We propose a variant of hybrid inflation which is applicable in a wide
class of supersymmetric grand unified models. The observed temperatur
e perturbations of cosmic background radiation can be reproduced with
natural values of the parameters of the theory and a grand unification
scale which is consistent with the unification of the minimal supersy
mmetric standard model gauge couplings as measured at CERN LEP. The te
rmination of inflation is smooth and does not produce any topological
defects. Finally, we present a specific supersymmetric model where our
smooth hybrid inflationary scenario is realized.