Sampradaya
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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.
Vaishnavas stands as the largest denomination with approximately 580 million followers.[1] Many mix some aspects of the Smarta viewpoint into their Vaishnavas faith.[2] Vaishnavas worship Vishnu, his avataras (especially Krishna and Rama) as the supreme deity svayam bhagavan.
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 devotees 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 the practice of yoga, meditation and love for all beings, the major theological schools of Śaivism include Kashmir Śaivism, Śaiva Siddhanta and Virasaivism. To Śaivites, God Śiva exists both with and without form, constituting the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja and the linga, without beginning or end.
- Lingayats in Karnataka
Shaktism
Shaktas worship Shakti, the divine Mother, in her many forms including (Kali, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati). Shaktas represents one of the oldest forms of Hindu religion (evidences even from Indus valley civilization). With the development of civilization, and emergence of a variety of doctrines, variations in Hindu philosophy appeared. The Hindu forms of Shaivism and Shakta intertwine, as does the description of Shiva and Shakti/Sati/Parvati. Vaishanvism also connections with Shakta philosophy in that the Goddess Durga has the name Narayani.
Shaktas have practices identical with the Shaivites or fundamentals of philosophy with Vaishanvites. Shaktas usually identify themselves as Hindus rather than as Shaktas. In India, Bengal, Assam, Orissa and Bihar constitute the main regions in which devotees practice Devi Pujan or Shakta rituals. Madhya Pradesh (Chamunda Pujan), Maharashtra and Gujrat (Nav Durga) practice rituals for Devi Pujan in their regions.
Immense respect for women as mothers in common household exists in Shaktas as in other Hindu traditions. Young sons and daughters touch the feet of their mother, seeking her blessings on festive and important occasions. Mothers typically pray/worship for the well being of their family and children.
Approximately fifty one Shakti Peeth (i.e., "temples") exist all over India, typically revered as places of pilgrimage. The mythological background behind those temples trace their origin 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 realized 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. Fifty one pieces of her dead body fell on earth at fifty one places, the spots becoming Shakti Peeth. The Kalighat Mandir at Kolkata, the Kamakhya Mandir at Assam, and the Vaishnav Devi Mandir at Jammu stand out among them.
Typically, in the regions Shakta philosophy has a majority of adherents, the Hindu sects live together harmoniously. The Shaktas believe that everyone has the same Divine Mother and that the Divine Mother desires harmonious existence among all her children. Shaktas celebrate the festivals Dussera/Durga Puja, Diwali/Kali Puja/Lakshmi Puja, Satya Narayan Puja, Ganesha Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kartik Puja, Janmashtami, Shivaratri, and Sankranti.They also have diverse philosophy and rituals including Mantra and Tantra. Several Hindu rituals, like putting sindoor and bindi on the bride, as well as the attire of Hindu bride, 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 serve as some of the basic sources. Ramayan, Mahabharat and Shrimad Bhagvat Gita also form the basic texts, read and revered by every Shakta. Commonly, Krishna Pujan and Shiva Pujan appear in Shakta families. Legends of the demons, Madhu and Kaitabh, exist. Devotees remember the spell cast by Goddess Kali on the demons, which made it easy for Narayan to kill them and save mankind.
Smartism
Smarthas have free rein to choose whichever deity they wish to worship. They usually worship five deities (pancopasana) or panchadevata as personal manifestations of the impersonal Absolute, Brahman. Smartas accept and worship the six manifestations of God, (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda). The individual worshiper chooses the nature of God they wish to worship, since they all constitute manifestations of God.
- The Smarta belief includes Advaita, and [Swami Vivekananda]], an adherent of Advaita represents the first Hindu saint to bring Hinduism to the West. Gurus, including A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came after bringing 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, Tamil poet saints of south India, lived between sixth and ninth centuries espousing ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Vishnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. During the early medieval period of Tamil history, twelve Vaishnava saints helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. The collection of their hymns has become known as Divya Prabhandham
The Bhakti literature created by those 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.[3]
In Southeast Asia
A sect of Balinese Hindus flourished on the island of Java until the late 16th century, when a vast majority of its adherents converted to Islam. Theologically the sect stands closer to Śaivism than to other major sects of Hinduism.
The term "Agama Hindu Dharma" also refers 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, politicized in the context of the Indian independence movement, resulted in the rise of Hindu nationalism into a significant political force in the Republic of India.
See also
Notes
- ↑ adherents.com 580 million statistic
- ↑ [1]. Retrieved July 27, 2008.
- ↑ Mittal, S. G. R. Thursby (2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Routledge.
ReferencesISBN 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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