Questions tagged [smriti]

For the questions about Smriti (Sanskrit:स्मृति) (literally "which is remembered") scriptures. These texts are usually attributed to an author and produced out of human intellect.

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How do we reconcile with scripture's apparent promotion of child marriage.?

Child marriage is a crime and is illegal by law. Yet, there are verses in Hindu texts that seem to promote it. Please explain how this is reconcilable.? पराशरस्मृति (Parāshara Smriti) 7.7-8.: प्रा...
krishnasya dasam's user avatar
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Are there any cases of Brahmana marrying a Kshatriya woman?

It is allowed for a Brahmana to marry a Kshatriya woman taking her as his second wife(Anuloma Vivaha)..But are there cases in Puranas and Itihasas that describe a Brahmana marrying a Kshatriya first?
Harsh's user avatar
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Is Aham Brahmasmi the embodiment principle of seeing the veda by the Maharshis?

Since source of divine knowledge is impersonal Brahman, through the Maharshi's, which principle, statement or shloka from Vedas, Puranas and Bhagavatam elucidates this, or supports it? All ultimate ...
ajitdas's user avatar
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Why Bhagvad Geeta is classified as Smriti and not Shruti? Even though it was told directly by Brahman in the form of Shri Krishna? [duplicate]

In the Bhagvad Geeta, the Parabrahman had proved his Authenticity, Authority and the divine knowledge. It is the only book so far where god refers himself with "I". So, why should it be ...
Raxit Soni's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
57 views

What is the minimum land ownership to become a king according to sastras?

Pranam, I heard that in Mahabharata Pandavas asked for 5 villages(one each for each brother) so that they can do their kshatriya duty(as kings).. 1)So can a person who has absolute power ower a ...
aryaninvader's user avatar
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28 views

Is everything taking place in the world simply Ishwara's leela? A mere sport? What does the scriptures have to say?

I'm looking for scriptural verses from Sruti or Smriti (and NOT the claims of yogis and saints) where it is mentioned that all our experiences in this world such as happiness, suffering, grief etc. ...
The Crimson Universe's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
208 views

What is Hinduism's view on racism?

Does Hinduism uplift racism or does it condemn it, according to the Vedas Dharma Shastras Puranas and others?
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Why is that the fourth Veda is not mentioned in the Manu Smriti?

While I was reading the Manu Smriti I came across a verse in chapter 1 which reads: From out of (the three deities) Agni, Vāyu and Ravi, he extracted, for the due fulfilment of sacrifices, the ...
Rajam's user avatar
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Can a Brahmin greet a Shudra?

Can a Brahmin greet a Shudra? (According to the Dharma Shastras)
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1 answer
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Primary source for Ambedkar's claims on Veda Vyas Smriti

I'm looking for the primary source for the following claim made by Ambedkar (link). I tried finding the text here but I am not able to find it. Does someone know the exact verse of this text in the ...
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1 answer
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Where does it say that Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, etc are smritis?

The Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas are often said to be smriti. But I have seen several lists of smritis given in various Hindu texts and none of them include these Itihasa texts, they only include ...
Abhi's user avatar
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Which are the 18 Smritis? In which Hindu text are they listed?

It is often said that there are 18 smritis. But despite searching for a long time I have not come across a single Hindu text that lists 18 smritis. The Yajnavalkha smriti lists 20 smritis which I have ...
Abhi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Which Shastras say that we should not eat after Sunset?

In one of the discourse or dialogue, Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal, while describing the good qualities of crow, said It wakes up at Bramhamuhurtam……it caws and wakes you ...
Hari Kumar's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
76 views

Scriptures and Adultery

What do Hindu Scriptures remark about adultery for wives and for husbands? Are there specific exemptions or also the references that injunct punishment of any kind for adulterous wives or adulterous ...
pi-π's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
22 views

Is money lending business wrong as per scriptures? [duplicate]

I heard many saying that those who earns money from this business will never be happy, etc etc. Also, kathakaars also say that sometimes. I am curious if it's mentioned in scriptures or anything ...
Rudra's user avatar
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Scriptural References on Code of Conduct in Marriage for wife

Manusmriti, I guess, states as : A woman is never supposed to live independently. During young age, she is to live under the protection of her father, after being married, under her husband, and ...
pi-π's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
676 views

Where is the shloka "bramha janati iti brahmanaha" found?

