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Smartha

Definition

In Sanskrit smarta means "one who remembers, a teacher, (etc)", and 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".

Why they became distinguished from others

The Smartas consider themselves as followers of Smriti or Vedic laws. It is from this that the name is derived. This term is used with respect to a certain category of Brahmins. Not all Brahmins considered the Smritis to be important. Some Brahmins were influenced by Buddhism, Jainism or Charvaka philosophy. This did not mean that these people stopped believing in Vedas, but the practice of worship and philosophy was influenced by non-Vedic philosophy. In time, Shankaracharya brought all the Vedic communities together. He tried to remove the non-Vedic aspects that had crept into the Brahmin communities. He also endeavoured to unite them by arguing that any of the different Hindu gods could be worshipped and that there was no need for conflict based on the worship of various gods. He then established the Gods that had their source in the Vedas, and who could be worshipped as the highest deities. Shankaracharya was instrumental in reviving interest in the Vedas, and the entire Vedic community rallied around him. Thus his philosophy Advaita was the major religion of Smartas and even those who did not believe in Advaita considered Shankaracharya as a guiding light.

Thus, a bedrock of Smarthas who follow Advaita philosophy is its belief in the essential sameness of all deities, the unity of Godhead, and its conceptualization of the myraid deities of India as various manifestations of the one divine power. Smartas (followers of Smartism) who follow Advaita philosophy accept and worship the six forms of God, (Ganesha, Śiva, Śakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda)and the choice of the form of God is up to the individual worshipper since different aspects of God are held to be equivalent.

However a few centuries later, the Vedic community divided again. New communities were formed which considered themselves to be different from the Smarthas. The philosophy of the new sects was directed against the teachings of Shankaracharya. Thus the people who continued with Shankaracharya's practices came to be known as Smarthas. The new sects distinguished themselves from Smarthas. In this manner, Smartas came to be associated with Advaita. Truly speaking, a Smarta need not be a believer in Advaita. For example, Adi Shankara's own community, the Namboothiris are also Smarthas, yet they believe in 'Purva Mimamsa'. The decision to follow Advaita was thus left to the individual. As another example, Appaiah Deekshita, an Iyer followed Sreekanta's Sivadvaita in his early days. This philosophy was similar to Vishishtadvaita of the Sri Vaishnavas. Siva Advaita however considers Shiva to be the greatest God.

Main Beliefs

The Smartha worldview is influenced by Advaita, as most Smartha Gurus believe in Advaita. But in order to be a Smartha one need not believe in Advaita. Needless to say, Advaita itself was firmly spread by Adi Shankaracharya, who was born in a smartha family.

However it is most essential for Smarthas to follow the Karma Kanda of Vedas dilligently. This is only reason they continue to be Smarthas. This is what distinguishes them also from other Advaitic sects.

God, according to Smarta followers who follow Advaita philosophy is both Saguna and Nirguna.As a Nirguna he is pure consciousness dissosciated from matter.He (the gender itself is meaningless here) has no attributes,and no form at all. As a saguna,the quality that can be felt by people of the word,he is infinite and thus can have a multitude of aspects. Accordingly, they hold that Vishnu and Shiva are ultimately the same. Ayya Vazhi also hold this belief. The Smarta theologians have cited many references to support this view. For example, they interpret verses in both the Shri Rudram, the most sacred mantra in Shaivism, and the Vishnu sahasranama, one of the most sacred prayers in Vaishnavism, to show this belief.Vishnu Purana carries a story about how Maha Vishnu,becomes Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva.In other words,these forms and differences are just different dimensions of God-This is how the advaitins would like to interpret this story.

By contrast, a Vaishnavite considers Vishnu as the one true God, worthy of worship and other forms as subordinate. See for example, an illustration of the Vaishnavite view of Vishnu as the one true God, at this link. Accordingly, Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only Vishnu can grant the ultimate aim for mankind, moksha. See for example, this link. Similarly, many Shaivites also hold similar beliefs, as illustrated at here and here.

Notably, Shakti is worshipped to reach Shiva, whom for Shaktas is the impersonal Absolute. In Shaktism, emphasis is given to the feminine manifest through which the male unmanifested , Lord Shiva, is realized. Additionally, Shaivites and Vaishnavites often 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 Siva, the Astamurti. Additionally, Ganesh and Skanda for them, would be aspects of Shiva and Shakti. According to smartism, most Hindus worship Saguna Brahman as Vishnu or Shiva.

Most Smarthas thus worship at least one of the following Gods: Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, the Sun God Surya, Goddess Durga, and/or Lord Skanda.

Adi Shankaracharya recommended the Smarthas to follow Panchayatana worship. This puja or worship included the worship of the first five deities mentioned above. (This was later extended to include the sixth God, Skanda). In this form of worship, the favorite family deity was placed in the center. All other Gods were placed around this central God and worshipped.

