Discover Why Rishi Manu Abolished the Niyog Tradition of Procreation with Another Man
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Sage Manu Abolished Niyog: Why He Called It 'Pashudharma'
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News18•27-02-2026, 14:21
Sage Manu Abolished Niyog: Why He Called It 'Pashudharma'
•Niyog, a practice allowing women to bear children from another man if their husband was infertile or deceased, was prevalent during the Mahabharata period.
•Sage Manu later abolished Niyog, calling it 'Pashudharma' (animalistic practice) due to its misuse and declining moral standards post-Mahabharata.
•Manu emphasized marital loyalty and strict celibacy for widows, viewing Niyog as undignified and only for exceptional circumstances.
•The practice, similar to 'Levirate marriage' found in ancient Judaism, Mesopotamia, and some African tribes, was meant for lineage continuation.
•As the author of Manusmriti, Sage Manu's strict stance led to the disappearance of Niyog from Indian society after the Post-Vedic period.
