A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

smaraæa 174
smaraæa
(‘remembering’)
The second stage in the process of
MEDITATION.
smärta
(‘pertaining to smøti’)
A designation of ultra-orthodox traditional
brahmins in South India.
smasäna
Burning place, crematorium.
smøti (‘what has been remembered’)
Tradition, as opposed to ŸRUTI (revelation).
In a generic sense, all authoritative
writings pertaining to Hindu tradition
that are not ÿruti, i.e. all works composed
after the Veda, such as epics and
Puräæas. In a specific sense, works dealing
mainly with law ascribed to inspired
lawgivers, such as the Manusmøti,
Yäjñavalkyasmøti.
snake
See NÄGA.
social order
The Hindu social order is circumscribed
by CATUR–VARŒA–ÄŸRAMA-DHARMA, i.e.
the division into four ‘classes’ (VARŒA)
and four ‘stages of life’ (ÄŸRAMA (2)).
Theoretically all rights and duties are
defined according to this schema. In
practice each varæa is subdivided into a
very large number of jätïs (‘sub-castes’),
each with its own rules, and most people
no longer follow the progression of
the stages of life. CASTE is still a powerful
factor in social life in India, and for
many the ideal of SAMNYÄSA is still alive.
Besides the caste society, which is largely
identical with Hindu society, there
are a large number of ‘outcastes’ or
‘untouchables’ (nih•priya), who began
organizing under the name of DALIT
(‘oppressed’) and are actively fighting
for their rights. Modernization of society,
the exigencies of industrialization,
demands for equality by women, and
abandonment of many old caste regulations
have seriously challenged the
Hindu social order. Hindu political
parties are concerned with re-establishing
a Hindu social order. (See also ÄRYA
SAMÄJ; BHÄRATÏYA JÄNATÄ PARTY;
HINDU MAHÄSABHÄ; RÄÆTØÏYA SVAYAM-
SEVAK SANGH; VIŸVA HINDÜ PARIÆAD.)
social reforms
Like Ram Mohan ROY, who succeeded
in 1828 in having SATÏ banned, many
Hindus have felt the need for reforming
aspects of Hindu society, such as
untouchability (Mahatma GANDHI),
widow remarriage (RANADE, R. D.),
FEMALE INFANTICIDE, education for
women and others. There have been
demands to abolish caste and to establish
gender equality. (See also EQUALITY
OF WOMEN.)
Soma
A name of the MOON.
soma
The fermented juice of a not yet satisfactorily
identified plant, which was one
of the main ingredients of Vedic SACRIFICE.
A whole section of the Øgveda contains
hymns that were used in soma libations.
Indra is described as lover of soma, and
the intoxication caused by soma consumption
is frequently referred to.
Som(a)näth(a),
also Someÿvara
(‘Lord of the moon’)
A celebrated Ÿiva sanctuary in Gujarat.
It was destroyed and plundered by
Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025, rebuilt by
Kings Bhima and Bhoja, several times
thereafter destroyed and rebuilt. Its
final restoration took place through the
initiative of K. M. Munshi, governor of
Bombay Presidency, and the original
Ÿivaliöga (see LI¢GA (3)) was installed