• Many get confused between Shruti and Smriti. So what is Shruti and why was there need for Smriti? Which are the key Smritis?

Vedas are supremely significant in the Hindu sanatan dharma. During the early Vedic period, followers adhered strictly to their teachings, viewing them as the foundation of Vedic Dharma. “Vedo akhilam dharma mulam”

"Veda" is derived from "Vid-Gyane," which emphasizes knowledge and wisdom.  The Vedas are known as Shruti because they are divine knowledge that were directly "heard" or "revealed" to ancient sages (Rishis) through deep meditation and spiritual insight. 

Today, we have access to four primary Vedas: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. Each Veda encompasses various components, including Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. Over the centuries, these texts have developed numerous branches; however, many have dwindled in usage and comprehension. 

Currently, the preservation of these ancient texts relies on two methods: kanthast (oral transmission) and granthast (written documentation). Unfortunately, due to the prevailing conditions of Kaliyuga, the memorization and active study of these texts have significantly declined. As a result, much of the knowledge in parts of the Vedas is not being used, making it difficult for people today to understand and learn from the highly insightful teachings of the Vedas.

The loss of some of these sacred texts has led followers of sanatan dharma to forfeit valuable knowledge. Furthermore, the disappearance of many branches within the four Vedas has resulted in a significant gap in understanding and wisdom. In response to this decline, Smriti emerged to revive and preserve the essential teachings and practices that were at risk of being forgotten. 

The term Smirti means sacred texts that are based on human memory and tradition.  They are derived from and inspired by the Shruti.  Smriti can be understood as Smirtir Vyateeta Vishaya, referring to knowledge that has been lost from the past, particularly from the branches of the four Vedas. Smriti aims to revive this lost wisdom. At the time when the entire Vedas were recorded, Smriti did not exist. However, as sanatan dharma began to lose touch with the branches of the Vedas, the Rishis went into deep meditation and derived the teachings of Smriti to preserve and restore this invaluable knowledge.  There is no definitive count of all Smriti texts due to their vastness. 

Some well-known Smriti texts include Manu Smriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Bhrhaspati Smriti, Narada Smriti, Parashara Smriti, Atri Smriti, Vishnu Smriti, Gautama Smriti, Vaikhānasa Smriti, and Shankha Smriti.

These texts are available for reading and studying, offering valuable guidance on the practices and teachings of sanatan dharma. In addition to these, there are other important texts like Smriti, such as the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Dharma Shastras. These texts are just as important as the Smritis and help to provide a clear understanding of the spiritual, ethical, and cultural teachings of Hinduism.

Together, they offer a rich source of knowledge for anyone looking to learn and follow the wisdom of sanatan dharma.

Manusmirti is an ancient Hindu text attributed to ruler Manu.  Manu is referred to as the "first king" or "first lawgiver”, serving as a foundational legal and ethical guide. It addresses social order, law, and individual duties based on varna (class) and ashrama (stage of life), emphasizing the concept of dharma (righteousness). 

1 Manu Temple in Manali. The town gets its name from Rishi Manu.

Yajnavalkya Smriti is an ancient Indian text written by the Rishi Yajnavalkya. It is one of the key Dharma Shastras, alongside the Manusmirti, and focuses on law, ethics, and social duties within Hindu society. 

Bhrhaspati Smriti is another ancient Indian text that focuses on law and ethics, attributed to the Rishi Deva Guru Bhrhaspati, who is often associated with wisdom and knowledge in Hindu tradition. Another name for the "Bhrhaspati Smriti" is the "Barhaspatya Smriti."  Like other Dharma Shastras, it provides guidance on various aspects of social and moral conduct, including rules for personal behavior, family life, and governance.

The Narada Smriti is an ancient Hindu text attributed to the Rishis Narada. He is the most loved devotee of Lord Narayana.  This Smriti is part of the broader tradition of Dharma Shastras and focuses on various aspects of law, ethics, and social conduct.  He showed to many devotees the righteous path.

The Parashara Smriti, written by Rishi Parashara, who is also the father of Ved Vyasa, offers a practical and straightforward guide for ethical living that feels very relevant today. Unlike some older texts that can be hard to follow, the Parashara Smriti is easy to understand and apply in various situations. It promotes equality, avoiding issues of gender or caste discrimination, which makes it inclusive and relatable. This focus on fairness and practicality makes it a great resource for anyone looking to live a good life in today’s world.

Atri Smriti is an ancient Hindu text attributed to Rishi Atri.  It focuses on legal and ethical guidelines for individuals and society. The topics include duties across social classes, family law, and personal conduct, emphasizing the importance of dharma (righteousness). While not as well-known as other Dharma Shastras, it adds to the understanding of ethics in Hindu culture.

The Vishnu Smriti is written by Rishi Vishnu.  It is an important ancient Hindu text that outlines legal and ethical principles for individuals and society. It addresses various aspects of life, including duties, social order, and moral conduct, emphasizing the concept of dharma (righteousness). The Vishnu Smriti serves as a guide for living a virtuous life, reflecting the values and norms of Hindu tradition.

