This is an important post for those interested in Hindu philosophy:
Hindu scriptures are divided into two categories: Shrutis and Smritis.
Shrutis are scriptures comprehended by sages in deep meditation. These are the Vedas and the Upanishads. Some scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita are said to be directly based on the Upanishads. These scriptures contain the essence of Hindu philosophy and describe the spiritual goal to be attained. They do not change with time.
The Itihasa scriptures (Puranas, Mahabharat and Ramayana) fall under the category of Smritis. These were written from time to time to guide societies as needed at the time. The Smriti relevant for our time is our Constitution, and it too is modified from time to time as needed.
It is important to bear in mind that we need to stay focused on the Shrutis for spiritual clarity and our constitution for guidance on how to conduct ourselves as a society.
Much of the religious, spiritual and societal confusion we encounter today is a result of not being aware and clear about the above.
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