3. The Smriti

Question 1

What is Smriti?

Answer 1

that which is remembered (stories)

Question 2

How did the OG’s get the Smritis?

Answer 2

from the seers of the mantras (mantra drstas)

Question 3

What does pauruseya and itihasa mean?

Answer 3

P = smritis have an author

I = this it certainly happened (realist)

Question 4

Why are smritis arguably better than srutis?

Answer 4

smritis are more accessible and change with the times, while the srutis are for the elite Sanskrit scholars and not available for the wider population.

Question 5

What themes do the Smritis cover?

Answer 5

1. the goals of life (4 purusarthas)
2. means to liberation ( 4 yogas)
3. complexities of dharma
4. balance of destiny and free will

Question 6

What are the three levels of interpretation +e.g ?

Answer 6

1. Astikadi (historical nattative)
2. Manvadi (religious or moral interpretations)
3. Auparicara (spiritual/trascendental meaning)
4. Raama concedes to Sitas wishes
5. Husband should respect free will of the wife
6. God respects the free will of the soul, even with disastrous consequences

Question 7

What are some potential reasons why Smritis are more influential than srutis?

Answer 7

1. srutis are impenetrable even for scholars, smritis are simpler and can be translated
2. sugar-coated pill
3. most of our ideas about deities come from it
4. we learn about avatars from smritis
5. more branches of hinduism rely on their epics rather than their Vedic scriptures
6. smritis are easier and closer to the yuga dharma, whereas srutis are more towards the yuga dharma of the satya yuga
7. only pakka brahmanas are allowed to study the vedas and srutis whereas smritis are free to all.