The Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu, is a foundational Dharmashastra traditionally ascribed to the mythical lawgiver Manu and composed in layered stages by scholars between roughly the 2nd century BCE and the early centuries CE. It systematizes dharma—duties, rites, social and legal norms—addressing stages of life (ashramas), kingship, property, and civil and criminal procedure. Key themes include duty and social order, ritual purity, and the varna (class) framework. Historically it shaped classical Hindu law and was invoked in medieval and colonial jurisprudence. Today it is studied as a vital historical source—valued for insights into ancient social thought but widely critiqued for its prescriptions on caste and gender, fueling modern debates on reform and interpretation.