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Śruti (Sanskrit: श्रुति, IAST: śrúti, lit. "hearing, listening"), often spelled shruti or sruthi, is a term that describes the sacred texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism and is one of the three main sources of dharma and therefore is also influential within Hindu Law.^[1] These sacred works span much of the history of Hinduism, beginning with some of the earliest known Hindu texts and ending in the early modern period with the later Upanishads.^[2]

This literature differs from other sources of Hindu Law, particularly smṛti or “remembered text”, because of the purely divine origin of śruti. This belief of divinity is particularly prominent within the Mimamsa tradition.^[3] The initial literature is traditionally believed to be a direct revelation of the “cosmic sound of truth” heard by ancient Rishis who then translated what was heard into something understandable by humans.^[4]

Distinction between Sruthi and Smriti[link]

Both Sruthi and smriti represent categories of texts that are used to establish the rule of law within the Hindu tradition. However, they each reflect a different kind of relationship that can be had with this material.^[5] Śruthi is solely of divine origin and contains no specific concepts of law. Because of the divine origin, it is preserved as a whole, instead of verse by verse. With śruthi, the desire is more towards recitation and preservation of its divine attributes and not necessarily towards understanding and interpreting the oral tradition like that found in smṛti.^[6]

Texts[link]

For more information on the textual nature of Śruti see main article for Veda

Pre-eminent in śruti literature are the four Vedas:^[7]

• Rig-Veda (hymns recited by the hotar)
• Yajur-Veda (hymns recited by the adhvaryu)
• Sama-Veda (hymns recited by the udgatr)
• Atharva-Veda (a collection of ancient spells and charms, brahma)

The liturgical core of each of the Vedas are supplemented by commentaries on each text which all belong to the śruti canon:

• Brahmanas
• Aranyakas
• Upanishads

The literature of the shakhas, or schools, further amplified the material associated with each of the four core traditions.^[8]

Role in Hindu Law[link]

The idea of śruti established a set group of people who were granted access to the information contained in the Vedas. Because of its divine nature and of Achara, or regional customary laws developed by a person who reads and interprets the Vedas, began to be understood. This, in conjunction with Smrti texts that provide further human interpretation of Śruti, developed the information hierarchy that Hindus looked toward to dictate the proper conduct of their lives. The specific information regarding such proper conduct was not found directly in the Vedas because they do not contain explicit codes or rules that would be found in a legal system.^[9] However, because of the Vedas’ divine and unadulterated form, a rule that claims connection to this literature is given more merit even if it does not cite a specific passage.^[10] In this sense, Śruti exists as a source for all Hindu Law without dictating any specifics.

Ethics or moral values in Hinduism[link]

A person who follows Hinduism is someone who follows the teachings of the Srutis (Vedas). Vedas teach non duality or advaitha, realizing the self – Brahman.

Sri Adi Sankara and Sri Ramana Maharshi have explained the ways to realize the self – the Brahman in their works.

Ethics or moral values in hinduism are mentioned in the yamas (restraints) and the niyamas (observances from following the restraints), which are considered a prerequisite to realize the self – the Brahman.

The ten traditional yamas (restraints) are:

1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury; harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This is the "main" yama. The other nine are there in support of its accomplishment.

2. Satya (सत्य): truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts.

3. Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.

4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married.

5. Kshama (क्षमा): forgiveness, patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.

6. Dhriti (धृति): steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.

7. Daya (दया): compassion toward all beings.

8. Arjava (आर्जव): honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.

9. Mitahara (मिताहार): moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.

10. Shaucha (शौच): purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech. (Note: Patanjali's Yoga Sutras list Shaucha as the first of the Niyamas.)

The ten traditional Niyamas (observances from following the restraints) are:

1. Hri(ह्री): remorse, being modest and showing shame for misdeeds;

2. Santosha(संतोष): contentment; being satisfied with the resources at hand – therefore not desiring more;

3. Dana(दान): giving, without thought of reward;

4. Astikya(आस्तिक्य): faith, believing firmly in the teacher, the teachings and the path to enlightenment;

5. Ishvarapujana(ईश्वर पूजन): worship of the Lord, the cultivation of devotion through daily worship and meditation, the return to the source;

6. Siddhanta shravana(सिद्धान्त श्रवण): scriptural listening, studying the teachings and listening to the wise of one's lineage;

7. Mati(मति): cognition, developing a spiritual will and intellect with the guru's guidance;

8. Vrata(व्रत): sacred vows, fulfilling religious vows, rules and observances faithfully;

9. Japa(जप): recitation, chanting mantras daily;

10. Tapas(तप) : the endurance of the opposites; hunger and thirst, heat and cold, standing and sitting etc.

Quotation[link]