This is not always followed and some families worship only certain individual deities. In the days when rituals were considered very important, some families preferred and considered the practice of rituals as superior to God worship. They gave more stress to Karma Yoga than to Bhakti Yoga.

Basically the smarthas were distinguished by their strict adherence to the sacred laws or Smritis. However, as Advaita has become the dominant smartha philosophy, the smarthas worship most of the Hindu Gods. There is no infighting because of worship of a particular God.

In fact Even Smartha Advaitic theologians do not discourage Smarthas who understand the religion in a dual/dvaita sense.This is because they believe that ,dual experience is part of growing up.They say that it is a stage in an individual's spiritual growth and ultimately the individual would realize the Advaitic Truth.Thus as long as there is no fundamentalism,and there is open mindedness,people are allowed to have their own philosophy that would define their spiritual experience.But here it must be pointed out that smarthas are very much against any kind of idea that opposes the religion of the vedas.

Many smarthas today,are very much men of the world.The smrithis are no longer of importance.Besides the advaitic textbooks that are read at leisure,their religion is limited to a few of the rituals that have survived in their families.Though they continue to preserve their open minded outlook,their is little desire to practice spirituality.Bhakti is limited to an hour of loud prayers and the ancient practices of deep and silent meditation are no longer common.Only a small number of smarthas learn the vedas and scriptures.

Some Rules and Regulations

There are different sets of rules for each stage of an individual's life.The stages of life prescibed in the Vedic scriptures are Brahmacharya ashrama,Grihastha ashrama, Vanaprashta Ashrama and Sanyasa Ashrama.

There is hardly anyone in modern times who follows the Vanaprastha Ashrama.But everyone who undergoes the Brahmacharya Ashrama are expected to learn Vedas and scriptures besides leading a celibate Life.

Besides some of the rules specific to the ashrama,all smarthas are expected to perform rituals without any compromise. Some of the daily rituals include Sandhya Vandana, Agni Homa etc. The other rituals followed include Amavasya and Shraddha.

Smarthas are recommended to follow the Brahma form of Vedic marriage (a type of arranged marriage). The marriage ceremony is based on Vedic prescriptions. Women acquire the traditions of her husband's family. The Smarthas are expected to eat sativic food.

Smartha Contributions to Advaita

Smarthas have been instrumental in providing the theory of Advaita. Advaita is today the dominant philosophy of India. The Smartha theorists have written innumerable works on Advaita. One of the Greatest Advaita scholars and saints, Adi Shankaracharya, was a Smartha. There were other great Smartha Scholars like Appaiah Dikshitar who have strengthened and laid solid foundation to Advaita.

Smartha Contributions to other Philosophies

Sreekanta was the founder of Siva Advaita.

Tyagaraja was a Bhakti Saint and musical genius who inspired Hindus of many different sects.Deeply immersed in Bhakti,this devotee of Lord Rama,was acceptable to even non Smarthas.In his compositions,the Saint is a simple and humble Bhakta.In one of his compositions he asks which one is better "Dvaita or Advaita?".He leaves the question open.He belonged to that category of saints who believe in Bhakti as the path to God.In this sense his teachings were suitable to people of all the three major south Indian sects- Smarthas,Sri Vaishanavas and madhvas.His music was so enchanting that even people of other castes flocked to listen to him.

Tulsidas,a bhakti saint of the north may have been a Smartha.

The modern philosopher J.Krishnamurthy refused to be tied down even by his own tradition.Initially influenced by theosophy,he later moved away from even this.He believed in independantly evaluating all spiritual questions and refusing to be tied down by any sect or tradition.

Besides these there were a number of other Non Advaitic Scholars among Smarthas prior to Shankaracharya.

Smarthas who split away from their sect

Ramanujacharya,Madhavacharya,Vallabahacharya were only some of the Smartha who broke away from the parent sect and founded their very own sects.

Important Religious Books followed

The main Hindu texts are the main religious books followed by the Smarthas. These include:

1.The Vedas (Rig Veda,Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda). These are considered primary spiritual resources; every Brahmin family is affiliated to one or more of the Vedas. The vedas are considered divine revelation, which only an advanced spiritual student can grasp.

2.The Upanishads, which are part of the Vedas, are often mentioned separately, given their especial importance as products of past intellectual ferment.

3.The "Smrithis" are Law Books written by important Seers/Rishis of the past. Each of them contain 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 Law Books were the Manu Smriti, the Apastamba Smriti and the Bodhyayana Smriti.

4.The Puranas were optional texts in the ancient times. They are basically a collection of sacred historical events that were passed from one generation to the next. Smartha philosphers used the puranas to get a better understanding of Vedas, but do not consider them as completely reliable or accurate. However, the eighteen Puranas are revered by Smarthas, just like any other Hindus. Today the Puranas are the main inspiration for common Smarthas, who are not conversant with higher spiritual literature.

5.The smarthas also recite Shlokas and other devotional hymns composed by Great Bhaktas.

External links

Sources