Smartism
Encyclopedia
Smarta Sampradaya
(Smarta Tradition, as it is termed in Sanskrit
) is a liberal or nonsectarian denomination
of the Vedic Hindu
religion
which accept all the major Hindu deities as forms of the one Brahman
, in contrast to Vaishnavism
, Shaivism
, and Shaktism
, the other three major Hindu sects, which revere Vishnu
, Shiva
, and Shakti
, respectively, as the Supreme Being. The term Smarta refers to adherents who follow the Vedas
and Shastras. Only a section of south Indian brahmins call themselves Smartas now.
In Sanskrit
, Smārta means "relating to memory, recorded in or based on the Smrti, based on tradition, prescribed or sanctioned by traditional law or usage, (etc)", from the root
smr ("remember"); smarana. Smārta is a vriddhi derivation of Smriti
just as Śrauta
is a vriddhi derivation of Śruti
.The system they follow is referred to also as Srauta-Smartha as evidenced in the sankalpams they take during prayers.
This joined reference srauta smarta cannot be separated in the context of an orthodox smarta brahmin because he would be expected to follow the sruti and thereby the smritis derived from them.
or religious texts derived from Vedic scriptures
. Smarta religion was practiced by people who believed in the authority of the Vedas
as well as the basic premise of puranas
. As a consequence usually only a brahmin preferred to use this term to refer to his family tradition.
It is most essential for Smarta Brahmins to specialize in the Karma Kanda of the Vedas
and associated rituals diligently, and to teach the subsequent generations. This is the only reason that these families continue to be called Smartas.
. The basic idea of Smartas was belief in Vedic practices. Vedas
are non-sectarian . The Smartas found that you can not bring about a unity among different sects or revive the Vedic practices without bringing together the six systems of Philosophy. The Vedic rituals are based on Purva Mimansa. The Bhagavad Gita
which contains the Sankhya and Yoga concepts is revered by the Smartas.
and the Smritis. So in that sense an orthodox smarta is unlikely to view gods of non vedic religions favorably, even though he may hold the religion acceptable to its own traditional followers.
By contrast, a Vaishnavite
considers Vishnu
or Krishna
to be the true God who is worthy of worship and other forms as his subordinates. Accordingly, Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only Vishnu or Krishna can grant the ultimate salvation for mankind, moksha
. Similarly, many Saivites also hold similar beliefs about Shiva
. Notably, many Saivites believe that Shakti
is worshiped to reach Shiva, whom for Saktas is the impersonal Absolute. In Saktism, emphasis is given to the feminine manifest through which the male unmanifested, Lord Shiva, is realized.
Smartas, like many Saivites and Vaishnavites, consider Surya
to be an aspect of God. Many Saivites and Vaishnavites, for example, differ from Smartas, in that they regard Surya as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively. For example, the sun is called Surya Narayana by Vaishnavites. In Saivite theology, the sun is said to be one of eight forms of Shiva, the Astamurti
. Additionally, Ganesh and Skanda, for many Shaivites, would be aspects of Shakti and Shiva, respectively.
These differences and the understanding of these differences is now generally diminishing between the Hindus, and the current practitioners of Hinduism are converging towards the Smarta philosophy, where Shaivites accept and pray to forms of Vishnu and vice-versa. That Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti are all forms of the same principal divinity is slowly gaining understanding and acceptance.
is believed to have propagated the tradition of Shanmata
(Sanskrit
, meaning Six Opinions). In this six major deities are worshipped.
This is based on the belief in the essential sameness of all deities, the unity
of God, and their conceptualization of the myriad deities of India as various manifestations of the one divine power, Brahman
.
Smartas accept and worship the six manifestations of God
, (Ganesha
, Shiva
, Shakti
, Vishnu
, Surya
and Skanda
) and the choice of the nature of God is up to the individual worshipper since different manifestations of God are held to be equivalent.
The last two named Yajnas are performed in only a few households today.
Brahmacharis perform:
instead of Agnihotra
or Aupasana
.
The other rituals followed include Amavasya tarpanam
and Shraddha
.
. In this Puja, the five principal Brahmanical Hindu Deities (Surya, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesa and Devi) are the objects of veneration. The five symbols of the major Gods are placed on a round open metal dish called Panchayatana, the symbol of the deity preferred by the worshiper being in the center. A similar arrangement is also seen in the medieval temples, in which the central shrine housing the principal Deity is surrounded by four smaller shrines containing the figures of the other deities.
