O sistema varna-āśrama (estratificações sócio-ocupacionais e etapas de vida) nas leis de manu (mānava-dharmaśāstra): aspectos religiosos e sociológicos

Abstract

The aim of this Dissertation is the investigation of the principles which govern the varṇaāśrama system of Hindu tradition as it is present in the Laws of Manu (Mānava- Dharmaśāstra). The varṇa-āśrama system arranges organically the ideals of sociooccupational stratification (varṇa) and stages of life (āśrama). The qualification and description of these ideals involve mythical-religious and rational-sociological arguments. In other words, it is intended here some enquiry into the aforesaid source looking for rational explanations which establish some exigencies for the society’s functionality according to practical purposes necessary to its maintenance, and, on the other hand, for meta-rational explanations, religiously grounded and whose actions would be orientated towards transcendental purposes according to prescribed ritual injunctions and/or the search for spiritual goods, drawing upon both types of explanation as modern categories of understanding and comprehension towards varṇa-āśrama system, in an outside approach to the context of the Laws of Manu’s (Mānava-Dharmaśāstra) emergence. Furthermore, the Dissertation also reflects a brand new effort of direct comprehension of the original Sanskrit text from the point of the cultural-linguistic reference of Portuguese language.