Max Müller in an 1865 lecture stated

"In no country, I believe, has the theory of revelation been so minutely elaborated as in India. The name for revelation in Sanskrit is Sruti, which means hearing; and this title distinguished the Vedic hymns and, at a later time, the Brahmanas also, from all other works, which however sacred and authoritative to the Hindu mind, are admitted to have been composed by human authors. The Laws of Manu, for instance, are not revelation; they are not Sruti, but only Smriti, which means recollection of tradition. If these laws or any other work of authority can be proved on any point to be at variance with a single passage of the Veda, their authority is at once overruled. According to the orthodox views of Indian theologians, not a single line of the Veda was the work of human authors. The whole Veda is in some way or the other the work of the Deity; and even those who saw it were not supposed to be ordinary mortals, but beings raised above the level of common humanity, and less liable therefore to error in the reception of revealed truth. The views entertained by the orthodox theologians of India are far more minute and elaborate than those of the most extreme advocates of verbal inspiration in Europe. The human element, called paurusheyatva in Sanskrit, is driven out of every corner or hiding place, and as the Veda is held to have existed in the mind of the Deity before the beginning of time..."^[11]

See also[link]

• Hindu Law
• Smṛti
• Upanishads
• Vedas

Notes[link]

References[link]

1. Coburn, Thomas, B. Scripture" in India: Towards a Typology of the Word in Hindu Life Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 52, No. 3 (Sep., 1984),
2. Clooney, Francis X. Why the Veda Has No Author: Language as Ritual in Early Mīmāṃsā and Post-Modern TheologyJournal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 55, No. 4 (Winter, 1987).
3. Jho, Chakradhar. 1987. History and Sources of Law in Ancient India Ashish Publishing House.
4. Flood, Gavin. 1997. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge U.P.
5. Müller, Max. 1867. Chips from a German Workshop. “Lecture on the Vedas or the Sacred Books of the Brahmans, Delivered at Leeds, 1865”. Oxford University Press
6. Gupta, Ravi M. 2007. Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami.

External links[link]

• Sacred texts of Hinduism
• Hindu texts

Inul Daratista after concert in Singapore, 2004

Inul Daratista (born Ainur Rokhimah, 21 January 1979) is a dangdut singer and performance artist from Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. She became nationally famous in 2003, and is known for her suggestive style of dancing that has caused major controversy in Indonesia. Inul is a corrupted version of Ainur, and the singer's childhood pet name. As she began her musical career singing in a 'rock' band, she adopted the stage name Daratista.

Inul Daratista rose to national fame after a televised January 2003 concert in Jakarta. Her dance moves, which she calls Goyang Inul or Ngebor (lit. 'drilling'), quickly became the source of controversy due to her gyrating hip motions. Some conservative Muslim organizations such as the Indonesian Muslim Council (MUI) called for a ban on her concerts. She was cited as a reason to pass a national anti-pornography bill that was drafted during the height of the controversy in mid-2003, but as of 2005 has not passed. Inul's dance style was also criticised by other dangdut singers, most vocally Rhoma Irama, for "corrupting" the genre, though these criticisms did little to dent her popularity.

See also[link]

• Censorship of music

External links[link]

• "Inul's Rules", TIME
• "Hips Don't Lie: A pop singer and a potentially violent culture war in the world's biggest Muslim state.", "The Wall Street Journal", April 3, 2007

Mahesh Babu
Mahesh Babu at the Univercell store in - 2010.
Born	Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni (1975-08-09) August 9, 1975 (age 36)[1] Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Residence	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–1991 1999–present
Spouse	Namrata Shirodkar (2005 - Present)
Children	Gautam Krishna Ghattamaneni
Parents	Siva Rama Krishna Ghattamaneni Indira Devi

Mahesh Babu (born Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni on 9 August 1975) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Born to actor Krishna, Mahesh Babu faced the camera at the age of four as a child artist in 1979's Needa. His first leading role was in the film Rajakumarudu, which was released in August 1999.^[2]

After playing the role of a young Kabaddi player in the 2003 blockbuster film Okkadu, Mahesh continued in this vein, gaining mass appeal and appearing in many successful films such as Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011) and Business Man (2012).^[3] These accomplishments, have established him as one of the most sought after actors in Telugu Cinema.^[4] He was listed at 5th position among Times 50 Most Desirable Men for the year 2011 and at 12th place the year before.^[5][6]

Mahesh Babu has worked in nine films as a child artist and in seventeen films as a lead actor till date. He has won six Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, two Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Awards and two CineMAA Awards. In addition to the films, he also endorses several brands such as Thums Up, Navratna Oil, Univercell, Amrutanjan,^[7] Provogue,^[8] Idea, Vivel, Jos Alukkas^[9] and Santoor Soap in Andhra Pradesh.^[7][10]

