Browse by Topic
28 topics spanning Kane's five volumes — from Vedic dharma to modern law
धर्मः
Dharma: Meaning and Sources
The concept of dharma, its definitions, sources, and the origins of dharmaśāstra literature.
3 chapters · 1 volume
धर्मसूत्राणि
Dharmasūtras
The earliest prose law texts: Gautama, Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Vasiṣṭha, Viṣṇu, and others.
12 chapters · 1 volume
स्मृतयः
Smṛtis and Minor Law Texts
Manusmṛti, Yājñavalkya, Nārada, Bṛhaspati, Kātyāyana, and the minor smṛtikāras.
42 chapters · 1 volume
टीकानिबन्धाः
Commentaries and Digests
Medhātithi, Vijñāneśvara, Aparārka, Hemādri, Raghunandana, and the great nibandha tradition.
62 chapters · 2 volumes
वर्णव्यवस्था
Varṇa and Social Order
The four varṇas, their duties, disabilities, privileges, untouchability, and slavery.
5 chapters · 1 volume
संस्काराः
Saṁskāras (Life-Cycle Rites)
The sacraments from conception to death, including upanayana and the āśrama system.
3 chapters · 1 volume
विवाहः
Vivāha (Marriage and Family)
Forms of marriage, polygamy, widow remarriage, satī, niyoga, and women's position in law.
8 chapters · 1 volume
आह्निकम्
Āhnika and Daily Rites
Daily conduct, the pañca mahāyajñas, devayajña, vaishvadeva, food rules, and domestic rituals.
8 chapters · 2 volumes
दानम्
Dāna (Gifts and Endowments)
Theory and practice of gifts, pratiṣṭhā, utsarga, and charitable endowments.
2 chapters · 1 volume
संन्यासः
Vānaprastha and Sannyāsa
The later āśramas: forest hermitage and renunciation.
2 chapters · 1 volume
यज्ञः
Yajña (Vedic Sacrifice)
Śrauta and gṛhya sacrificial rituals: darśa-pūrṇamāsa, agniṣṭoma, soma, and more.
7 chapters · 1 volume
राजधर्मः
Rājadharma (Kingship and Governance)
Duties of rulers, the seven aṅgas of state, ministers, treasury, army, and statecraft.
10 chapters · 1 volume
व्यवहारः
Vyavahāra (Law and Justice)
Legal procedure, courts, evidence, ordeals, contracts, property disputes, and criminal law.
16 chapters · 1 volume
दायभागः
Dāyabhāga (Inheritance and Property)
Partition of wealth, succession, adoption, strīdhana, and maintenance.
5 chapters · 1 volume
सदाचारः
Sadācāra (Custom and Modern Law)
Role of custom, kalivarjya, conflict of authorities, and dharmaśāstra in modern Indian law.
4 chapters · 1 volume
प्रायश्चित्तम्
Pātaka and Prāyaścitta (Sin and Expiation)
Classification of sins, the doctrine of karma, penances, and their consequences.
6 chapters · 1 volume
अन्त्येष्टिः
Antyeṣṭi and Śuddhi (Death and Purification)
Eschatology, funeral rites, and purification from impurity due to death and birth.
2 chapters · 1 volume
श्राद्धम्
Śrāddha (Ancestral Offerings)
Annual and occasional rites for the departed, ekoddista, and related observances.
2 chapters · 1 volume
तीर्थयात्रा
Tīrthayātrā (Pilgrimages)
Sacred sites, the Ganges, Kāśī, Gayā, Kurukṣetra, and the geography of holiness.
6 chapters · 1 volume
व्रतोत्सवाः
Vratas and Utsavas (Vows and Festivals)
Religious vows, Ekādaśī, Navarātra, Dīvālī, Holikā, and the festival calendar.
12 chapters · 1 volume
कालज्ञानम्
Kāla and Jyotiṣa (Time and Astrology)
Units of time, muhūrta, calendar systems, eras, yugas, and cosmic cycles.
6 chapters · 1 volume
शान्तिः
Śānti (Propitiatory Rites)
Vedic and later propitiatory rites for averting calamities and divine wrath.
2 chapters · 1 volume
पुराणम्
Purāṇas and Their Influence
Origin and development of Purāṇa literature, individual Purāṇas, and the disappearance of Buddhism.
4 chapters · 1 volume
तन्त्रम्
Tantra and Dharmaśāstra
Tāntrik doctrines, nyāsa, mudrā, yantra, chakra, maṇḍala, and their relation to dharmaśāstra.
2 chapters · 1 volume
मीमांसा
Mīmāṁsā and Dharmaśāstra
Pūrvamīmāṁsā hermeneutics applied to dharmaśāstra: interpretation rules, fundamental doctrines.
3 chapters · 1 volume
दर्शनम्
Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and Nyāya
The relationship of Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and Tarka (Nyāya) to dharmaśāstra.
3 chapters · 1 volume
कर्मसिद्धान्तः
Cosmology and Karma
Hindu cosmology, the doctrine of karma, and punarjanma (transmigration).
2 chapters · 1 volume
भारतीयसंस्कृतिः
Hindu Culture and Civilization
Fundamental conceptions of Hindu civilization from Vedic times to 1800 CE, and future trends.
2 chapters · 1 volume