Sampradaya

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Murti

Hinduism comprises numerous sects or denominations. The main divisions in current Hinduism include Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartha. Each of those four denominations share rituals, beliefs, and traditions, but each denomination has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal (moksa, liberation). Sampradaya refers to an established philosophical school within a denomination and parampara refers to a traditional lineage of teachers from any sampradaya.

The presence of different denominations and schools within Hinduism, rather than a schism, points to complimentary views. No animosity exists between the schools. Among Hindu followers as a whole, a strong belief exists that many paths lead to the One God, the Source, or whatever one chooses to call that ultimate Truth. A healthy cross-pollination of ideas and logical debate serves to refine each school's philosophy. An individual often follows one school but takes the point of view of another school for a certain issue.

Vaishnavism

Vaishnavas stands as the largest denomination with approximately 580 million followers. Many mix some aspects of the Smarta viewpoint into their Vaishnavas faith. Vaishnavas worship Vishnu, his avataras (especially Krishna and Rama) as the supreme deity svayam bhagavan.

The Birla Mandir constitutes one of the most famous Vaishnavite temples in India.

The Vaishnava schools (sampradayas) and principle teachers (acharyas) connected with them follow:

• Rudra Sampradaya: principle acharya -Vallabhacharya
• Brahma Sampradaya: principle acharya - Madhvacharya. Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a branch of this sampradaya, begun by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
• Lakshmi Sampradaya (also known as Sri Vaishnavism, Sri Sampradaya): principle acharya - Ramanujacharya
• Kumara Sampradaya: principle acharya - Nimbarka, hence Nimbarka Sampradaya
• Vaikhanasa Sampradaya: principle acharya - Vaikhanasa

Modern Vaishnava groups attached to the main sampradayas:

• Swaminarayan Sampraday: Stems from the Ramanuja sampradaya. Slanted towards Vaishnavism, the founder Swaminarayan believed in a Smarta view. He adopted panchadevata system (five forms of God, as per Smarta theology.
• International Society for Krishna Consciousness: Madhva / Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya
• Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission: Madhva / Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya

Śaivism

Śaivites designate those who primarily worship God Śiva as Supreme God, both Immanent and Transcendent. Approximately 220 million people follow Śaivism which embraces at the same time Monism (specifically Nondualism) and Dualism. Focusing on yoga, meditation and love for all beings, the major theological schools of Śaivism include Kashmir Śaivism, Śaiva Siddhanta and Virasaivism. To Śaivites, God Śiva is both with and without form, He is the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja, He is the linga, without beginning or end.

• Lingayats in Karnataka

Shaktism

Shaktas worship Shakti, the divine Mother, in her many forms like (Kali, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati). Shakta form represented one of the oldest forms of Hindu religion (evidences even from Indus valley civilization), but with evolution of civilization and emergence of a variety of doctrines, various other forms of Hindu philosophy emerged. Shaivism and Shakta forms intertwine, as do the description of Shiva and Shakti/Sati/Parvati. Vaishanvism also connections with Shakta philosophy as Goddess Durga goes by the name Narayani.

Shakta, identical in behavior to the Shaivites or Vaishanvites in the fundamental philosophy, tend to be very liberal in their thinking. Shaktas many times identify themselves as Hindus in general rather than as Shaktas. In India, Bengal, Assam, Orissa and Bihar constitute the main regions where detailed Devi Pujan or Shakta rituals are followed. Madhya Pradesh (Chamunda Pujan), Maharashtra and Gujrat (Nav Durga) are also equally zealous and various rituals for Devi Pujan and celebration take place in these regions. This might be true as Devi Pujan (worship) is actually a nationwide phenomenon.

One of the features of Shaktas is that there is immense respect for women as mothers in common household. However, this is no different from other Hindu traditions and this is common in all Hindu traditions. Young sons and daughters touch the feet of their mother, seeking her blessings on festive/important occasions. Simultaneously mothers typically pray/worship for the well being of their family and children.

To roughly cover the Shakta centers all over India, one could begin with all the Shakti Peeth in India. There are typically 51 Shakti Peeth all over India, which are typically revered as places of pilgrimage. The mythological background behind these temples or Shakti Peeth goes back to the story of Shiva performing "Tandava" (the dance of fury) carrying the dead and burnt body of Sati in immense anger, effectively destroying the entire Universe. Seeing Shiva's rage, Vishnu realised that that Shiva's strength emerged from the dead body of Sati/Shakti and decided to cut her dead body to pieces with his Sudarshan chakra, which led to halting of Shiva's wrath. There were 51 pieces of her dead body which fell on earth at 51 places and those are the spots of Shakti Peeth. To name a few are the Kalighat Mandir at Kolkata, the Kamakhya Mandir at Assam, the Vaishnav Devi Mandir at Jammu and many others.