Early life[link]

Mahesh Babu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to prominent Telugu Cinema Actor Ghatamaneni Siva Rama Krishna and Smt. Indira Devi on August 9, 1975.^[11] He is the younger brother of actor turned producer Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni.^[12] He also has two elder sisters, Padmavathi and actress-producer Manjula Ghattamaneni and one younger sister Priyadarshini.^[13] All siblings have the rare honor of having acted in films as child artistes. Mahesh’s childhood was spent mostly in Madras under the care of his paternal grandmother Smt. Durgamma and the rest of his family.^[14] His father made sure all the children spent sufficient time with him on location and on his sets, especially during holidays. Mahesh many times said that this was where his interest for acting began.^[15] The film sets were a second playground and he did not hesitate to face the camera when asked to do a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa at the age of 4.^[15] Mahesh studied at St. Bede‘s School in Chennai while continuing to attend his dad’s filming during holidays.^[16] Few of his schoolmates at St.Bede's were Surya (Tamil film actor) and Vishnuvardhan (Tamil film director).^[17] Mahesh obtained an Honours Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.^[18] Mahesh Babu acted in seven of his father's films as a child actor.

Personal life[link]

Mahesh dated Bollywood actress and former Femina Miss India Namrata Shirodkar for five years.^[19] She was his co-star in the movie Vamsi. They got married on February 10, 2005 in Mumbai.^[20] They have a son named Gautam Krishna (b. 31 August 2006).^[21]

Career[link]

Early career (1979-1990)[link]

He started his acting career by playing a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa under Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao's direction in 1979, at the age of 4.^[22] In 1983, at the age of 8, director Kodi Ramakrishna requested him to play a role in the film Poratam since they were having difficulty casting for the role of Krishna’s sibling. This was his first full length feature film.^[23] Producer / Director Dhoondy, one of the early backers of Krishna in his struggling days, watched a preview of the movie and was stunned to find out he was Krishna’s own son and remarked that there was a spark in him and he would become an excellent artist.^[24] True to that prognostication, Mahesh went on to win the hearts of many Telugu film lovers as a child artist through varied roles. In Sankharavam (1987) he faced the cameras with his father directing him for the first time.^[25] Veteran director A. Kodandarami Reddy directed him and his brother Ramesh for Bazaar Rowdy (1988), where he won accolades for his acting.^[26] Mugguru Kodukulu (1988) saw him again team up with his brother and father, the father directing them all this time.^[27] Gudachari 117 (1989) reunited Mahesh with his first film director Kodi Ramakrishna in a James Bond type of flick for which his dad, the lead in the movie, was famous.^[28] Koduku Diddina Kapuram (1989), directed by Krishna again, had Mahesh in a dual role.^[29] Balachandrudu and Anna Tammudu (1990) saw the teenaged Mahesh Babu completing his first innings on celluloid after which he concentrated on his studies and went out of the public eye while letting nature take its course through the awkward adolescent years.^[30]

1999-2004[link]

In 1999, Mahesh was re-introduced as a full-fledged hero with the movie Raja Kumarudu (The Prince).^[31] Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and co-starring Priety Zinta, this movie was a debonair start for his career earning him Nandi Award for Best Male Debutant.^[32] After the movie was released, both fans and the media started fondly calling him Prince Mahesh.^[33] His next release Yuvaraju followed in the year 2000.^[34] Directed by Y.V.S Chowdary, the movie did moderately well at the box office completing 100 days in 19 centers all over AP.^[35] In the same year, another movie Vamsi under the direction of B. Gopal was released and this movie had Namrata Shirodkar co-starring for the first time with Mahesh.^[36] During the movie, the on screen couple Mahesh and Namrata started seeing each other in real life and this relationship later resulted in their marriage.^[37]

In 2001, his successful movie Murari, Directed by Krishna Vamsi and co-starring Sonali Bendre, was released^[38] and earned Mahesh plaudits from all sections of audience and from critics.^[39] He bagged a Nandi Special Jury Award^[40] for his performance in the film. Takkari Donga, produced and directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee was released in 2002, where Mahesh essayed the role of a cowboy.^[41] The role and the movie were meant to honor the legacy of Krishna as the first ever Indian cowboy and also the first Indian cowboy movie Mosagallaku Mosagadu.^[42] His untiring effort in the movie led to another Nandi Special Jury Award.^[43] He had another release in that year, Bobby. Mahesh was paired along Aarthi Agarwal in this movie which was directed by Sobhan.^[44]

