Paurūṣeya (पौरूषेय) refers to ‘disciplines whose knowledge is contingent on the individual‘; It is one of the two types of Shastra. This literature is also described as Smṛiti literature (cf. apauruseya).

The paurūṣeya disciplines are:

  1. Purāṇa, including Itihāsa (record of ancient events),
  2. Ānvīkṣikī (logic),
  3. Mīmāṃsā (analysis/interpretation),
  4. Dharmaśāstra (sociology),
  5. Kāvyavidyā (literary theory),
  6. Kāmaśāstra (erotics),
  7. Śilpaśāstra (architecture),
  8. Arthaśāstra (polity),
  9. Vārtā (agriculture, animal husbandry, trade and commerce).

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