Smriti Smriti

Smriti - Definition and Overview

Hindu texts

Smriti ("what is fit/deserves to be remembered") refers to a canon of Hindu religious scripture. Smriti is the name for non-Shruti texts; Smriti is generally seen as secondary to Shruti. They are also known as Dharma Sastras.

One grouping (they vary) of the Hindu Smriti includes:

  • DharmaShastra (the laws)
  • Itihasa (the Histories; including Mahabharata, Ramayana)
  • Puranas (the fables or writings)
  • Sutras (proverbs or aphorisms)
  • Agamas (the philosophies; including Mantras, Tantras, and Yantras)
  • Dyasanas (the philosophies; including the Vedanta)


There are eighteen main Smritis, the most important are:

The other fiteen Smritis are:

  • Vishnu Smriti;
  • Daksha Smriti;
  • Samvarta Smriti;
  • Vyasa Smriti;
  • Harita Smriti;
  • Satatapa Smriti;
  • Vasishtha Smriti;
  • Yama Smriti;
  • Apastamba Smriti;
  • Gautama Smriti;
  • Devala Smriti;
  • Sankha-Likhita Smriti;
  • Usana Smriti;
  • Atri Smriti and
  • SaunakaSmriti.
Copyright 2009 WordIQ.com - Privacy Policy  :: Terms of Use  :: Contact Us  :: About Us
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the this Wikipedia article.