Smriti

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Smriti (

Each Smriti text exists in many versions, with many different readings.[1] Smritis were considered fluid and freely rewritten by anyone in ancient and medieval Hindu tradition.^[1][3]

Etymology

Smrti is a Sanskrit word, from the root Smara (स्मर), which means "remembrance, reminiscence, thinking of or upon, calling to mind", or simply "memory".^[7] The word is found in ancient Vedic literature, such as in section 7.13 of the Chandogya Upanishad. In later and modern scholarly usage, the term refers to tradition, memory, as well as a vast post-Vedic canon of "tradition that is remembered".^[7][10] David Brick states that the original meaning of smriti was simply tradition, and not texts.^[11]

Smriti is also a symbolic synonym for number 18, from the 18 scholars who are credited in Indian tradition for writing dharma-related smriti texts (most have been lost).^[7] These 18 smritis are namely,

1. Atri,
2. Viṣṇu,
3. Hārīta,
4. Auśanasī,
5. Āngirasa,
6. Yama,
7. Āpastamba,
8. Samvartta,
9. Kātyāyana,
10. Bṛhaspati,
11. Parāśara,
12. Vyāsa,
13. Śaṅkha,
14. Likhita,^{[note 1]}
15. Dakṣa,
16. Gautama,
17. Śātātapa and
18. Vaśiṣṭha.^[12]

Yājñavalkya gives the list of total 20 by adding two more Smritis, namely, Yājñavalkyasmriti and Manusmriti.^[13][14] Parāśara whose name appears in this list, enumerates also twenty authors, but instead of Samvartta, Bṛhaspati, and Vyāsa, he gives the names of Kaśyapa, Bhṛgu and Prachetas.

In linguistic traditions, Smrti is the name of a type of verse meter. In Hindu mythology,^[15] Smriti is the name of the daughter of Dharma^[16] and Medha.^[17]

In scholarly literature, Smriti is also spelled as Smṛti.^[18]

Texts

Smrtis represent the remembered, written tradition in Hinduism.^[8] The Smrti literature is a vast corpus of derivative work. All Smriti texts are regarded to ultimately be rooted in or inspired by Shruti.^[1]

The Smrti corpus includes, but is not limited to:^[8][9]

1. The six Vedāngas (grammar, meter, phonetics, etymology, astronomy and rituals),^[8][19][20]
2. The Itihasa (literally means "so indeed it was"), Epics (the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana),^[8][10]
3. The texts on the four proper goals or aims of human life:^[21]
   1. Viṣṇusmṛti). At the personal dharma level, this includes many chapters of Yogasutras
      .
   2. Artha: Artha-related texts discuss artha from individual, social and as a compendium of economic policies, politics and laws. For example, the Arthashastra of Chanakya, the Kamandakiya Nitisara,^[22] Brihaspati Sutra,^[23] and Sukra Niti.^[24] Olivelle states that most Artha-related treatises from ancient India have been lost.^[25]
   3. Kamasutra of Vātsyāyana is most well known. Others texts include Ratirahasya, Jayamangala, Smaradipika, Ratimanjari, Ratiratnapradipika, Ananga Ranga among others.^[26]
   4. Vivekachudamani, and the sastras on Yoga
      .
4. The Purānas (literally, "of old"),[8]^[10]
5. The Kāvya or poetical literature,^[8]
6. The extensive Bhasyas (reviews and commentaries on Shrutis and non-Shruti texts),^[8]
7. The sutras and shastras of the various schools of Hindu philosophy^[27]
8. The numerous Nibandhas (digests) covering politics, medicine (Charaka Samhita), ethics (Nitisastras),^[7] culture, arts and society.^[8]

The structure of Smriti texts

The Smrti texts structurally branched, over time, from so-called the "limbs of the Vedas", or auxiliary sciences for perfecting grammar and pronunciation (part of Vedāngas).

