Shruti and Smriti: How Hindu Scriptures Are Classified
The difference between shruti, revealed scripture, and smriti, remembered tradition, and where texts such as the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, epics and Puranas fit.
Hindu scriptures are vast and varied, and there is no single holy book. Traditionally they are divided into two broad categories: shruti, “that which is heard”, and smriti, “that which is remembered”. The distinction helps explain how Hindus understand the authority of different texts.
Shruti: revealed scripture
Shruti consists of the four Vedas: the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, each with its four layers:
- the Samhitas (hymns and formulas);
- the Brahmanas (ritual explanations);
- the Aranyakas (“forest texts”);
- the Upanishads (philosophical teachings).
Shruti is considered eternal and apaurusheya, “not of human origin”. Hindus believe it was not composed but “heard” or “seen” by ancient sages, the rishis, in deep meditation, and then passed on orally with great precision. It is regarded as the highest authority on dharma and ultimate truth.
Smriti: remembered tradition
Smriti includes texts composed by known or traditional human authors, which explain, apply and illustrate the truths of the Vedas. They include:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Itihasa (epics) | The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, including the Bhagavad Gita |
| Puranas | The Bhagavata, Vishnu, Shiva and Markandeya Puranas |
| Dharmashastras | The Laws of Manu and other law books |
| Vedangas | Six auxiliary sciences for understanding the Vedas: phonetics, ritual, grammar, etymology, metre and astronomy |
| Sutras of the schools | The Brahma Sutras, the Yoga Sutras and other foundational texts of the philosophical schools |
Which has more authority?
In principle, shruti has greater authority. The Mimamsa school of interpretation established the rule that where smriti conflicts with shruti, shruti prevails. Smriti is authoritative because it is believed to be based on the Vedas, even when the Vedic source has been lost.
In practice, however, smriti texts are far better known and more widely used. The Bhagavad Gita, technically part of the Mahabharata and so smriti, is often treated as having the status of an Upanishad and is sometimes called the Gitopanishad. Most Hindus learn their religion from the epics, the Puranas, devotional poetry and family tradition rather than from the Vedas.
Other sacred texts
Some important scriptures do not fit neatly into either category:
- The Agamas and Tantras, which govern temple worship and ritual, are regarded by their followers as revealed scripture equal to the Vedas.
- Devotional poetry in regional languages has scriptural status in many traditions. Tamil Vaishnavas call the hymns of the Alvars, the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the “Tamil Veda”, and Tamil Shaivas revere the Tirumurai. Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas is treated as scripture across north India.
Sources and further reading
- Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism (Cambridge University Press, 1996), chapter 2.
- Sheldon Pollock, “The Revelation of Tradition: Sruti, Smrti, and the Sanskrit Discourse of Power”, in Federico Squarcini (ed.), Boundaries, Dynamics and Construction of Traditions in South Asia (Firenze University Press, 2005).