Smriti Flashcards
What does smriti mean
that which is remembered
What is in the mahabarata (4)
- encyclopaedic work, completed in 4th century CE
- contains mythological, ritual and philosophical material.
- shows religious and social changes occurring during periods of the composition.
- Believed to be composed by Vyasa, a Brahma Seer, incarnation of the deity Vishnu Narayana.
What is the Ramayana (4)
- story about banishment of prince Rama into the forest.
- message about the correct behaviour and duty (dharma). Sita is the ideal wife, Rama and Sita are the ideal couple.
- Demonstrates Hindu ideals for society.
- Social duty and obligation are more important than personal desires.
what does Bhagavadgita express, through which story?
- expresses two central concerns in Hinduism,
the need to perform one’s duty (dharma)
the need to attain liberation from cycle of samsara through love and devotion (bhakti) - includes story about Arjuna and Krishna, tries to persuade Arjuna to fight his family because he is a Vashatrya and its his dharma.
What does the Bhagavadgita teach
- teachings of detachment and devotion
- brings dharma and moksha together
where is the bhagavadgita
- located in the Mahabarata.
- treated as though it was sriti, high authority
what are the dharma sustras (3)
- texts which deal with law and dharma
- detailed instructions on how to live the orthodox Hindu life
- Klostermaier –> the texts that detail duties and right of hindus according to their status.
What do the dharma sustras teach (4)
- rituals
- rites according to varnas
- Hinduism as a way of living
- rules for varnaasramadharma
What is in the many - sriti in the dharma sustras (5)
- Klostermaier –> deals with rules applying to each caste, duties of individuals, and explains bliss to come.
- creation myth
- rules for varna
- civil and criminal law
- vows and pilgrimages
how are the tantras and agamas written
- as a dialogue between Siva and Sakti.
WHat does the Tantas and Agamas talk about (3)
- rituals
- the divine nature of the body
- the female energy of God
What are the four sections of the tantras (4)
- knowledge (jnana)
- yoga
- ritual (kriya)
- behaviour (crya)
What are those who follow the tantras called?
the tantrikas
How to become and tantrika? (2)
- undergo initiation by a guru, they regard the tantras as a more powerful revelation than the Vedas
- they perform tantrica rights in addition to Vedic rites.
what are the vedangas (3)
- additional sciences related to the vedas
- study of the vedas, compulsory for the Brahmins at a time when Sanskrit was harder to understand
- explain the archaic Sanskrit content
what are the 6 parts of the vedangas
1- Vedic pronunciation 2- grammar 3- metre 4- meaning of terms 5 - astrology 6 - explanation of ritual action
what de the Upavedas contain
- lesser learning
- medicine
- music and dance
- archery
- architecture
what do the Upavedas show
need education, or profession.
what does sutra mean
a thread
what are the Sustras
- a compressed version of the Vedas, compressed and systemised
- help to have easy access to smriti literature
Katha Upanishad: The chariot metaphor (5)
- ascribes parts of chariot to parts of the body
- atman = charioteer
- body = chariot
- horse = the senses
- the road = desires
Katha Upanishad: What are the main metaphors (5)
- blind following the blind: ignorant people go round in circles, in the cycle of samsara.
- Chariot metaphor: describes body as a chariot
- manines and oneness: water of river flow into sea and become part of sea. Idea of many and one together.
- Necklace of karma: Image of karma, samsara and dharma, liken to image of ‘lovelies’, things which give pleasure but do not last.
- Gold nugget: idea of maniness and oneness, all things are made of God.
Katha Upanishad: The tree of eternity (4)
- idea of upsidown tree
- root represent brahman/ reality
- leaves represent the phsycial world which we can see. Universe/ prakriti/ nature/ cosmos
- brahman is source of everything
Why are they athoritiative according to Klostermaeir?
on account of their authorship by revered and important figures.
Why does Klostermaier think smritu has more of an impact than sruti?
Because they contain the rules by which to live.
What are the Puranas?
- Klostermaier –> bible like scriptures, contain myths and legends, also deal with the right behaviour of the followers of various paths.
Who is manu?
- Klostermaier –> the forefather of the entirety of present humanity and the universal law giver.
K - reason for Vedangas? (2)
- with the passage of centuries, the rig veda and veda became more archaic and innaccesible.
- Felt a need for explanatory literature to cover the various dimensions of Veda study.
what is siska
- Klostermaier –> deals with correct phonetics.
Rodriguez arguments that smriti is more important (3)
- brahmanas and Aranyajas’s contents are not understood and hae marginal impact on their religious lives.
- the lesser upanishads have more influence and authority on some Hindu sects than the principle upanishads.
- Tantras and Agamas have been more influential in the fabric of hinduism than the vedas.