The Gautama Smriti is an ancient Hindu text written by Rishi Gautama.  It focuses on legal and ethical guidelines for individuals and society. It addresses duties across social classes, family law, and personal conduct, emphasizing the importance of dharma (righteousness) in promoting a just and orderly society.

The Vaikhanasa Smriti is an ancient Hindu text attributed to the Rishi Vaikhanasa, primarily focusing on rules and rituals related to temple worship and religious practices. It outlines the duties of priests and guidelines for various ceremonies, emphasizing the importance of devotion and proper conduct in religious life.

The Shankha Smriti is an ancient Hindu text written by Rishi Shankha, focusing on legal and ethical principles within Hindu society. It addresses various aspects of life, including duties, personal conduct, and social responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of dharma (righteousness).

For followers of Sanatana Dharma, simply learning the Vedas or Smritis is not enough to make progress in all areas of life. While it's important to follow the Vedas, consulting the Smritis can help clarify doubts and provide a deeper understanding.  This combination helps in achieving the four goals of life—Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation)—and supports overall growth and happiness.

The Vedas and Smritis explain how followers of Sanatana Dharma should live their lives and take care of Prakruti, which includes the five elements of nature: Prithvi (earth), Jala (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air), and Akasha (space).

Both texts emphasize the importance of these elements in keeping balance with the environment. They also teach that these elements should never be used for selfish purposes, highlighting the need to protect and respect the natural world.

Currently, there are some controversies about the Smritis.  First Varna Vyavastha, and second Stree Dharma. 

According to modern people, the Smritis are wrong on these two issues.    Historically, up until the 20th century, there were few controversies regarding this structure. However, modern scholars, lacking a deep understanding of Varna Vyavastha and influenced by contemporary ideas, have contributed to misunderstandings of the caste system.

Similarly, debates surrounding Stree Dharma (role of women) have arisen. Hindu scriptures consistently uphold the dignity and respect of women within sanatan dharma, as seen in sacred texts like the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and Puranas, which portray women in high regard. The lack of thorough study of the Vedas and Smritis has led some modern scholars to adopt unequal perspectives, mistakenly ranking the four varnas in a hierarchy of superiority.  Due to these controversies, scholars have ignored the majority of the Smritis that are beneficial and needed for a righteous life.

Conclusion

The Vedas and Smritis are important texts in sanatan dharma that offer wisdom on how to live a good and meaningful life. The Vedas, which are Shruti (divine knowledge) were revealed to ancient sages through deep meditation. Over time, some parts of the Vedas have been lost, which makes it harder for people today to fully understand their teachings.  To help with this, the Smritis were created to keep the essential knowledge alive and to provide practical guidance on how to live ethically and spiritually.

Although Smriti is derived from Shruti, which is the Vedas, it is not the case that the Smritis were followed by all and uniformly across India. Further, Smritis are being used to convey the essence of Sanatan Dharma when Shruti are eternal truths and Smriti contextual traditions.  

Though these texts offer valuable lessons, there are some misunderstandings about them, especially regarding the Varna system and the role of women (Stree Dharma). These issues have led to debates in modern times. However, when studied properly, the Vedas and Smritis show that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their role or gender.

Today it has become very important and necessary to learn these sacred texts by having a Guru (teacher) who can guide us in learning them, along with faith in them and the knowledge of the Sanskrit language to be able to understand what has been written in these sacred texts.  Then only we can live a balanced life, focusing on the four goals of life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasure), and moksha (freedom).

By learning from these texts, we can lead better lives and make positive contributions to our communities and the world.

Also read by author Introduction to the Vedas  

Author Srinathji is a Sanskrit/Vedic educator and Veda Pandit with extensive knowledge in Hindu scriptures, Puranas, Sri Ramayana and Sri Mahabharata.  I can teach online courses on Hinduism, the Sanskrit and Telugu Languages, and the Hindu scriptures. I have been practicing the Vedas for the last 35 years and teaching for the last 20 years.  I currently do in person and zoom classes with my students.  Additionally, I have taught Sanskrit at a highly reputed Osmania University (NAAC accredited) in Hyderabad.

Also read

1. Vedas and Upanishads – A structural profile

2. Characteristics of Indian Philosophy

3. Importance of Smritis in Indian Tradition

4. Unsung Women Warriors of India

5. Comprehensive article on Caste

Editor Notes 

Swami Alokananda wrote in Prabuddha Bharata on the importance of Smritis. Excerpts –

“Though srutis are eternal, for all practical implementation, necessary changes need to be made according to changing times and situations. Hence with regard to place-time-perspective, the upholders of righteousness in society (dharma-vetta) recall to memory the religious codes prescribed in the srutis; bring about necessary changes in them; and compose smṛtis. Verses in Śabdakalpadruma (an Encyclopaedia of Sanskrit words) say that smṛti contains 28 behavioural codes (laws). Hence, it is also well known as ‘Aṣṭaviṁśati Tattwa’.

The importance of smṛtis with regard to the duties of a king cannot be underestimated. The Yajnavalkya Samhita deals in detail issues like legal procedure, loans and their repayment, division of property, right to authority, disbursement and receipt of salary, punishment for the use of abusive language, and the like. The existence of laws regarding them enables the smooth running of society.”