Section 1.1a: Religious Texts (2) Flashcards
What are the two main categories of Hindu texts?
Shruti and smriti texts are the two main categories.
What are shruti texts?
Shruti texts are the oldest Hindu scriptures which are said to have been revealed by God. Literally ‘that which is heard’, these text focus on the spiritual experiences of the rishis (‘seers’ or ‘enlightened people’) during periods of deep meditation.
What are two examples of shruti texts?
Examples of the shruti include the Vedas and the Upanishads.
What date do shruti texts date back to?
The earliest shruti date back to between 2000-1000 BCE and, after initially being passed down through oral tradition, were eventually written down in Sanskrit.
What is said about the truths of shruti texts?
Due to being revealed by God, the truths of the shruti texts are believed to be eternal and absolute and cannot be changed. As they are available for everyone to hear, they are considered to be an example of general revelation.
What are smriti texts?
Smriti texts are the ‘remembered’ scriptures, written by man, that include commentaries on the shruti texts and collections of historical, mythological, social, ethical and philosophical Hindu texts. They contain codes and regulations, which govern the lives of people, societies and nations.
What are two examples of smriti texts?
Examples of smriti include the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita.
Can smriti texts be changed or altered?
Smriti texts can be changed as they are not considered to have been revealed by God. This means that additional texts can be added to the smriti canon.
What date do smriti texts date back to?
Smriti texts date back to 500 BCE.
What are smriti texts considered to be?
Smriti texts are considered to be a source of authority and have influenced how people worship, conduct their family life, conduct their everyday life and how they remember festivals. Smriti texts are only authoritative if they do not contradict the messages from shruti texts.
What are the Vedas?
The Vedas are considered to be the oldest scriptures in the world and are still used today as a source of wisdom and authority and for rituals and ceremonies. Around 3,500 years ago, the rishis heard the words of Brahman; these words inspired the rishis to compose hymns which were then ‘heard; by followers.
What does ‘Veda’ mean?
‘Veda’ means ‘wisdom’ or ‘to know’ and the Vedas are four collections of texts, written in a mixture of verse and prose.
What is the Rig Veda?
This is seen as the most important scripture. It contains over a thousand hymns praising the gods for creation and for controlling and influencing the different forces of nature that shape the world. It is written in an early form of Sanskrit, arranged in ten separate books called mandals and it is used in religious rituals.
What is the Sama Veda?
It deals with melodies and chants which are used for sacred hymns, sung at special sacrifices.
What is the Yajur Veda?
This deals with the fire rituals. It acts as a handbook for the Brahmins to guide them in the performance of rituals and sacrifices.