Both Sruti and smrutis
constitute valid pramANas. We have to keep in view that smrutis have only Sruti
as the base. Though there were many SAkhAs (recensions) of the Vedas in the
days of yonder, only a few are available
now due to various reasons.
anantA vai vedAh ! ----
TaittirIya KAthaka
The Vedas are infinite.
Thus while a particular aspect (for example, mandatory performance of trikAla
sandhyA including mAdhyAnikam)
specifically covered in the smrutis could have been based on a Vedic statement which was existing
in a particular Vedic recension at that
point of time but not now, it may not be correct for us to conclude that the
particular aspect is not backed by Vedas. Hence it would be very difficult to
overlook what is stated in the smrutis as being something which is not
mentioned in the Vedas and hence need not be followed.
One cannot properly understand the intended and intrinsic meaning of Vedas. As
Vedas are complex and innumerable, the Rishis through their great tapas
composed the Smrutis which define what is dharma for a particular Yuga.
In order to understand
the Sruti in the proper perspective, one requires the guidance of smruti.
Interpreting the original Vedic Mantras on our own accord is dangerous in the
modern environment.
For each Mantra, there is a Rishi, a Chandas and the devatA. One cannot
overlook the Rishi and chant any Mantra including GAyatrI MahA Mantra. As
Rishis are the Seers of Vedic Mantras and the authors of smrutis, we hold them
in high esteem. Rishi TarpaNam is offered to them. KAnda Rishi TarpaNam is also
there. All the Srauta, grihya and smArta PrayogAs are done even today based on
the statements of great Rishis like Apastamba, BodhAyana, ASvalAya, Jaimini,
LAtyAyana, KAtyAyana and so on. In addition, we have sanakAdi Rishis, Sapta
Rishis , NArada, BharadvAja, Veda VyAsa and so many others.
Each BrAhmaNa (however materially he may be rich) is born only as a debtor with
triple debts. He is indebted to the Rishis, DevAs and Pitrus. The Rishi debt is
discharged through brahmacarya, Deva debt through performance of yajnas and
Pitru debt through progeny.
JAyamAno ha vai brAhmaNah tribhir rNa vA jAyate !
brahmacaryena rishibhyah !
yajnena devebhyah!
prajayA pitrubhyah!
The Rishis including Rishi Patnis are to be respectfully worshipped. Without
them, the Vedas would have disappeared. The smrutis, which are Rishi Proktam
are therefore equally valid like Sruti.
namah parama Rishibhyo
namah parama Rishibhyah !
Whatever one feels like doing according to his mental make-up does not
constitute dharma. That is why in Bhagavad GItA , BhagavAn advises all to
follow dharma as ordained in the Scriptures :
tasmacchAstram pramAnam te karYAkArya vyavasthitau!
jnAtvA SAstra vidhinoktam karma kartum ihArhasi !!
-----Bhagavad gItA ! 16.24
One who does not follow SAstras gains not Sukham or Siddhi or parama gati.
yah Sastra vidhim utsrijya vartate KAma kAratah !
na sa siddhim avApnoti na sukham na parAm gatim !!
---Bhagavad gItA 16.23
Learned sees through the eye of SAstras
" ----kavibhih SAstra cakshushA ---"
---- SrImad BhAgavatam x-84-36
Sruti smruti mamaivAjnA yad tad ullanghya vartate !
AjnAcchedhe mama drOhi mat bhaktOpi na vaishNava !!
--- VishNu
vedamUlAh smrutayah !
---- Sankha
durbodhA vaidikASSabdAh prakIrNatvacca ye khilAh !
tatraita eva drushtArthAh smruti tantrai pratishthitAh !!
---- MarIci
Srutim paSyanti munayah smaranti ca tathA smrutim !
tasmAt pramANamubhayam pramANaih pramitam bhuvi !!
---- Manu
According to Angiras, those who are learned in pramANas should duly take care of
them. Otherwise, authentic pramANas would get destroyed by baseless pramANas.
pramANAni pramANajnaih paripAlyAni yatnatah !
sIdanti pramANAni pramANairavyavasthitaih !!
--------Angiras
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