

This is the moral code of the
Buddhists
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Washington
rules of civilization
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Washington -Rules of Civility
& Decent Behaviour
Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and
Conversation is the name of a list best known as a school
writing exercise of George Washington, who became the
first president of the United States of America. Most of the
rules have been traced to a French etiquette manual, dating
from the late 16th Century.
They include:
 *1st Every action done in Company, ought to be with Some
Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.
 *2d When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of
the Body, not usually Discovered.
 *3d Shew Nothing to your Freind that may affright him.
 *4th In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a
humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

110 rules
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Thank you
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