HINDU SCRIPTURES

1. Karma - Kanda 
2. Upasana-Kanda 
3. Jnana Kanda. 

The first deals with rituals, the second with worship or meditation and the third with the highest knowledge. Next in importance to the Sruti is the Smrti which collectively means the secondary scriptures. These derive their authority from the Sruti, because their object is to expand and exemplify the principles of the Veda.

They consist of 

1. Smrtis or codes of law
2. Itihasas or epics
3. Puranas or chronicles and legends
4. Agamas or manuals of worship  
5. Darsanas or schools of philosophy. 

The laws for regulating Hindu society from time to time are codified in the so-called Smrtis. The most important of our law- givens are Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara. They give detailed instructions, according to the conditions of the time, to all classes of men regarding their duties in life. Hence their codes of laws are known as Dharma sastras.

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