Research Paper Volume : 3 | Issue : 3 | March 2014 • ISSN No 2277 - 8179 Sanskrit KEYWORDS : Indian Scriputres, Srutis, Indian Scriptures Part-2 Smritis, Itihasas, Puranas, Agamas, Darsanas P A Subramanian Research Scholar, Sanskrit, Dept.of Sanskrit, Rajah’s College for Sanskrit & Tamil Studies, Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur Pin:13 203. A Short Note on Sanskrit Literature part-2 day Government of India is applying some of these laws. - chiefly consulted in all matters of Hindu Law. Even the present thoritativeSanskrit literature scriptures can of be the classified Hindus. underThe four six secularorthodox sections heads There are eighteen main Smritis or Dharma Sastras. The most embodyand four thesecular latter heads. developments The six orthodox in classical sections Sanskrit form literature. the au important are those of Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara. The In part 1, the details about 1.The Srutis,2.The Four Vedas And Their Sub Divisions ,3.TheMantra Samhitas,4.The Brahmanas Harita, Satatapa, Vasishtha, Yama, Apastamba, Gautama, Devala, and The Aranyakas,5.TheUpanishads, 6.The Upa-Vedas and 7.The Sankha-other fifteen Likhita, are Usana, those Atri of andVishnu, Saunaka. Daksha, Samvarta, Vyasa, Vedangas were given now in part two the following notes are given:- The Laws of Manu are intended for the Satya Yuga; those of Ya- jnavalkya are for the Treta Yuga; those of Sankha and Likhita 1.The Smritis are for the Dvapara Yuga; and those of Parasara are for the Kali Yuga. The laws and rules which are based entirely upon our so- scriptures. These are the ancient sacred law-codes of the Hin- cial positions, time and clime, must change with the changes in dusNext dealing in importance with the toSanatana-Varnasrama-Dharma. the Sruti are the Smritis or secondaryThey sup- society and changing conditions of time and clime. Then only the progress of the Hindu society can be ensured. the Vedas. The Smriti or Dharma Sastra is founded on the Sruti. Theplement Smritis and are explain based the on ritualisticthe teachings injunctions of the Vedas. called The Vidhis Smriti in Need For A New Law-Code - It is not possible to follow some of the laws of Manu at present velops Dharma. It lays down the laws which regulate Hindu na- time. We can follow their spirit and not the letter. Society is ad- tional,stands social,next in family authority and toindividual the Sruti obligations.(Vedas). It explains The works and that de vancing. When it advances, it outgrows certain laws which were valid and helpful at a particular stage of its growth. Many new things which were not thought out by the old law-givers have saveare expressly the Vedas. called Smritis are the law books, Dharma Sastras. Smriti, in a broader sense, covers all Hindu Sastras (scriptures) now those old laws which have become obsolete. The laws for regulating Hindu society from time to time are come into existence now. It is no use insisting people to follow Our present day society has changed considerably. A new Smriti and laws to guide the individuals and communities in their daily to suit the requirements of this age is very necessary. Another conductcodified andin the to Smritis. regulate The their Smritis manners have and laid customs. down definite The Smritis rules sage will place before the Hindus of our days a new suitable have given detailed instructions, according to the conditions of code of laws. Time is ripe for a new Smriti. Cordial greetings the time, to all classes of men regarding their duties in life. to this age. The Hindu learns how he has to spend his whole life from these The Inner Voice Of Dharma He who is endowed with a pure heart through protracted Ta- clearly given in these books. The Smritis describe certain acts andSmritis. prohibit The dutiessome others of Varnasramas for a Hindu, (the according four stages to his of birth life) andare and who has a very clear conscience, can be guided by the in- stage of life. The object of the Smritis is to purify the heart of nerpas voice(austerity), in matters Japa, of Kirtana, Dharma meditation or duty or moraland service action. of The Guru in- man and take him gradually to the supreme abode of immortal- ity and make him perfect and free. indeed, the voice of God or Soul or Antaryamin or Inner Ruler. Thisner voice voice that is more proceeds than Smriti. from a It clean is Smriti heart of filledSmritis. with Purify Sattva your is, These Smritis have varied from time to time. The injunctions heart and train yourself to hear this inner voice. Keep your ear and prohibitions of the Smritis are related to the particular in tune with the ‘voice’. social surroundings. As these surroundings and essential con- ditions of the Hindu society changed from time to time, new The Sruti And The Smriti Smritis had to be compiled by the sages of different