>
> From what I have seen a lot more people say we should not look to this
> book, than those who say we should. There is also the quote somewhere
> about if we even approach it we will become mlechas. Must be too potent
> for us...


Speaking about the potency of sastra, I would rather think
of the opposite case - the potency to turn mlecchas into devotees.
Not to turn devotees into mlecchas.

My impression is that the idea behind "we will become mlecchas
if we approach Manu-samhita" is rather that, according to
this scripture, we are classified a priori as mlecchas without
being given even the concession to read and study the Vedas
on the first place, what to speak of anything else. According
to Manu-samhita, we all are mlecchas. Period. But according
to the Bhagavat-gita, Srimad-bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita
this is not necessarily the case.

I do not see the conflict in our "looking" to Manu-samhita,
but in the way of the selective application of it, as it could
be seen from the recent "vedic revolution" idea, when only some
chosen parts have been taken in consideration (the ones that
regulate the activities and status of women), and when this
sastra has been taken as the last word for only one class of
the society (guess which one).



ys mnd