The Hindu scriptures Part II The Smritis:-

The second set of books are 'Smritis' means that which is remembered. Unlike Srutis, which are of divine origin, the smiritis are are human composition which regulate and guides people in their daily conduct, codes and rules governing the actions of people, community, society and the nation and are known as laws governing righteous conduct.

A day of Brahma(the creator) is known as a 'Kalpa' . Kalpa is divided into four yugas(ages).

1.Krita Yuga.
2.Trteta Yuga
3.Dwapara Yuga
4.Kali Yuga

The present yuga is Kali Yuga which is the yuga of degeneration of virtues. Each yuga has its own Law givers. In all there are 18 'smritis' and there have been many law givers- Manu,Yajnavalkya,Shankha,Likhita and Parashara.Manu is the earliest of them all and his laws have greatly influenced the life of people of our country.However, it is mainly on the Yajnavalkya Smriti, the Hindu law of today is based.

Hinduism is very unique that it accepts that the rules of society change with every age(yuga) , therefore the laws or righteous conduct changes from time to time.Since these laws are enunciated for the guidance of man,they are governed by the time and age he lives in.Hinduism is a living practical religion because it accepts that the laws governing the conduct of man and the society are man made laws which is flexible, dynamic and subject to change.It therefore does not give room for bigotry or intolerance and it does not say that a set of rules made hundreds or thousands of years ago should be valid today. This has made it possible for the laws relating to Hindu society to be further changed by legislation in modern times., for protecting the interests of women, of daughters and of wives.

The srutis and smritis are read and memorised by scholars and were utilised by Kings, priests,by their rulers and ministers, to implement Divine and Human laws.