Where is this verse found "The knower of Brahman is a Brahmin"
aryaninvader's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
34 views

How should disabled people live their life?

Disabled people have difficulty leading lives like normal people, like career, marriage,etc. So, do scriptures tell specifically about their duties or how should they lead their life in case its ...
Rudra's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
184 views

Is Lord Shiva praised as Supreme in any Smritis?

I am interested to know if any of the 18 Smritis, or Grihyasutras, Srauta Sutras etc praise Shiva as the Supreme and endorse Saivite practices like Bhasmadhārana,and Tripundra etc.
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What is the definition of sati (chaste women) as per scriptures?

In the light of scriptures, What is the definition of sati or a chaste women? Does it mean a women who never held sexual relationship throughout her life except with her husband post marriage OR Is it ...
Silent seeker's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Wasting Sperm on masturbation

Suppose, a couple is trying for a child. In that case, prior to that, how long should the husband conserve the semen (avoid masturbation/or sex) for a good child. Like, I have read scientific works ...
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2 votes
0 answers
50 views

Where can I get Smritis in english or Hindi Translation?

I was searching over the Internet for a long time to find and read the Smriti but it didn't help. Is there any source where I can read all 18 major & minor Smritis online or offline with ...
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0 answers
41 views

Are the Puranas superior to the Smritis? [duplicate]

Do the Puranas have a greater authority than the Smritis? Or do the Smritis have a greater authority than the Puranas?
Targi Koor's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
114 views

Are all Upanishads shruti?

Are all 108 Upanishads considered shruti? Or is it just the Mukhya Upanishads that are considered shruti?
Kos Loaes's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
219 views

Which texts are infallible and inerrant?

The Vedas must be infallible, as they were authored by God, or by rishis under the inspiration of God, who is the “Truth of Truth”. Therefore every passage of the Vedas is true, whether literally or ...
Rel Kerero's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
192 views

From which shastra is the story of a wife and her husband Kaushik who was visiting prostitutes?

The story is mentioned here in wikipedia: A Brahmin named Kaushik from Pratishthan used to visit a prostitute, despite being a Brahmin and having a devoted wife. It's also mentioned on other sites ...
Ikshvaku's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
550 views

Are there any documented cases of opposite-sex friendships in Hindu scripture?

Are there any documented stories or cases of non-sexual friendship between men and women in Hindu scripture? For reference, the Kama Sutra says sex with female friends is prohibited: Then, here is ...
Ikshvaku's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why should we not get haircut and shave (trimming nails) when wife is pregnant

Can someone tell me what are the rituals to be followed by a brahmin when the wife is pregnant? I've heard that we should not cut hair and shave? Is it only shave or haircut also? Should both be ...
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1 answer
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Scriptural source for saying animal sacrifice and non vegetarian food for Brahmins are not for Kali Yuga

One can see ample amount of evidences for animal sacrifice and Brahmins eating meat in Vedic and Smriti literature. When I pointed out this to a learned Pandit, he just said it has been forbidden in ...
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2 votes
0 answers
36 views

What are the rules of a student of the three vedas mentioned in Apastambasmriti Prasna 1? [duplicate]

Failure to be Initiated: If his time for initiation has lapsed, a man should live observing the rules of a student of the three Vedas for one season and then undergo initiation. For a year ...
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5 votes
4 answers
461 views

Can a non-initiated brahmin study the Puranas?

Can a non-initiated brahmin (usually considered a shudra (Skanda Purana Nagara Kanda 239.31)) study the Puranas? I have heard that even Shudras can study the Puranas and Itihasas but Vyasasmriti 1.22 ...
Savitr̥'s user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
583 views

Is Manu Smriti mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata?

It is popular traditional belief that Manu Smriti was there before Ramayana and Mahabharata. So does Manu Smriti find any mention in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata? Are any passages quoted in the ...
Profile name's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
58 views

Is Harihara abheda mentioned in Smritis like Manu Smriti?

Is Harihara abheda (non-difference of Vishnu and Shiva) mentioned in the Smritis like Manusmriti or any other 17 Smritis?
Pasham Vishnu Vardhan Goud's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
471 views

Separation of the Church and State in Hinduism

The separation of Church (Religious Bodies) and State (Government and Administrative Bodies) is an important concept in modern politics. Christians love to quote Matthew 22:21 “Give therefore to ...
Profile name's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
604 views

Is one Maternal Nephew (Bhanja) equivalent to 100 Brahmins?