Some of the Smartas of South India add a sixth Deity Skanda
.
The Smartas follow the Ashrama tradition of Hiduism.There are different sets of rules for each Ashrama (stage of an individual's life). The stages of life prescribed in the Vedic scriptures are Brahmacharya
Ashrama, Grihastha
Ashrama, Vanaprastha
Ashrama and Sannyasa
Ashrama. These four orders normally proceed one after the other, depending upon one's age, maturity, mental disposition and qualification. Each stage has its own set of rules within which it is conducted.
Ashrama by undergoing Upanayana
, are expected to learn the Vedas
and Shastras besides leading a strict celibate Life. They are expected to adhere to a sattvic diet
and adhere to other rules of the Smriti
tradition of their respective families. In modern days, the Smarthas contend with learning at least the select portions (called Suktas) and other portions from the Aranyaka of the Veda.
Smartas are recommended to follow the Brahma form of Vedic marriage (a type of arranged marriage). The marriage ceremony is derived from Vedic prescriptions. Women acquire the traditions of her husband's family upon marriage.
Lineage is an important continuity for the Smarthas. It is called the Gotra. Each Smartha family belongs to a particular Gotra which is the progeny of an identified Rishi. People belonging to the same Gotra are deemed brothers & sisters and hence cannot marry each other.
.
and other Sankara Maths spread all over India.
The other Hindu
missions with Advaita traditions closely linked with the philosophy of Smartism:
Smartas also recite Shloka
s or Stotras (devotional hymns) composed by various Hindu
saints and poets.
Smarta communities:
Sampradaya
In Hinduism, a sampradaya can be translated as ‘tradition’ or a ‘religious system’, although the word commands much more respect and power in the Indian context than its translations in English does...
(Smarta Tradition, as it is termed in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
) is a liberal or nonsectarian denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
of the Vedic Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
which accept all the major Hindu deities as forms of the one Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
, in contrast to Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
, Shaivism
Shaivism
Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...
, and Shaktism
Shaktism
Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...
, the other three major Hindu sects, which revere Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, and Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
, respectively, as the Supreme Being. The term Smarta refers to adherents who follow the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and Shastras. Only a section of south Indian brahmins call themselves Smartas now.
In Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, Smārta means "relating to memory, recorded in or based on the Smrti, based on tradition, prescribed or sanctioned by traditional law or usage, (etc)", from the root
Root (linguistics)
The root word is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family , which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents....
smr ("remember"); smarana. Smārta is a vriddhi derivation of Smriti
Smriti
Smriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
just as Śrauta
Srauta
' traditions are conservative ritualistic traditions of the historical Vedic religion in Hinduism, based on the body of Śruti literature...
is a vriddhi derivation of Śruti
Sruti
' , often spelled shruti or shruthi, is a term that describes the sacred texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism and is one of the three main sources of dharma and therefore is also influential within Hindu Law...
.The system they follow is referred to also as Srauta-Smartha as evidenced in the sankalpams they take during prayers.
This joined reference srauta smarta cannot be separated in the context of an orthodox smarta brahmin because he would be expected to follow the sruti and thereby the smritis derived from them.
Salient features of Smarta tradition
Smartas are followers and propagators of SmritiSmriti
Smriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
or religious texts derived from Vedic scriptures
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
. Smarta religion was practiced by people who believed in the authority of the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
as well as the basic premise of puranas
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
. As a consequence usually only a brahmin preferred to use this term to refer to his family tradition.
It is most essential for Smarta Brahmins to specialize in the Karma Kanda of the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and associated rituals diligently, and to teach the subsequent generations. This is the only reason that these families continue to be called Smartas.
Shad Dharsana philosophy
Smarta Tradition includes the followers of all the six Darsanas (systems) of Hindu philosophyHindu philosophy
Hindu philosophy is divided into six schools of thought, or , which accept the Vedas as supreme revealed scriptures. Three other schools do not accept the Vedas as authoritative...
. The basic idea of Smartas was belief in Vedic practices. Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
are non-sectarian . The Smartas found that you can not bring about a unity among different sects or revive the Vedic practices without bringing together the six systems of Philosophy. The Vedic rituals are based on Purva Mimansa. The Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
which contains the Sankhya and Yoga concepts is revered by the Smartas.
Differences with other Hindu denominations
Smartas believe that the worshiper is free to choose a particular aspect of God to worship, to the extent that the worship practices do not contradict the VedasVedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and the Smritis. So in that sense an orthodox smarta is unlikely to view gods of non vedic religions favorably, even though he may hold the religion acceptable to its own traditional followers.
