The present monograph is in partial fulfillment of the project "A Survey of Smrti Literature" undertaken by me as a Senior Fellow of Dravidian Linguistics Association (DLA). I was invited to join the Institute by late Prof. V.I. Subramoniam who offered me a Senior Fellowship for a period of two years from 01-09-2010 to 31-08-2012
The importance of the topic is since it occupies a significant role in explaining the earliest literature of the mankind, viz., the Vedas. The meaning of the Vedic literature is exemplified by the Smriti texts. Sruti, Smrti and Puranas are the bedrock of Indian culture. The scope of the literature is really vast and hence only an indication can be given in the present monograph.
The number of Smritis varies according to different authorities.
Yajnavalkya names twenty; Samkhalikhita mentions twenty nine; Apararka the commentator names thirty six; Prayogaparijata and Vaijayanti mentions fifty nine while Nirnayasindhu holds that there are more than a hunred works.
It may be seen that the Smriti literature flourished upto 10th Century A.D, though there are specimens of this literature even in later times.
Manusmrti the earliest work was composed between 100 B.C. and 300 B.C. The text available now is of course a later one written about 100 to 300 A.D. The contents of Smrtis are often incorporated in the Epics and Puranas. As such the contents pervade the whole of Indian literature.
Smrti's are divided into five categories such as those dealing with worldly matters, connected with unworldly matters, dealing with both, those based on reasoning and those which merely recapitulate what has been stated by the elite.
The relevance of the topic could not be underrated. Since the literature is vast only a brief survey could be attempted in these pages. It is relevant to Indian jurisprudence also.
What has been stated here is only an indication of the vast scope of the topic to invite the attention of like-minded scholars.
I am thankful for the cooperation of the DLA family of fraternity. Dr. M. Rama, the present Director deserves my thanks for his unstinted cooperation. My real indebtedness is to Dr. V.Syamala, Professor of English, who carefully went through the monograph. Her expertise not only in the matter of language but also in editorial aspects proved beneficial. I express my thanks to one and all.
One of the main objectives of ISDL is to bring out the research volumes. For this we entrust research work to highly qualified scholars. Prof. N.P. Unni is one of the top ranking scholars in Sanskrit. ISDL has entrusted to Prof. N.P.Unni to work on Smrti Literature. Present monograph "A Survey of Smrti Literature" is Prof. Unni's research work during the period 2010-2012.
The monograph contains 5 chapters. The chapter first is on the Ancient Literature. The second and third chapters deal with the Smrti Literature, the nature and scope of Smrti. The fourth chapter deals with the Survey of the Smrti Literature. Here he has dealt with 52 Smrti works of different authors. The Fifth chapter deals with some other writers' work which give more information about Smrti Literature.
I am sure this monograph will be very useful for scholarly readers.
Vedas (1182)
Upanishads (493)
Puranas (624)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (354)
Dharmasastras (165)
Goddess (496)
Bhakti (242)
Saints (1503)
Gods (1290)
Shiva (370)
Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
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