Shruti-Overall

[Courtesy: scripture - What is difference between Shruti and Smriti? - Hinduism Stack Exchange]

 Shruti(श्रुति) means that which has been heard or communicated from the beginning.

Veda(वेद) are Shruti scripture. It is said/believed that Rishi in the state of Tapasya heard Vedas directly from Parabrahma/Parameshwara, In other words Rishi attained this jnana in state of samadhi which is called Shruti. So, Vedas are called अपौरुषेय that means it is not created by man i.e impersonal/authorless and believed to be the words of Ishwara, eternal. Rishish are द्रष्टा (seers) rather than author of Veda. There are four Vedas : Rigveda(ऋग्वेद), Samaveda(सामवेद), Yajurveda(यजुर्वेद) & Athrvaveda(अथर्ववेद).

Vedas are basically classified into two categories: 1.Mantra(मन्त्र) / Samhita(संहिता) part 2.Brahmanas(ब्राह्मणग्रन्थ) part. Actually Samhita is the core part of Veda (which is heard by Rishis) and Brahmanas are the interpretation and commentaries on Mantra/Samhita part of Vedas which helps to explain, understand the meaning and significance of Veda and also provides the way of doing rites (i.e rituals). As it gives Karma Kanda in Vedic Yajna, known as Karma Kanda (कर्मकाण्ड) part of Veda. (Each Brahamana is associated with one of the 4 Vedas)

Due to very much significance/influence of Brahmanas (ब्राह्मणग्रन्थ), it is considered as the part of Veda and hence classified as Shruti. Sayanacharya in his Bhashya on Rigveda, said that मंत्र ब्राह्मणात्मको वेद which means Mantra(मंत्र) and Brahmanatmak(ब्राह्मणात्मक) combined forms Veda. मन्त्रब्राह्मणयोर्वेदनामधेयम् (From Aapstamb Srauta Sutra) means Mantra as well as Brahmana parts are Veda.

Brahmanas constitutes Aaranyaka (आरण्यक) at the end and Aaranyaka constitues Upanishads(उपनिषद्) at the end. In other words, Aaranyaka are extracted from Brahmanas and Upanishads are extracted from Aaranyaka (except from Isha Upanishad which is the last part of Shulka Yajurveda Samhita). So, Vedas are generally classified into to 1.Samhita 2.Brahmana 3.Aaranyaka 4.Upanishad

Hence Four Vedas i.e Rigveda, Yajurveda, Athrvaveda and Samveda with Samhita, Brahmana, Aaranyaka & Upanishad are Shruti texts.

Four Vedas along with their corresponding Upnishads are tabulated below.

• To read more about Samhita, please visit: List of ?? Samhitas.
• To read more about Brahmana, please visit: List of ?? Brahmanas.
• To read more about Aaranyaka, please visit: List of ?? Aaranyakas.
• To read more about Upnishads, please visit: List of 108 Upnishads.

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