The importance of SHRUTI and SMRITI is what makes, Hinduism/ Sanatana Dharma an applicable and adaptable relevent ‘Religion ‘ in a given society, country or environment that is not threatening to any society. Shruit literally mean that which is heard, our GODS and Smriti means that which is remembered and recorded by the RISHIS guided through divine intervention. However, one is needed to understand the other. Smriti can be used to understand Shruti. Smriti can be used to interpret what the Gods have already given.
To understand how to interpret SHRUTI and SMRITI – let’s make it applicable to Trinidad for the meeting of the Hindu minds. This is one way Shruti and Smriti can be understood in everyday life. I will use a state legal example. Shruti is like the Constitution and Smriti is the Supreme Court. If there are two Pundit lawyers who have opposing views on a particular issue in the Constitutions or the “Shruti” on Citizenship for example. Since in the Constitution is written in complicated legal language akin to PARABLES and difficult legal jargon just as in most or all ‘ Religions’ then the two Pundit lawyers who cannot remedy the right interpretations in the Constitutions on Citizenship look towards the Supreme Courts [ PANCHAIYAT] for a finial interpretation that should be generally binding on all Hindus. However, Hinduism is always open to interpretation by every Hindu with genuine introspection.
As time goes by and society changes that same Supreme Courts [Panchaiyat] can reverse its own previous judgment on citizenship to make it adoptable in its present time. It does not mean it was wrong before neither does it mean they would be wrong in the future or being hypocrite. Hinduism has always allowed fair debate and interpretation of itself and its scriptures. One cannot achieve enlightenment without questioning everything. That is the sole mission of Hinduism. This is off course different from people who have ill intention towards Hinduism and maliciously and intentionally misread, misunderstand or scramble beliefs to give Hinduism a bad rep globally such as caste system, cow worship, poverty etc. The changing interpretations is not the same as dogmatic religions as for Hindus because those dogmatic religions really aren’t supposed to compromise what they’ve been revealed, except to get converts off course and play victim.
This is why SANATANA DAHARMA Hinduism is always evolving and is considered an old and a young ‘religion.’ No other religion evolves so effortlessly with time. Hinduism does not need Reformations. Hinduism is like the weather, it evolves to seek the ‘TRUTHS’ [GOD] and cannot be stagnated.
This is the POWER of SHRUTI and SMRITI.