By contrast, a Vaishnavite
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
considers Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
or Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
to be the true God who is worthy of worship and other forms as his subordinates. Accordingly, Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only Vishnu or Krishna can grant the ultimate salvation for mankind, moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
. Similarly, many Saivites also hold similar beliefs about Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. Notably, many Saivites believe that Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
is worshiped to reach Shiva, whom for Saktas is the impersonal Absolute. In Saktism, emphasis is given to the feminine manifest through which the male unmanifested, Lord Shiva, is realized.
Smartas, like many Saivites and Vaishnavites, consider Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
to be an aspect of God. Many Saivites and Vaishnavites, for example, differ from Smartas, in that they regard Surya as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively. For example, the sun is called Surya Narayana by Vaishnavites. In Saivite theology, the sun is said to be one of eight forms of Shiva, the Astamurti
Astamurti
-Concept of Astamurti:In the Vedas, the howler deity, Lord Rudra, who subsequently transformed into the benevolent Lord Shiva, has multiple attributes and numerous names, among which eight are significant to the conceptualization of the Shaivite lore...
. Additionally, Ganesh and Skanda, for many Shaivites, would be aspects of Shakti and Shiva, respectively.
These differences and the understanding of these differences is now generally diminishing between the Hindus, and the current practitioners of Hinduism are converging towards the Smarta philosophy, where Shaivites accept and pray to forms of Vishnu and vice-versa. That Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti are all forms of the same principal divinity is slowly gaining understanding and acceptance.
Shanmata and influence on contemporary Hinduism
Adi ShankaraAdi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
is believed to have propagated the tradition of Shanmata
Shanmata
Shanmata is the system of worship, believed by the Smarta tradition to have been founded by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher . It centers around the worship of the six main deities of Hinduism, viz, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Surya and Skanda. In this system, six major...
(Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, meaning Six Opinions). In this six major deities are worshipped.
This is based on the belief in the essential sameness of all deities, the unity
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...
of God, and their conceptualization of the myriad deities of India as various manifestations of the one divine power, Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
.
Smartas accept and worship the six manifestations of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, (Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
and Skanda
Murugan
Murugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
) and the choice of the nature of God is up to the individual worshipper since different manifestations of God are held to be equivalent.
Daily routine
The daily routine of smartha brahmin includes performing- Snana (bathing)
- SandhyavandanamSandhyavandanamSandhyavandanam is a religious practice performed by Hindu men initiated into the rite by the ceremony of Upanayanam, and instructed in its execution by a Guru . Sandhyavandanam consists of excerpts from the Great Vedas that are to be recited thrice daily...
- JapaJapaJapa is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of a divine power. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind...
- Puja (see Panchayatana Puja, below)
- AupasanaAupasanaAupasana is a yajna performed on a daily basis by Hindus who have been initiated during marriage for this.Hindu marriage is conducted with offerings made in the fire. Aupasana, which must be performed every day, is commenced in this fire and it must be preserved throughout one's life...
- AgnihotraAgnihotraAgnihotra is a Vedic yajña performed in orthodox Hindu communities. It is mentioned in the Atharvaveda and described in detail in the Yajurveda Samhita and the Shatapatha Brahmana . The Vedic form of the ritual is still performed Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala and by a small number of Vaidiki...
The last two named Yajnas are performed in only a few households today.
Brahmacharis perform:
- AgnikaryamAgnikaryamAgnikaryam is the Yajna performed in a loukika agni by brahmacharis . The Agnikarya is performed with the help of Samits or small wooden sticks or twigs usually of Arali tree. This homa is performed daily twice: once in the morning and again in the evening...
instead of Agnihotra
Agnihotra
Agnihotra is a Vedic yajña performed in orthodox Hindu communities. It is mentioned in the Atharvaveda and described in detail in the Yajurveda Samhita and the Shatapatha Brahmana . The Vedic form of the ritual is still performed Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala and by a small number of Vaidiki...
or Aupasana
Aupasana
Aupasana is a yajna performed on a daily basis by Hindus who have been initiated during marriage for this.Hindu marriage is conducted with offerings made in the fire. Aupasana, which must be performed every day, is commenced in this fire and it must be preserved throughout one's life...
.
