Shruti and smitri texts

Question 1

What are shruti texts?

Answer 1

That which is heard, they are divine in origin and were revealed to the rishis bu the gods. This includes the vedas.

Question 2

What are the smitri texts?

Answer 2

That which is remembered- less authoritative texts of human origin such as the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas.

Question 3

Why is it difficult to fit the Bhagavad Gita into either category?

Answer 3

Some say it is shruti as it’s based on a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, others believe that even though it was based on historical events, it was remembered by man and its details can change with every retelling, it is also part of the Mahabharata, which is smitri.

Question 4

What is the Mahabharata?

Answer 4

History of greater India, handed down over 1000s of years. It has 110,000 verses, making it the longest poem in the world. It focuses on the political tension between the pandavas and kauravas.

Question 5

What is the Ramayana?

Answer 5

Sanskrit epic telling the story of lord rama, it depicts relationships, ideal characters and the triumph of good over evil.

Question 6

What are the Puranas?

Answer 6

Ancient texts about the trimurti, creation, rules for living and popular myths. They contain stories about the trimurti gods that people can relate to.

Question 7

Give four reasons why shruti are more important

Answer 7

1. Are the infallible words of the gods. 2. Used during worship and ceremonies. 3. The basis of the Hindu religion. 4. Vivekananda- therein lies strength enough to invigorate the whole world.

Question 8

Give three reasons why the shruti texts are less important

Answer 8

1. Only accessible to high castes. 2. Open to interpretation by different scholars. 3. Doubtful authenticity as the actual words of the gods and the fact that they have been passed down and will have changed.

Question 9

Give four reasons why the smitri texts are more important

Answer 9

1. Puranas focus on personalities, making abstract ideas easier for laypeople to understand. 2. They are essential for nurturing loving devotion to god. 3. Law books set out how to live one’s life. 4. Epics give moral lessons in a storybook form and make Hinduism accessible to all people as they’re presented in a range of formats.

Question 10

Give four reasons why the smitri texts are less important

Answer 10

1. Man made and fallible. 2. To be ignored if they contradict the shruti texts. 3. If the Puranas are accepted as true, they contradict rationality and science. 4. They are only relevant within the social context they were written, the laws of Manu seem, outdated.