Smriti
Smriti (Sanskrit स्मॄति,
"that which is remembered") refers to a specific body of
Hindu religious scripture.
Smriti also denotes non-
Shruti texts generally, seen as secondary in authority to
Shruti.
Classifying the
Smriti has been a contentious issue, even the names of proposed categories are debated. One such taxonomy follows:
#
Dharmasastra or the laws. This is represented by 18 books. Each book corresponds to an age of time.#
Itihasa or the histories. This is represented by 4 books. It includes the
Mahakavyas, or Epics
Mahabharata and the
Ramayana.#
Purana or the writings. This is represented by 18 books. They are secondary scriptures that mainly focus on Vishnu or Shiva as the preferred supreme Deity.#
Sutras or proverbs. This is represented by 6 categories of documents: the
Shiksha,
Vyakarana,
Chandas,
Nirukta,
Jyotisha, &
Kalpa.#
Agama or the doctrines. There are three major divisions by doctrine: the Vaisnava, Saiva, and Sakta. Another way of grouping them is by Mantra, Tantra, and Yantra.#
Darsana (aka Dyasana) or philosophies. This is represented by 6 schools of thought:
Nyaya,
Vaisheshika,
Sankhya,
Yoga,
Purva Mimamsa, &
Uttara Mimamsa (aka Vedanta).
*
Yuga Dharma*
Śruti (scripture)*
Smarta*
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam*
Sanskrit site with comprehensive library of texts
