Srutis & Smrutis - Differences & Importance in Indian Scriptures!

Indian Scriptures are classified into two types:   Srutis and Smrutis.

Srutis are the oldest scriptures that are unchangeable. 

Smrutis were written based on the Srutis.

These Smrutis have faced some changes from time to time.

SRUTIS INCLUDE:

1. Four Vedas

2. Vedanta Sutras (Brahma Sutra)

3. Upanishads that are more than 108

4. Bhagavad Gita.

SMRUTIS INCLUDE:

1. Ithikas - Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

2. Puranas - 18 puranas (eg: Vishnu Purana, Siva Purana, etc) and newly added puranas such as Padma Purana.

Why Smrutis change from time to time?

The reason is, they have been spoken orally through disciplic succession  Therefore, some changes were purposefully or inadvertantly done.

Purposefully means to please the kings who rules at that time.

You can't find multiple authors for Vedas or Upanishads. They are unchangeable.

But, there are many authors for Ramayana and Mahabharatha - For example, Vyasa Bharatha, Villi Bharatha, Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Ananda Ramayana, etc. 

You can find some changes in incidents in different versions of Ithikas.  Similarly, Puranas have been more vulnerable to changes. Many changes have been made in puranas from time to time.  Now a days, we have the printed versions. Therefore, atleast these printed versions may not be changed in future.

However, these scriptures do not differ in core message of these Smrutis.

Ramayana and Mahabharatha are the Stories form of explaining dharma. Even a layman can understand the great dharma thru stories.  The Lord Himself came to earth to live as examples for the dharma explained in Vedas and Upanishads. 

They were later written as Itikas & Puranas.

The important message of Ramayana is that our dharma is more important than family.