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If the Vedas and the Upanishads give the basic philosophy of Hinduism, the Dharmashastras, comprising the Smrtis, the Puranas and the Nibandhas (digests), give the rules and regulations that guide a Hindu in his personal and social life.

If the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] and the [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|Upanishads]] give the basic philosophy of Hinduism, the [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|Dharmashastras]], comprising the [[Smrti (स्मृतिः)|Smrtis]], the [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]] and the Nibandhas (digests), give the rules and regulations that guide a Hindu in his personal and social life.

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

According to Swami Harshananda<ref>Swami Harshananda (2008), A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (Volume 3), Bangalore: Ramakrishna Math.</ref>, Parashara is one of the well-known Rishis or sages frequently mentioned in the Epics and the Puranas. Parashara was the son of the sage Sakti and the grandson of the famous Vasishtha. He is considered as one of the gotra-pravartakas of the sages from whom the gotras (patriarchal ancestries) originated. Learning of the cruel end of his father at the hands of a demon, Kalmashapada, he started a sacrifice for the destruction of the race of demons. He was not only a great sage but also a great scholar of the religious lore. His teachings to other sages and kings like Janaka contain a lot of information on many abstruse facets of religion and philosophy (vide ''Mahabharata, Anushasana parva'' 146 to 149; 150 to 152). He was the father of another great sage—Vyasa or Vedavyasa—through Satyavati, the adopted daughter of a chieftain of the fisherman.

According to Swami Harshananda<ref>Swami Harshananda (2008), A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (Volume 3), Bangalore: Ramakrishna Math.</ref>, Parashara is one of the well-known Rishis or sages frequently mentioned in the [[Itihasa (इतिहासः)|Epics]] and the Puranas. Parashara was the son of the sage Shakti and the grandson of the famous [[Vasishtha (वसिष्ठ)|Vasishtha]]. He is considered as one of the gotra-pravartakas of the sages from whom the [[Gotra and Pravara (गोत्रप्रवरश्च)|gotras]] (patriarchal ancestries) originated. Learning of the cruel end of his father at the hands of a demon, Kalmashapada, he started a yajna for the destruction of the race of demons. He was not only a great sage but also a great scholar of the religious lore. His teachings to other sages and kings like [[Janaka (जनक)|Janaka]] contain a lot of information on many abstruse facets of religion and philosophy (vide Mahabharata, Anushasana parva 146 to 149; 150 to 152). He was the father of another great sage—[[Maharshi Vyasa (महर्षि व्यास)|Vyasa]] or Vedavyasa—through Satyavati, the adopted daughter of a chieftain of the fisherman.

== ग्रंथा: ॥ Texts ==

== ग्रंथा: ॥ Texts ==

Two texts namely, Parashara Gita (''Shantiparva'' 296-304) and the Parashara Smrti are attributed to him. Medieval and even modern Hindu practices depend much upon the Dharmashastras, works that generally deal with Achara and Vyavahara, personal and social conduct. One such work, though not an ancient one wielding greater authority, is the ''Brhat-parashara-samhita''. It appears to be a recast of an earlier work, the Parashara Smrti. Said to have been imparted by the Sage Parashara to Suvrata, it contains about 3000 verses divided into 12 chapters. Its subject matter contains the following topics: the sphere of the Aryas; the six daily karmas like bath, sandhya, japa, worship of Gods and honouring guests; the Gayatri mantra; the duties of the various varnas and ashramas; forms of marriage and connected topics; on gifts; sraddha or after-death ceremonies; prayashchittas or expiations; rites for propitiating deities like Ganesha and Rudra; some aspects of yoga like pranayama and so on.

Two texts namely, Parashara Gita (Shantiparva 296-304'')'' and the Parashara Smrti are attributed to him. Medieval and even modern Hindu practices depend much upon the Dharmashastras, works that generally deal with Achara and Vyavahara, personal and social conduct. One such work, though not an ancient one wielding greater authority, is the Brhat-parashara-samhita. It appears to be a recast of an earlier work, the Parashara Smrti. Said to have been imparted by the Sage Parashara to Suvrata, it contains about 3000 verses divided into 12 chapters. Its subject matter contains the following topics:  

 

* the sphere of the Aryas  

* the six daily karmas like bath, [[Sandhyavandana (सन्ध्यावन्दनम्)|sandhya]], japa, worship of deities and [[Atithi Satkara (अतिथिसत्कारः)|honouring guests]]

* the [[Gayatri (गायत्री)|Gayatri]] mantra

* the duties of the various [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varnas]] and [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashramas]]

* forms of [[Marriage (विवाह: संस्कार:)|marriage]] and connected topics

* on gifts

* [[Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)|Shraddha]] or after-death ceremonies

* Prayashchittas or expiations

* rites for propitiating deities like Ganesha and [[Rudra (रुद्रः)|Rudra]]

* some aspects of [[Yoga Darshana (योगदर्शनम्)|yoga]] like [[Pranayama (प्राणायामः)|pranayama]] and so on.

== अध्यायसारः  ॥ Chapter Contents of Parashara Smrti ==

== अध्यायसारः  ॥ Chapter Contents of Parashara Smrti ==