Sins in Hinduism – POV: Manu Smriti & Others?

According to Swami Vivekananda, there cannot be any good in the absence of evil. What is good for one, is evil for another. I have talked about sin earlier. Please read the concept of sin in Hinduism. Some things bring down a person morally, making it difficult for him or her to attain God. Manu Smriti and some other Smritis talk about such sins. This post lists the deadly sins in Hinduism.

The Five Deadly Sins in Hinduism

Though many acts are considered sins according to the Manu and other Smriti works, there are five deadly sins that are considered unforgivable and there is no repentance for them. I am listing them below.

Having Bad Thoughts for Guru’s Wife

A teacher is a form of God. Having lustful thoughts towards the wife of one’s teacher is a deadly sin in Hinduism. In early India, students lived with their gurus (teachers) in a gurukul (something like a boarding school). The teacher and his family looked after the well-being of the students. The teacher’s wife is supposed to be the mother of all the disciples. In that case, having bad thoughts about the teachers’ wife was considered a sin with no forgiveness. It still applies in the modern settings.

Killing A Brahmin

Here, the word ‘brahmin’ does not simply refer to the caste of a person. Brahmin is anyone who is a learned one. These are people who teach, train, and advise others — causing the growth of individuals and society. Killing such learned persons is considered a sin that forms one of the five deadly sins in Hinduism. It has no forgiveness.

Stealing Gold or Other Valuables

People’s worth is built by gold and other valuables. Such things help people in their tough times. Stealing one’s gold or other valuables deprives them of their emergency support. Therefore, stealing valuables from someone is a deadly sin in Hinduism. This too is unforgivable.

Using Intoxicants

Intoxicants can lead to disaster as they tend to rob the social sense, alertness, and other essential functions of the brain and nervous system. People are more likely to commit crimes when they are intoxicated. As such, it is considered a sin in Hinduism. It too does not have forgiveness.

But if you look at sadhus (monks etc), they intoxicate themselves to calm their minds and focus on meditation, etc. I do not know to what extent this fourth sin is deadly. Manu Smriti is a bit strict so people following it may consider it a sin to drink liquor etc. It is forbidden especially for priests who perform prayers in the temples.

Living In the Company of The Above Four Types of Sinners

If a person keeps himself in the company — knowingly — of the above four types of sinners, he or she is a sinner. Some provide a grace period of one year. Meaning if the person has been in the company of a thief for more than a year and knows that the company is a thief, he is deemed a sinner. Again, this is a deadly sin in Hinduism and has no forgiveness.

Other Sins in Hinduism

The following talks about some other sins in Hinduism that are not as bad as the above. If a sin is committed in ignorance, the sinners can repent (prayashchit) to get rid of the damaging effects. These prayashchit acts include helping others (humans and animals), praying, Japa, etc. I am listing some such sins below.

Violence

Indulging in violence is a sin as people tend to harm others physically or mentally; spiritual harm is also considered a sin.

Rape

Forcing oneself on others is a sin in Hinduism; be it marital or outside marriage, rape is rape and is a sin; Hinduism doesn’t mark sex before marriage as a sin though if it is consensual.

Usage of Words

Harming anyone using words is a sin; using bitter words, lies, hiding the truth, etc are some forms of misusing words that are considered a sin.

Adultery

Seeing a person outside marriage and having sex with them is adultery, which is a sin in Hinduism; even the thought of having sex with someone married to another person is a sin.

Wishing Harm to Others

Thinking of harming others in any way is a sin again; praying to gods for harming anyone is a sin.

The above are the main sins in Hinduism as per Manu Smriti and other Smritis from different sages. The five deadly sins mentioned above have no forgiveness. For other types of sins, prayashchit is advised by the learned.

Please note that different Smriti lays out the sins mentioned here. They keep on changing according to the needs of society. So, what is marked a sin today may not be a sin tomorrow.

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