The other rituals followed include Amavasya tarpanam
Amavasya
Amavasya is the Indian name for a New moon. The word Amavasya is common to many Indian languages especially Sanskrit, Hindi, Assamese, Kannada, Bengali, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu, and Gujarati...
and Shraddha
Śrāddha
Śrāddha or Shraaddha is a Sanskrit word which literally means anything or any act that is performed with all sincerity and faith . In the Hindu religion, it is the ritual that one performs to pay homage to one’s 'ancestors' , especially to one’s dead parents...
.
Panchayatana Puja
The Smartas evolved a kind of worship which is known as Panchayatana pujaPanchayatana puja
Panchayatana puja is the system of worship in the Smarta sampradaya of Hinduism. It is said to have been introduced by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. It consists of the worship of five deities: Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha...
. In this Puja, the five principal Brahmanical Hindu Deities (Surya, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesa and Devi) are the objects of veneration. The five symbols of the major Gods are placed on a round open metal dish called Panchayatana, the symbol of the deity preferred by the worshiper being in the center. A similar arrangement is also seen in the medieval temples, in which the central shrine housing the principal Deity is surrounded by four smaller shrines containing the figures of the other deities.
Some of the Smartas of South India add a sixth Deity Skanda
Murugan
Murugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
.
The Smartas follow the Ashrama tradition of Hiduism.There are different sets of rules for each Ashrama (stage of an individual's life). The stages of life prescribed in the Vedic scriptures are Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
Ashrama, Grihastha
Grihastha
Grihasthya refers to the second phase of an individual's life in the Vedic ashram system. It is often called 'the householders life' revolving as it does around the duties of maintaining a household and leading a family-centred life.-Usage:...
Ashrama, Vanaprastha
Vanaprastha
A Vanaprastha is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires. Vanaprastha ashram is the stage of life in the Vedic ashram system, when a person one gradually withdraws from the world...
Ashrama and Sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
Ashrama. These four orders normally proceed one after the other, depending upon one's age, maturity, mental disposition and qualification. Each stage has its own set of rules within which it is conducted.
Other practices
All Smartas who take up the BrahmacharyaBrahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
Ashrama by undergoing Upanayana
Upanayana
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
, are expected to learn the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and Shastras besides leading a strict celibate Life. They are expected to adhere to a sattvic diet
Sattvic diet
A sattvic diet, also referred to as a yoga diet or sentient diet, is a diet based on foods which, according to Ayurveda, Yoga, and Jainism, are strong in the sattva guna, and lead to clarity and equanimity of mind while also being beneficial to the body.Such foods include water, cereal grains, mung...
and adhere to other rules of the Smriti
Smriti
Smriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
tradition of their respective families. In modern days, the Smarthas contend with learning at least the select portions (called Suktas) and other portions from the Aranyaka of the Veda.
Smartas are recommended to follow the Brahma form of Vedic marriage (a type of arranged marriage). The marriage ceremony is derived from Vedic prescriptions. Women acquire the traditions of her husband's family upon marriage.
Lineage is an important continuity for the Smarthas. It is called the Gotra. Each Smartha family belongs to a particular Gotra which is the progeny of an identified Rishi. People belonging to the same Gotra are deemed brothers & sisters and hence cannot marry each other.
The Shrauta tradition
Traditionally the Smartas follow the Shrauta tradition. The Shrauta tradition emphasises on performance of Yajnas which are described in the VedasVedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
.
Religious institutions
Traditional Smarta religious institutions:- Sringeri Sharada PeethamSringeri Sharada PeethamSringeri Sharada Peetham is the southern Advaita Vedanta matha. It is located in Shringeri. It is claimed that it is the first of the four original mathas established by Adi Shankara.-Location:...
- JyotirmathJyotirmathJyotirmath , also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath , is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is home to one of the four cardinal pīthas established by Adi Shankara.-Demographics:...
- Govardhana mathaGovardhana mathaThe Govardhana matha is located in the city of Puri in Orissa state , and is associated with the Jagannath temple. It is one of those four cardinal mathas said to have been founded by Adi Shankara, and is the eastern matha. As per the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, it is in charge of the Rig...
- Dvaraka Pitha
- Kanchi mathaKanchi mathaThe Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
and other Sankara Maths spread all over India.
The other Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
missions with Advaita traditions closely linked with the philosophy of Smartism:
- Ramakrishna MissionRamakrishna MissionRamakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
- Divine Life SocietyDivine Life SocietyThe Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India...
- Chinmaya MissionChinmaya MissionChinmaya Mission was founded in 1953 by the devotees of Swami Chinmayananda to 'give organizational structure and cohesiveness to the work and activities initiated by Swami Chinmayananda' . It is administered from Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai...
- Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Prominent Smarta teachers
Some of the prominent Smarta Teachers:- Vachaspati Mishra
- Sri Ramakrishna
- Swami VivekanandaSwami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
- Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi. A pure Advaitin.
- Brahmananda SaraswatiBrahmananda SaraswatiBrahmananda Saraswati was the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, a revered Hindu spiritual title in India, from 1941 to 1953.-Early life:...
the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, the Guru of Transcendental MeditationTranscendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
. - Maharishi Mahesh YogiMaharishi Mahesh YogiMaharishi Mahesh Yogi , born Mahesh Prasad Varma , developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of the TM movement, characterised as a new religious movement and also as non-religious...
- Appaiah Dikshitar
- Neelankanta Dikshtar
- Swami SivanandaSwami SivanandaSwami Sivananda Saraswati was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism...
. He introduced Yoga to the West. - Swami JyotirmayanandaSwami JyotirmayanandaH. H. Swami Jyotirmayananda is a prominent Indian teacher of Vedanta, spiritual Hindu philosophy, and author of over 40 books on Vedanta, Yoga and several other topics. He was a disciple of the late Swami Sivananda, and served as a religious professor at Vedanta Forest Academy, at the Sivananda...
, Adwaita and Samkhya Integral Yoga (Yoga Research Foundation). - Jagadguru Swami Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji MaharajaJagadguru Swami Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji MaharajaJagadguru Swami Sri Bhārati Kṛṣṇa Tīrthaji Mahāraja was the Jagadguru of the Govardhana matha of Puri during 1925–1960. He was one of the most significant spiritual figures in Hinduism during the 20th century...
. Vedic Mathematics. - Madhusudana Saraswati
- Jagadguru Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Nrusimha Bharati, Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetam
- Swami Sachidanandendra Saraswati of Holenarsipur, Adhyatma Prakasha Karyala
- Chandrashekarendra SaraswatiChandrashekarendra SaraswatiJagadguru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal or the Sage of Kanchi was the 68th Jagadguru in the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam...
, Jagadguru of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham - Srimad Raghaveshwara BharathiRaghaveshwara BharathiShri Raghaveshwara Bharathi is the present pontiff of Ramachandrapura Mutt. His official title is Shree Shree Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Srimad Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji. He is the 36th pontiff in the unbroken lineage of the mutt. His holiness took sannyasa from Late Shri Raghavendra...
Swamiji of Ramachandrapura Mutt, Hosanagara - Swami ChinmayanandaChinmayanandaSwami Chinmayananda , born Balakrishna Menon , was a Hindu Indian spiritual leader, and teacher, who inspired the formation of Chinmaya Mission in 1953 to spread the message of Vedanta...
- Dayananda Saraswati (Chinmaya Mission)Dayananda Saraswati (Chinmaya Mission)Swami Dayananda Saraswati is a monk of the Hindu monastic order and a renowned traditional teacher of Advaita Vedanta.-Early life:...
Scriptures
Smartas follow the Hindu scriptures. These include:- The VedasVedasThe Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
(Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda). These are considered primary spiritual resources; every BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family is affiliated to one or more of the Vedas. - The Upanishads, which are part of the VedasVedasThe Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, are often mentioned separately, given their especial importance as products of past intellectual ferment. - The Smritis" are religious books based on Vedas and are written by important Sages/RishiRishiRishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
s of the past. Each of them contains recommendations and practices unique to itself. The Book an individual followed depended on his family. Thus, ritual practices sometimes varied from family to family, depending on family tradition. Some of the more common religious law books were the Manu SmritiManu Smriti' , also known as Mānava-Dharmaśāstra , is the most important and earliest metrical work of the Dharmaśāstra textual tradition of Hinduism...
, the Apastamba Smriti and the Bodhyayana Smriti. - The PuranasPuranasThe Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
contain the lore and explanations of the theology of the VedasVedasThe Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
. They are a collection of sacred historical events that were passed from one generation to the next in the form of mythological stories. Smarta philosophers use the puranas to get a better understanding of Vedas, but do not consider them as completely authentic texts. However, the eighteen Puranas are revered by Smartas, just like any other Hindus. Today the Puranas are the main inspiration for many Smartas.
Smartas also recite Shloka
Shloka
A ' is a category of verse line developed from the Vedic Anuṣṭubh. It is the basis for Indian Epic verse, and may be considered the Indian verse form par excellence, occurring, as it does, far more frequently than any other meter in classical Sanskrit poetry. The Mahabharata and Ramayana, for...
s or Stotras (devotional hymns) composed by various Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
saints and poets.
