ᲘᲜᲓᲝᲔᲗᲘᲡ ᲡᲐᲮᲔᲚᲛᲬᲘᲤᲝᲡᲐ  ᲓᲐ ᲡᲐᲛᲐᲠᲗᲚᲔᲑᲠᲘᲕ  ᲡᲘᲡᲢᲔᲛᲐᲗᲐ ᲤᲝᲠᲛᲘᲠᲔᲑᲐ

ᲡᲐᲜᲓᲠᲝ-ᲒᲘᲝᲠᲒᲘ  ᲡᲐᲠᲣᲮᲐᲜᲘᲨᲕᲘᲚᲘ; ᲛᲐᲠᲘᲐᲛ  ᲒᲝᲠᲒᲝᲫᲔ

doi:10.63410/20251204/07

ავტორები

ᲡᲐᲜᲓᲠᲝ-ᲒᲘᲝᲠᲒᲘ ᲡᲐᲠᲣᲮᲐᲜᲘᲨᲕᲘᲚᲘ სულხან-საბა ორბელიანის უნივერსიტეტი
ᲛᲐᲠᲘᲐᲛ ᲒᲝᲠᲒᲝᲫᲔ სულხან-საბა ორბელიანის უნივერსიტეტი

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63410/20251204/07

საკვანძო სიტყვები:

Ancient Indian Law, History of Indian law, Dharmaśāstra, Varna System, Manusmṛti, Vedic Jurisprudence, Arthaśāstra

ანოტაცია

This article examines the development of state structures and legal systems in ancient India, tracing their evolution from the Vedic
period through the medieval era. The study analyzes the distinctive characteristics of ancient Indian jurisprudence, which emerged at the intersection of religious, philosophical, and political principles. Central to this analysis is the varna-caste system, which structured social relations and determined differentiated legal statuses, obligations, and forms of liability across social categories.
The research explores the primary sources of ancient Indian law, including Vedic literature, Dharmasūtra texts, Dharmaśāstra treatises, and the Laws of Manu (Manusmṛti). Particular attention is devoted to the concept of dharma as a universal legal, moral, and religious order governing all aspects of human existence. The article demonstrates how dharma established normative frameworks encompassing civil, criminal, and procedural law. The study also examines secular juridical
literature, notably Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra, which complemented religious legal sources with theories of statecraft and administration.
The article addresses the transformation of Indian legal culture during the medieval period, when Islamic conquests introduced legal
pluralism through the coexistence of dharmaśāstra and Sharia law, revealing significant regional variations between northern and southern India.
By synthesizing religious texts, epic literature (Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa), and juridical treatises, this study illuminates how ancient Indian jurisprudence developed legal mechanisms within a framework that merged temporal and spiritual authority, continuing to influence contemporary Indian legal traditions.

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