The two important divisions of scriptures in Hinduism are Shruti and Smriti.
Shruti
Shruti
- Shruti comprises of those scriptures that are divine revelations.
- They are the most authoritative texts.
- They are composed in Sanskrit.
- Transmitted orally from one generation to another.
- No additions, deletions or amendments are made to the text.
Shruti includes:
- Vedas (Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda)
- Brahmanas (treaties on ritual)
- Aranyakas
- Upanishads
- Smriti texts explain and expand on the ideas in the Shruti texts.
- The texts are attributed to different authors.
- Transmitted orally and through writing.
- They are composed in Sanskrit and regional languages.
- Open to interpretation, addition, expansion and deletion.
Smriti includes
- Vedangas
- Mahabharata
- Ramayana
- Puranas
- Dharma Shastras
- Sutras and
- Bhashyas