Smriti, Religious Scripture

Smriti is a Sanskrit word meaning `that which is remembered`. Smriti is considered to be a specific part of religious scripture in Hinduism. Smriti also denotes non-Shruti texts generally, seen as secondary in authority to Shruti.

In 500 B.C., Smriti was composed after the Vedas. The classifications of Smriti are as follows. Dharmasastras or the law is represented by eighteen books. Each book corresponds to an age of time. Itihasa or the history is represented in the four books. It includes the Mahakavyas, or Epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Smriti are related in the Purana or the writings. This is represented by eighteen books. They are secondary scriptures that mainly focus on Lord Vishnu or Shiva as the preferred supreme Deity.

Smriti is mentioned in the Vedanga. Vedanga is represented by six categories of documents, the Shiksha, Vyakarana, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotisha, and Kalpa.

Agama or the doctrines also mention Smriti. There are three major divisions by doctrine, the Vaishnava, Saiva, and Sakta. Another way of grouping them is by Mantra, Tantra, and Yantra.

Smriti is represented in Darsana or philosophies. Darsana consist of six schools of thought, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa.

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