Jan Gonda states that the initial stages of Smriti texts structurally developed in the form of a new prose genre named Sūtras, that is "aphorism, highly compact precise expression that captured the essence of a fact, principle, instruction or idea".[30] This brevity in expression, states Gonda, was likely necessitated by the fact that writing technology had not developed yet or was not in vogue, in order to store a growing mass of knowledge, and all sorts of knowledge was transferred from one generation to the next through the process of memorization, verbal recitation and listening in the 1st millennium BCE. Compressed content allowed more essential, densely structured knowledge to be memorized and verbally transferred to the next generation in ancient India.^[30]

Role of Smriti in Hindu Law

Smrtis contribute to exposition of the Hindu Dharma but are considered less authoritative than Śrutis (the Vedic corpus that includes early Upanishads).^[31]

Earliest Smriti on Hindu Law: Dharma-sūtras

The root texts of ancient Hindu jurisprudence and law are the Dharma-sūtras. These express that Shruti, Smriti and Acara are sources of jurisprudence and law.^[32] The precedence of these sources is declared in the opening verses of each of the known, surviving Dharma-sūtras. For example,^[32]

The source of Dharma is the Veda, as well as the tradition [Smriti], and practice of those who know the Veda. – Gautama Dharma-sūtra 1.1-1.2

The Dharma is taught in each Veda, in accordance with which we will explain it. What is given in the tradition [Smriti] is the second, and the conventions of cultured people are the third. – Baudhayana Dharma-sūtra 1.1.1-1.1.4

The Dharma is set forth in the vedas and the Traditional Texts [Smriti]. When these do not address an issue, the practice of cultured people becomes authoritative. – Vāsiṣṭha Dharma-sūtra 1.4-1.5

— Translated by Donald Davis, The Spirit of Hindu Law^[32]

Later Smriti on Hindu Law: Dharma-smriti

The Smritis, such as Manusmriti, Naradasmriti, Yajnavalkya Smrti and Parashara Smriti, expanded this definition, as follows,

वेदोऽखिलो धर्ममूलं स्मृतिशीले च तद्विदाम् । आचारश्चैव साधूनामात्मनस्तुष्टिरेव च ॥

Translation 1: The whole Veda is the (first) source of the sacred law, next the tradition and the virtuous conduct of those who know the (Veda further), also the customs of holy men, and (finally) self-satisfaction (Atmanastushti).^[33]
Translation 2: The root of the religion is the entire Veda, and (then) the tradition and customs of those who know (the Veda), and the conduct of virtuous people, and what is satisfactory to oneself.^[34]

— Manusmriti 2.6

वेदः स्मृतिः सदाचारः स्वस्य च प्रियमात्मनः । एतच्चतुर्विधं प्राहुः साक्षाद् धर्मस्य लक्षणम् ॥

Translation 1: The Veda, the sacred tradition, the customs of virtuous men, and one's own pleasure, they declare to be the fourfold means of defining the sacred law.^[33]
Translation 2: The Veda, tradition, the conduct of good people, and what is pleasing to oneself – they say that is four fold mark of religion.^[34]

— Manusmriti 2.12

The Yajnavalkya Smriti includes four Vedas, six Vedangas, Purana, Nyaya, Mimamsa and other sastras, in addition to the ethical conduct of the wise, as sources of knowledge and through which sacred law can be known. It explains the scope of the Dharma as follows,

Rites, proper conduct, Dama (self-restraint), Ahimsa (non-violence), charity, self-study, work, realisation of Atman (Self, Soul) through Yoga – all these are Dharma.^[35][36]

— Yajnavalkya Smriti 1.8

Levinson states that the role of Shruti and Smriti in Hindu law is as a source of guidance, and its tradition cultivates the principle that "the facts and circumstances of any particular case determine what is good or bad".^[37] The later Hindu texts include fourfold sources of Dharma, states Levinson, which include Atmanastushti (satisfaction of one's conscience), Sadacara (local norms of virtuous individuals), Smriti and Sruti.^[37]

Bhasya on Dharma-smriti

Medhatithi's philosophical analysis of and commentary on criminal, civil and family law in Dharmasastras, particularly of Manusmriti, using Nyaya and Mimamsa theories, is the oldest and the most widely studied tertiary Smriti.^[38][39][40]

See also

• Smarta
• Śruti
• Shastra
• Sutra
• Yuga dharma
• Śāstra pramāṇam in Hinduism

References