Communities
Though most of the Hindus follow the Smarta tradition, only a few communities still call themselves Smartas. These communities are mostly in South India.Smarta communities:
- Karnataka
- Ulucha Kamme
- Babboor KammeBabboor KammeThe Babburkamme community is a caste of Smarta Brahmins whose members mainly reside in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states in India...
- SankethiSankethi peopleThe Sankethis are Smartha brahmins residing in Karnataka. They are an offshoot of the Iyer Community. There are also some Sankethis in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are said to have left their homeland under the guidance of a saintly lady, nAcAramma...
- Sthanika BrahminsSthanika BrahminsSthānika Brāhmins are Smartha Brahmins, and come under the classification of Tuluva Brahmins; The belong to Pancha-Drāvida Brahmin Community. The Kuladevatha of Sthānika Brahmin's is Subramanya...
- Hoysala Karnataka
- BadaganaduBadaganaduBadaganadu's are a Brahmin community that mainly reside in Karnataka, and now due to the advent of globalization they are spread throughout the world. Badaganadu Community is one of the three main streams of adherents to the Advaita Vedanta propounded by Sri Shankaracharya and are followers of the...
- KotaKota brahminKota Brahmins hail from the Kundapur and surrounding areas of Udupi district in Karnataka, Bantwal and Puttur Taluk in Mangalore District and Kasargod District in Kerala...
- HavyakaHavyakaHavyaka Brahmins are a Hindu Pancha Dravida Brahmin subsect primarily from the Indian state of Karnataka and Northern Kerala. Havyakas profess the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankaracharya.-Etymology:...
- Mulukanadu
- Moogooru KarnatakaMoogooru KarnatakaHalenadu Karnataka Brahmins are a sect of Kannada speaking Smartha Brahmins and follow Advaita Vedanta propounded by Adi Shankaracharya. They are also known as Moogoor Karnataka Brahmins...
( Halenadu Karnataka Brahmin)
- See:Kannada brahminsKannada BrahminsKannada Brahmins are Brahmins whose mother-tongue is the Kannada language. Nearly all of them hail from the south Indian state of Karnataka. Kannada Brahmins are known to have preserved the purest form of Vedic Hinduism...
- Tamil Nadu
- IyerIyerIyer is the title given to the caste of Hindu Brahmin communities of Tamil origin. Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara...
s- AshtasahasramAshtasahasramAshtasahasram is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are believed to have been one of the earliest Brahmin communities to inhabit the Tamil country...
- Brahacharanam
- VadamaVadamaVadama meaning "Northerners" are a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins. While some believe that their name is an indication of the fact that they were the most recent Brahmin migrants to the Tamil country others interpret the usage of the term "Vadama" as a reference to their strict...
- VathimaVathimaVathima are a subsect of Iyers from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Being Iyers, they are all Pancha Dravida Brahmins of the Smartha sect who follow the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankaracharya.- Etymology and origin :...
- Ashtasahasram
- Iyer
- Andhra Pradesh
- Vaidiki
- Mulukanadu
- VelanaduVelanaduVelandu is a name of the region on the banks of River Krishna in the ancient Telugu country. The terms Velandu or velnadu are often used synonymous with present Guntur district.-Geography:...
- Venginadu
- Telanganya
- Nandvariks
- Niyogi
- Aruvela Niyogi
- Vaidiki
- Maharashtra
- Konkani Saraswats (Goud, Rajapur, Chitrapur) of Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerela
- ChitpavanChitpavanThe Chitpavan or Chitpawan, also known as Konkanastha Brahmins , are a Smarta Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal region of western Maharashtra in India....
Brahmins of Konkan, Maharashtra. - Karhade Brahmins
- Daivajna
External links
- Adi Sankaracharya and Advaita Vedanta Library
- Advaita Vedanta Homepage
- Jagadguru Mahasamsthanam, Sringeri Sharada Peetam
- Shankara Sampradayam
- Hinduism Today - Description of Smartism among the four major divisions of Hinduism.
- http://www.ikashmir.org/hindudharma/7.htmlOverview of the three major divisions, from the book, Hindu Dharma, Saivism, ShaktismShaktismShaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...
, VaishnavismVaishnavismVaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
, and the three other schools devoted to Ganesh, SkandaMuruganMurugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
and SuryaSuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
.] - Six schools of smarta hinduism
- Oneness of God from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
- Description of smarta tradition.