What is the status of one's maternal nephew (Bhanaja) in one's life ? Is it true that one maternal nephew equivalent to 100 Brahmins ? In which scripture it is written ? Is it true that one shouldn't ...
river's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
236 views

Prayaschittam citation

Does the Dharmic scriptures prohibhit Oral sex? For both sexes, man performing on woman and woman performing man, is oral sex prohibhited in Hinduism? If so, what is the prayaschittam for oral sex? ...
Profile name's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
410 views

Punishment for Blasphemy? [duplicate]

Is there any punishment for blasphemy in Hinduism? Do any scriptures or Smritis say how a King or a government should punish the blasphemer? The speaker of This video, Henry Doktorski, claims the ...
Profile name's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

Ucchista and its rules- when, how, what?

When one eats food from a few vessels, the food as well as those vessels become Ucchista (उच्छिष्ट) (the food and hand touch the mouth, the same used hand touches those vessels to take new food from ...
Adiyarkku's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
40 views

The source of the saying Smruthi changes with time?

I have heard this so many times by the word of mouth and read it many times, from sources I can't remember, that Shruthi remains constant but Smruthi changes with time. What is the source of this? ...
Profile name's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
141 views

What are the 18 Smritis and what is the story behind having 18?

Just the way there are 18 Puranas, there are said to be 18 Smritis too. However unlike the list of the Puranas the lists of the 18 Smritis are inconsistent. One list can be found here. There are some ...
Adiyarkku's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
72 views

Are there any relaxations for dharmas based on seasons?

It is well known that some dharmas are relative wrt time, place, person, etc. I want to know whether the same applies to the season. There are several seasons in nature such as winter, summer, etc. ...
hanugm's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
101 views

What are the fasting rules for 'triratri vrata' followed by Lila?

Lila did a vrata for pleasing Saraswathi. Fewer details have been given in Yoga Vasista regarding the fasting rules of the vrata. The relevant excerpts regarding fasting rules are given below Having ...
hanugm's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
193 views

Women and Hinduism

It's traditionally believed that some hymns of Vedas have been authored by women. How does one reconcile this with the fact that women are not allowed to recite vedas? (Are those author women ...
A guy's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
194 views

Smriti vs Purana

Which Shastras are more authoritative,the Smritis(Dharma Shastras) or the Puranas? from here it is clear that smriti is superior than purana and if differences occur then smriti is to be believed . ...
Raghav's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
140 views

Questions regarding Manusmriti?

There were some questions regarding Manusmriti, you are requested to kindly give the solution of our doubts. [Chapter 4, verses 7 to 9] Why is the brahmin who keeps the food collection for a day, ...
YashT's user avatar
  • 180
2 votes
1 answer
420 views

What do scriptures say about transgenders?

Are there any references to transgenders or transgenderism in any of the Hindu scriptures? Is it supportive, or is it against it? What do they say about their way of living?
Rudra's user avatar
  • 1,474
4 votes
1 answer
84 views

Can people of one vansha or one dynasty marry each other?

Like do people in suryavansha marry each other, if they are very distant relatives? I once read somewhere that one can marry with someone, whose relations goes as far as 8th or more generation of ...
Rudra's user avatar
  • 1,474
5 votes
4 answers
217 views

Is Tripundra mentioned in the Smritis?

I would like to know about whether Tripundra is mentioned in any of the Smritis? Does any Smriti talk about Tripundra? Does any Smriti ask Brahmins to keep Tripundra?
Pasham Vishnu Vardhan Goud's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
189 views

Are Vaishnavas & Smartas completely uninformed about third eye awakening?

Supernatural powers are mainly found in Shaiv & Shaakt scriptures and I don't think a single Vaishnav guru or Shankaracharya has third eye powers. Is third eye completely missing from Vaishnav &...
R. Kaushik's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
767 views

Is there any punishment mentioned in Dharmashastras for the vilification of Vedas?

I was wondering whether criticizing the Vedas is a condemnable offence. In other religions, usually condemning the scripture can have a severe consequence. What about Hinduism?
Amritendu Mukhopadhyay's user avatar