Typically in Shakta philosophy dominated regions, various forms of Hindu religion thrive harmoniously. It is the understanding of Shaktas, that everyone is the son/daughter of the same Divine Mother, and hence harmonious existence is "Mother's" desire.

Shaktas celebrate all festivals like Dussera/Durga Puja, Diwali/Kali Puja/Lakshmi Puja, Satya Narayan Puja, Ganesha Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kartik Puja, Janmashtami, Shivaratri, Sankranti etc. including all possible days. Shaktas also have diverse philosophy and rituals including Mantra and Tantra. Several Hindu rituals like putting sindoor and bindi and basically the entire attire of Hindu bride has originated from the concept of Goddess Durga and Lakshmi.

Shakta being the oldest form has its origin in Vedas, and Puranas. Durga Puran, Kalika Puran and Skanda Puran are some of the basic sources. Ramayan, Mahabharat and Shrimad Bhagvat Gita also form the basic texts, read and revered by every Shakta. It is very common to see Krishna Pujan and Shiva Pujan in Shakta families. In addition, the legends of the demons, Madhu and Kaitabh, also mention the spell cast by Goddess Kali on the demons, which made it easy for Narayan to kill them and save mankind. Apparently, the scriptures and mythology are not classified into such denominations, and after all its those scriptures that still dictate the basic "psyche" of Hindu philosophy.

Smartism

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Smarthas have free rein to choose whichever deity they wish to worship. They usually worship five deities (pancopasana) or panchadevata as personal formful manifestations of the impersonal Absolute, Brahman. Smartas accept and worship the six manifestations of God, (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda) and the choice of the nature of God is up to the individual worshipper since different manifestations of God are held to be equivalent. It is a liberal and eclectic sect.

• It is the Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in the West^{[citation needed]} as Smarta belief includes Advaita belief and the first Hindu saint, who significantly brought Hinduism to the west was Swami Vivekananda, an adherent of Advaita. Not till much later, gurus, such as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and others, brought a Vaishnavite perspective to the West. By contrast with Smarta/Advaita belief, Vaishnavism and Shaivism follows a singular concept of God, or panentheistic monotheism or panentheistic monism.

Some prominent Smarta communities:

• In south India
  • Havyaka
  • Iyer
  • Vaidiki Mulukanadu
  • Vaidiki Velanadu
  • Vaidiki Veginadu
  • Vaidiki Telanganya
  • Namboothiri
  • Badaganadu
  • Hoysala Kannada
  • Kota brahmin
  • Babboor Kamme
  • Arvel Niyogi Brahmins
• In Maharashtra
  • Karhade
  • Deshastha
  • Konkanastha or Chitpavan
  • Devrukhe
• Saraswat Brahmins
  • Gaud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB's)

Bhakti movement

The medieval Bhakti movement has had a significant impact on the traditional denominations of Pauranic Hinduism, especially on Vaishnavism The Alvars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between sixth and ninth centuries and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Usually twelve Vaishnava saints, who, during the early medieval period of Tamil history, helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. The collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabhandham

The Bhakti literature that sprang from these Alvars has contributed to the establishment and sustenance of a culture that broke away from the ritual-oriented Vedic religion and rooted itself in devotion as the only path for salvation. In addition they helped to make the Tamil religious life independent of a knowledge of Sanskrit.

As part of the legacy of the Alvars, five Vaishnava philosophical traditions (sampradayas) has developed at the later stages.

In Southeast Asia

A sect of Balinese Hindus flourished on the nearby island of Java until the late 16th century, when a vast majority of its adherents converted to Islam. Theologically, it is closer to Śaivism than to other major sects of Hinduism.

The term "Agama Hindu Dharma" can also refer to the traditional practices in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi and other places in Indonesia, where people have started to identify and accept their agamas as Hinduism.

Newer denominations

Influential 19th to 20th century Hindu revivalist organizations include Arya Samaj, Tilak Mission Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Brahmo Samaj, Parisada Hindu Dharma, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana, Swadhyay Movement, Swaminarayan Sampraday, Sathya Sai Organisation.

Hinduism was politicized in the context of the Indian independence movement, and has resulted in the rise of Hindu nationalism to a significant political force in the Republic of India.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Gold, Daniel. Hindu Fundamentalisms: from Vedic Truth to Hindu Nation. 1989. OCLC 63900459
• Knott, Kim. Hinduism in Leeds: A Study of Religious Practice in the Indian Hindu Community and in Hindu-Related Groups. Leeds: University of Leeds, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, 1986.
• Puniyani, Ram. Hindu Extreme Right-Wing Groups: Ideology and Consequences. Delhi: Media House, 2004. ISBN 8174951733

External links

• Overview of the four divisions of Hinduism. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
• Description of four denominations.. Retrieved July 21, 2008.

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