What are Smritis | Ancient History

# The Smritis have continued to play a very important role in Hindu life as it were playing since the last two thousand years.

# The Smritis explained the religious duties, usage, laws, and social customs.

# The Smritis are the expanded version of the Dharmasutras, which covered the period from (about) sixth century to third century B.C.

# The Smritis compiled almost in the period of eight hundred years or even more.

# Manusmriti is the oldest among all. It was composed in about the 1st century B.C. Other important Smritis are −

Naradasmriti,
Vishnusmriti,
Yajnavalkyasmriti,
Brihaspatismriti, and
Katyayanasmriti.

# These Smritis (discussed above) are very important sources of law and social customs of the contemporary society and hence, declared to be of divine origin.

# Mahabhasya written by Patanjali was the most outstanding work in the field of grammar during the period of 2nd century B.C.

# The center of Sanskrit grammar learning shifted to the Deccan after Patanjali.

# In Deccan, the Katantra School developed in the first century A.D. Sarvavarman composed the grammar of Katantra. He was a great scholar in the court of Hala (Satavahana King)

# Katantra’s grammar was short and handy to help the learning of Sanskrit in about six months.

# Hala, the King of Satavahana wrote a great poetical work, namely ‘Gathasaptasati’ in Prakrit language.

# Asvaghosha was an important literary figure of this period. He was a great Buddhist philosopher. He had written many poetry, plays, etc. Important of them are −

Saundarananda,
Buddhacharita,
Vajrasuchi, etc.

# ‘Buddhacharita’ was written in the form of Mahakavya. It is a complete life of Buddha. It has been translated into many languages of the world.

# Remains of Asvaghosha's plays have been recovered from Turfan (in central Asia).

# ‘Svapnavasavadatta’ was written by Bhasa. It is famous Sanskrit play of the period.

# The art of dance and drama had already been codified by Panini's time and mentioned by Kautilya and Patanjali.

# Natyashastra was written by Bharata in the same period.

# ‘Milindapanho’ was written in Pali language. It explains the Buddhist doctrines in the form of a dialogue between Milinda and his teacher (the great Buddhist philosopher Nagasena). Milinda is generally identified with the Indo-Greek king Menander.