Only the truths espoused in what are called shrutis have an abiding value in Hinduism. Smritis are temporal laws laid down by the hierarchy in society on the basis of its social organization at a particular point in history. Since most Hindus now live in India, we can say that the smriti relevant today is the Ambedkar Smriti or the Indian constitution. It is heretical under the Indian constitution to deny any rights to women.
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I think in understanding Hinduism we have to understand its two most important key words - Yoga and Dharma. All Hindu teachings come interwoven with the concepts of Yoga and Dharma. Yoga leads the individual to discover his/her potential and teachings of Advaita are at the acme of Yogic understanding. Dharma is all about attaining social harmony and would naturally be full of dos and don'ts. In practice a Yogi most often wishes to live in society and therefore subjects himself to all Dharmic injunctions to ensure that he contributes to the cause of social harmony. But there are Yogis who wish to live in isolation to pursue the higher Yogas and for such a person no dharma pertains except his own unique swadharma. It was no doubt to such persons that Krishna said, "Abandon all Dharmas and come to Me" ("come to Me" meaning - discover yourself). I think this license to the individual to abandon all Dharma, if necessary, in the pursuit of self-discovery is given in no other religion than Hinduism.
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