What is "sruti"

Śruti is Sanskrit for "that which is heard" and refers to the body of most authoritative, ancient religious texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism. It includes the four Vedas including its four types of embedded texts - the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the early Upanishads.

Śrutis have been variously described as a revelation through anubhava (direct experience), or of primordial origins realized by ancient Rishis. In Hindu tradition, they have been referred to as apauruṣeya (authorless). The Sruti texts themselves assert that they were skillfully created by Rishis (sages), after inspired creativity, just as a carpenter builds a chariot.

All six orthodox schools of Hinduism accept the authority of śruti, but many scholars in these schools denied that the śrutis are divine. Nāstika (heterodox) philosophies such as the Cārvākas did not accept the authority of the śrutis and considered them to be flawed human works.

Shruti differs from other sources of Hindu philosophy, particularly smṛti “which is remembered” or textual material. These works span much of the history of Hinduism, beginning with the earliest known texts and ending in the early historical period with the later Upanishads. Of the śrutis, the Upanishads alone are widely known, and the central ideas of the Upanishadic śrutis are at the spiritual core of Hindus.

Śruti (shruti, sruti) is a Sanskrit word that means "thing heard" or "sound". It may refer to:

• Śruti, Hindu sacred texts
• Shruti (music), the smallest interval in Indian classical music
• Shruti box - an Indian drone instrument
• Sruti magazine, a magazine devoted to Indian music and dance

Sruti is an English language monthly magazine on the performing arts and Indian music and dance, published from Chennai, India.

Sruti was founded in 1983 by N. Pattabhiraman, who had returned to India from a career abroad, bringing with him a focus and skill for English composition, as well as willingness to engage in sincere criticism and controversy. The magazine initially had financial difficulties, with Pattabhiraman desiring to gain subscribers vice take out loans, and minimal support from corporations. The journal foundered somewhat following Pattabhiraman's death, but as of 2014 continues forward under staffers who rose to take over its leadership. The magazine was acquired by the Sanmar Group in 2006.

Journalist S. Muthiah in 2011 referred to the publication as '' the country's leading journal on Indian Classical music and dance''.