Thread by @anbezhil12

We have heard the terms #Shruti and #Smriti in Vedic literature. What are they?
The ancient Vedic literature is largely divided into two sections, one called “Shruti” and the other “Smriti”. Shruti is often considered the original knowledge of self or brahman, making it the

ultimate authority in Hinduism, whereas Smriti is the interpretation given to Shruti by great sages of the time.
#Shruti
In Sanskrit, the word ‘Shruti’ means ‘what is heard’. Sru means to hear. Iti mean thus. Sruti means thus heard. Srutam is the object of hearing. Srotha means

the audience, or those who hear a speech. In a religious or spiritual sense, Shruti means the knowledge which was heard by revelation. The Vedas are considered Shruti because they were originally heard from God by the Vedic seers who then transmitted it to to their successors and

pioneered a tradition that continued for several generations. Until a few hundred years ago, the Vedas were transmitted only orally by teachers to a student. Thus, Shruti means that which is heard from God or from a guru. Since the knowledge of the Vedas is gained by hearing,

they are also known as anusrava or that which has been heard when seers were in samadhi (in a state of intense meditation), they heard the Vedas directly from God making it Apaurusheya (that which is not man made). Thus, Shruti was the name given to the knowledge they received

during the meditation. It’s often said that because Shruti is essentially the voice of God, it is timeless. In scientific terms, what these ancient sages were experiencing during the samadhi was the voice of their ultimate consciousness. That’s why Shruti was also termed, the

knowledge of Brahman or self. This is because it has been revealed by God Himself. They are unquestionable and authoritative. The shruti consists of the four Vedas which deal with different aspects of Hinduism. The Vedas are in the form of poetic hymns. The four Vedas are Rigveda

Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda. The sacred texts contained in the above four Vedas are classified into three subgroups. Aranyakas, Brahmanas, Upanishads. Shruti texts are considered to be the basic principle, meaning they are the part of #SanatanaDharma It got the name Sanatana

(timeless) because Shruti texts are applicable toany society, religion, caste, or any period of time. They are for all of humanity.
#Smriti
Smriti is the interpretation of the original Shruti texts given by various sages and saints. Smritis are more comparable to books of laws

or dos & don’ts that were written to ensure the smooth functioning of society. Thus, Smriti is what you remember. In other terms, Shruti is a revelation, and Smriti is a tradition. The Smriti category of Vedic literature includes the majority of Hindu texts such as Puranas, Epics

and other scriptures. These texts share significant importance in Hindu religion, but in the event of a conflict between Smriti and Shruti texts, Shruti will always have the upper hand and be authoritative. Smriti texts are divided into four categories: Vedanga, Upaveda, Upanga,

and Darshan. These texts were written based on Shruti and passed down through tradition. In contrast to Shruti, Smriti literature is the result of human intellect, primarily that of the great sages and saints who wrote it. Puranas like Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana, Garuda Purana,

all of these are also included in the Smriti literature, which is concerned with ancient stories and the histories of gods and deities.
Therefore, Shruti and Smriti are very much related. However, if a doubt arises while studying Smriti literature, it can be resolved by studying

Shruti as is the other part of Vedic literature and is derived from Shruti. Smriti is a little less authoritative than Shruti. The sacred texts of Smriti are traditionally written by ancient seers and sages. Some of the scholars are Sri Sankaracarya, Madhvacharya and Ramanuja.

The Smriti texts are modified through the experiences or the tradition over the period. The Vedic texts flourished and are simplified and passed through one generation to another. This has been done through Shruti and Smriti and also by the great saints, sages and scholars. The

Vedas are the treasure of Knowledge in many aspects. The aspects are not only spiritual but also scientific, material, and cultural.
Let us understand our Vedic culture and be proud of our heritage.
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam🙏