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.