Mahesh was next seen in Okkadu directed by Gunasekhar and co-starring Bhumika Chawla, the movie was produced by M.S. Raju.^[45] This movie was released in 2003 and it remains as a landmark film in Mahesh Babu's career. He won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for this movie.^[46] His next movie Nijam co-starring Rakshita was directed by Teja.^[47] Mahesh‘s performance acquired him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actor.^[48] In 2004, he worked with director S. J. Suryaah and had paired with Amisha Patel for the movie Naani.^[49] This movie was produced by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni.^[50] The same year also had Mahesh again collaborating with Gunasekhar for his next movie Arjun which was produced by his brother G. Ramesh Babu.^[51] He received a Nandi Special Jury Award for his emotional performance in the film.^[52]

2005-2010[link]

In 2005, Mahesh married Namrata Shirodkar after being in a relationship with her for almost 5 years.^[53] The year also saw the first release after his marriage and Trivikram Srinivas’s second directorial venture, Athadu.^[54] He was paired alongside with Trisha Krishnan. Mahesh once again achieved critical acclaim for his performance in the movie and also earned himself the Nandi Award for Best Actor for the second time.^[55] Pokiri, produced jointly by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni and Vaishno Academy and directed by Puri Jagannadh was the highest grossing Telugu film of the year.^[56] The movie saw him paired alongside with Ileana D'Cruz. Pokiri was a success in AP as well as other states and overseas. The film completed 100 days in as many as 200 centres in Andhra Pradesh and completed silver jubilee in a record 63 centres.^[57] Mahesh earned his second Filmfare award for this movie.^[58]

The year also saw Mahesh working again with Director Gunasekhar and actress Trisha Krishnan for the movie Sainikudu.^[59] In 2007, for his next venture Mahesh embraced corporate film making in Telugu Film Industry.^[60] He collaborated with UTV and with young director Surender Reddy for Athidi which made him the first corporate hero in Telugu Film Industry.^[61] He was paired along side Amrita Rao.^[62] After Athidi, Mahesh devoted more time to family matters with a new toddler to spend time with, supporting and helping Namrata cope with her father’s illness and then his death, followed by Namrata’s mother’s bout with cancer and her death.^[63] In 2008, Mahesh lent his voice for the film Jalsa, directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas.^[64] In 2009 Mahesh started working on a movie with Trivikram Srinivas as director.^[65]

In 2010, after a 3 year long hiatus Mahesh returned to the silver screen with the movie Khaaleja.^[66] Directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas, the movie languished in development hell due to production problems^[67] and the telangana agitations.^[68] Upon release, the movie received mixed reviews and also became one of the highest grossing Telugu films overseas.^[69] The year also saw Mahesh embracing social networking site Twitter to interact with his fans.^[70]

2011–present[link]

In 2011, Mahesh's film Dookudu co–starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu was released. Directed by Srinu Vaitla and was produced by 14 Reels Entertainment, it broke many records in the Telugu film industry upon release by taking the largest worldwide opening, earning 21.2 crores in 3 days,^[71] and becoming the highest grossing Telugu film overseas^[72] by earning 1.5 million dollars in the first weekend.^[73] The film set a box office record for the Telugu film industry by collecting a gross of more than 1 billion^[74] and completed a successful run in 312 centers after 50 days.^[75] CNN-IBN for the year 2011, declared him as the Actor of the Year and Dookudu as the Hit of the Year in a survey conducted for Telugu films.^[76] Mahesh began shooting for Business Man co–starring Kajal Aggarwal. The film was directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by RR Movie Makers, releasing worldwide on January 13, 2012.^[77] Similar to his previous release, it took the largest worldwide opening^[78] by collecting 18.73 crores on the first day^[79] and 62.93 crores worldwide in the first week.^[80] For the first time in his career, Mahesh along with the director Puri Jagannadh lent his vocals for a song in the project.^[81] According to certain reports, Mahesh emerged as the highest paid actor in South India after Rajnikanth.^[82] He was listed 5th in the Times survey of the 50 Most Desirable Men in India, becoming the only South Indian to have been done so.^[83]

His next venture is a multi–starrer Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu under the direction of Srikanth Addala.^[84] Being produced by Dil Raju, it also stars Daggubati Venkatesh in a leading role. The film was officially launched on October 6, 2011 and the filming began on January 18, 2012.^[85] He has also signed up for a role in a film under the direction of Sukumar. The film will be produced by 14 Reels Entertainment and was launched on 12 February 2012.^{[86] [87]} He also hired Hollywood trainer Mike Ryan as his personal trainer.^[88]

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mahesh Babu at the Internet Movie Database
• Mahesh Babu on Twitter