Manu Is One of the Twelve Authorities on Vedic Knowledge
In the Vedic tradition, the path of spiritual perfection is not a matter of research or independent discovery. It is a path of following authority. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the dvādaśa-mahājana—the twelve great authorities—as the standard-bearers of religious principles. Among these exalted personalities, Manu holds a significant position as the father of mankind and a primary teacher of dharma. To understand the Absolute Truth and the proper conduct of life, one must follow in the footsteps of authorities like Manu.
The Twelve Mahājanas
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.20) enumerates twelve individuals who are authorized to understand and speak the confidential science of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that these agents of the Lord are empowered to propagate the principles of religion throughout the universe.
- According to the Vedic sastras there are twelve authorities. These are Svayambhu, Narada, Sambhu, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, prahlada, Janaka, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva Gosvami and Yamaraja. Svayambhu is Brahma, and Sambhu is Lord Siva.
- The twelve authorities are Brahma, Narada, Lord Siva, Manu, Kapila, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhisma, Sukadeva Gosvami, Bali, Yamaraja and the Kumaras. These personalities are still remembered because they were all great stalwart devotees of the Lord.
- Twelve personalities - Brahma, Narada, Lord Siva, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva Gosvami and Yamaraja - are agents of the Lord authorized to speak and propagate the principles of religion.
Manu’s Specific Authority
Manu is not a mythological figure but a historical administrator and lawgiver. As one of the mahājanas, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that his codes of conduct are considered all-pervading authorities for human society. Along with Parāśara, he is accepted unanimously in the disciplic succession.
- The followers of the Vedas unanimously accept the authority of Manu and Parasara in the disciplic succession.
- There are twenty different types of scripture for following religious principles, and among them the scriptures of Manu and Yajnavalkya are considered to be all-pervading authorities.
Rejection of Speculation
The primary reason for relying on these authorities is the rejection of mental speculation. Human beings, with their imperfect senses and tendency to commit mistakes, cannot manufacture religious principles. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that one must simply follow the path marked by the mahājanas.
- No one can manufacture a religious principle by imperfect speculation. One must follow in the footsteps of great authorities like Brahma, Siva, Narada, Manu, Kumara, Kapila, Prahlada, Bhisma, Sukadeva Gosvami, Yamaraja, Janaka, etc.
- One must follow in the footsteps of great authorities like Brahma, Siva, Narada, Manu, the Kumaras, Kapila, Prahlada, Bhisma, Sukadeva Gosvami, Yamaraja, Janaka, and Bali Maharaja.
Qualifications of an Authority
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes one more point regarding what makes Manu and the others authorities: it is not merely their high birth or position, but their intense devotion and austerity. They are completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and possess the power of knowledge derived from penance.
- All these personalities (Sanaka, Sanatana, Narada, Siva, the Manus) underwent great austerities and penances and thus became authorities in Vedic knowledge. Perfect knowledge for human beings, as well as all living entities, is contained in the Vedas.
- All these authorities (Siva, Lord Brahma, Manu or Narada) are certainly very powerful, but they do not have the power to disobey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
To resolve the confusion of life and understand the goal of existence, one must look to the beacons of light established by the Vedas. Manu, as a mahājana, guides humanity not only in social and moral conduct but, Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts, guides us toward the lotus feet of the Lord. By accepting the authority of Manu and his peers, we safely navigate the ocean of ignorance.
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