The ancient Hindu period was a time when the laws and punishments were based on the concept of dharma, or the moral and religious duty of each individual. The king was the supreme authority who enforced the law and protected the social order. The punishments were designed to correct the offenders, deter the potential criminals, and maintain the harmony of the society.
The ancient Hindu law books, such as the Manusmriti and the Arthashastra, prescribed different types of punishments for different types of crimes. The punishments were also varied according to the caste, age, gender, and status of the offender and the victim. The punishments ranged from fines, confiscation of property, imprisonment, banishment, mutilation, flogging, branding, and death penalty.
Some of the common crimes and punishments in the ancient Hindu period were:
- Theft: The thief was punished by cutting off his hands, feet, ears, nose, or other limbs, depending on the value of the stolen property. If the thief was a Brahmin, he was fined or banished instead.
- Murder: The murderer was punished by death, either by hanging, beheading, impalement, burning, drowning, or being devoured by animals. If the murderer was a Brahmin, he was banished or forced to perform penance. If the victim was a lower caste, the punishment was reduced or waived.
- Adultery: The adulterer was punished by flogging, branding, shaving of the head, cutting off the genitals, or death. The adulteress was punished by flogging, branding, cutting off the nose or ears, or death. If the adulterer or adulteress was a Brahmin, they were fined or banished. If the spouse was a lower caste, the punishment was reduced or waived.
- False witness: The false witness was punished by cutting off his tongue, lips, or fingers, or by branding or flogging. If the false witness was a Brahmin, he was fined or banished.
- Treason: The traitor was punished by death, either by hanging, beheading, impalement, burning, drowning, or being devoured by animals. If the traitor was a Brahmin, he was banished or forced to perform penance