ages and The Sruti and the Smriti are the two authoritative sources of different parts of India. Hinduism. Sruti literally means what is heard, and Smriti means what is remembered. Sruti is revelation and Smriti is tradition. The Celebrated Hindu Law-Givers From time to time, a great lawgiver would take his birth. He forms part of The Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, Sections XIII – - Upanishad is a Sruti. Bhagavad-Gita is a Smriti. (Bhagavad-Gita come obsolete. would codify the existing laws and remove those that had be XLII (also known as Bhagavad-Gita Parva). He would make some alterations, adaptations, readjustments, - additions and subtractions, to suit the needs of the time and see ity.Sruti These is direct records experience. constitute Great the RishisVedas. heard Hence, the Sruti eternal is primary truths that the way of living of the people would be in accordance with of religion and left a record of them for the benefit of poster the teachings of the Veda. Of such law-givers, Manu, Yajnavalkya secondary authority. and Parasara are the most celebrated persons. Hindu society authority. Smriti is a recollection of that experience. Hence, it is is founded on, and governed by, the laws made by these three The Smritis or Dharma Sastras also are books written by sages, great sages. The Smritis are named after them. We have Manu - - riti which contradicts the Sruti, the Smriti is to be rejected. but they are not the final authority. If there is anything in a Sm theSmriti greatest or Manava law-giver Dharma-Sastra of the race. (LawsHe is theof Manuoldest or lawgiver the Insti as 2.The Itihasas (history) well.tutes Theof Manu), Yajnavalkya Yajnavalkya Smriti Smriti follows and the Parsara same generalSmriti. Manulines asis ( and Yajnavalkya Smriti are universally accepted at the present ThereThe Friendly are four Treatises books under And the this Commanding heading Treatises) timethe Manu as authoritative Smriti and worksis next all in over importance India. Yajnavalkya to it. Manu Smriti Smriti is 1The Valmiki-Ramayana, 2The Yogavasishtha, 3The Mahab- 340 IJSR - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Research Paper harata, 4The Harivamsa The Bhagavad-GitaVolume : 3 | Issue : 3 | March 2014 • ISSN No 2277 - 8179 The most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad- These embody all that is in the Vedas, but only in a simpler Gita. It is a marvelous dialogue between Lord Krishna and Ar- manner. These are called the Suhrit-Samhitas or the Friendly Treatises, war. Bhagavan Sri Krishna became the charioteer of Arjuna. Sri while the Vedas are called the Prabhu-Samhitas or the Com- juna on the battlefield, before the commencement of the great as the Upanishads contain the cream of the Vedas, so does the the great universal truths in the form of historical narratives, Gitakrishna contain explained the cream the essentials of the Upanishads. of Hindu religion The Upanishads to Arjuna. Justare storiesmanding and Treatises dialogues. with These great are authority. very interesting These works volumes explain and the cows. Lord Krishna is the cowherd. Arjuna is the calf. The are liked by all, from the inquisitive child to the intellectual Gita is the milk. The wise men are those who drink the milk of scholar. Gita. The Itihasas give us beautiful stories of absorbing interest and The Gita is the most precious jewel of Hindu literature. It is a importance, through which all the fundamental teachings of universal gospel. The Gita teaches the Yoga of Synthesis. It ranks Hinduism are indelibly impressed on one’s mind. The laws of high in the religious literature of the world. the minds of the Hindus through the noble and marvelous deeds Arjuna saw before him his dear relatives and teachers in the ofSmritis their greatand the national principles heroes. of the Vedas are stamped firmly on Lord Krishna imparted knowledge of the Self to Arjuna and con- We get a clear idea of Hinduism from these sublime stories. The battlefield. He fainted and refused to fight against them. Then- common man cannot comprehend the high abstract philosophy quences. Afterwards Arjuna gave up his Moha, or delusion. All of the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras. Hence, the compas- hisvinced doubts him werethat it cleared. was his Heduty fought to fight against regardless the Kauravas of the conse and sionate sages Valmiki and Vyasa wrote the Itihasas for the ben- achieved victory. analogies and parables in a tasteful form to the common run of Knowledge Of Ancient Indian History and Culture mankind.efit of common people. The same philosophy is presented with The Mahabharata contains also immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave to Yudhishthira, when he was lying on the bed of arrows. The whole Mahabharata forms an encyclo- Ramayana and Mahabharata.