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	'''Vaishnavism''' is one of the principal traditions of ], and is identified from other schools by it's primary worship of ] (and his associated ]s) as the Supreme ]. It is principally ] in it's philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as being ]. It's beliefs and practices, (known as ], or ]) are based largely on ] and ] texts such as ], ], and the ] and ], Puranas. The followers of Vaishnavism are refered to as 'Vaishnavas', which is the ] form of ''Vishnu'' in ]. According to recent statistics Vaishnavas make up approximately 70% of the total of all followers of Hinduism. <ref> from adherents.com </ref>. The ] branch of the tradition has increased significantly in terms of both numbers and worldwide distribution in recent years, largely through the activities of the ] movement (]).

	==Principle beliefs==
	The principle belief of Vaishnavism is the supremacy of Vishnu or ] as the one Supreme God. The principle is also applicable to the many avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu as listed within the Puranas but excludes all other personalities referred in the ] or similar texts, (i.e ], ] or ] etc...) which are instead classified as 'demi-gods' or ]. ] is also viewed as subservient to lord Vishnu, although with the understanding that he is also above the category of an ordinary living being (]). A number of Vaishnava schools identify the God of the ] with Vishnu, although it is not an essential tennet of Vaishnava belief, being outside of the scope of Vedic evidence.

	Vaishnava theology includes the central beliefs of Hindusim such as ], ], ], and the various ] systems, but with a particular emphasis on devotion (]) to Vishnu through the process of ], often including singing Vishnu's name's (]) and performing ] worship (]).

	While many schools like ] and ] encourage interpretation of the Vedas philosophically and metaphorically and not too literally, Vaishnavism stresses the literal meaning (''mukhya v{{Unicode\|ṛ}}itti'') as primary and indirect meaning ({{Unicode\|gauṇa vṛitti}}) as secondary: ''{{Unicode\|sākṣhād upadesas tu shrutih}}'' - "The instructions of the shruti-sh{{Unicode\|ā}}stra should be accepted literally, without so-called ''fanciful or allegorical interpretations''." (Jiva Gosvami, ''{{Unicode\|Kṛiṣhna}} Sandarbha'' 29.26-27). Thus according to Vaishnava theology, the ]n is not ]. Furthermore, Vaishnavites do not believe in the Advaita concept of ] as "union with ]" but rather believe, that real moksha is "eternal life in ], the abode of Vishnu."

	==The Four Vaishnava sampradaya==
	Within traditional Vaishnavism there are four main disciplic lineages, each of which traces it's roots back to a specific Vedic personality. The four sampradaya's each have subtley different philosophical systems regarding the relationship between the soul (]) and God (]), although the majority of other core beliefs will be identical.

	* ]-Sampradaya
	:Philosophy: ''']''', espoused by ].

	* ]-Sampradaya
	:Philosophy: ''']''' ("dualism"), espoused by ], and also -
	:''']''' ("inconceivable oneness and difference"), espoused by ] (See ]).

	* ]-Sampradaya
	:Philosophy: ''']''' ("qualified nondualism"), espoused by ] (See ]).

	* ]-Sampradaya
	:Philosophy: ''']''' ("duality in unity"), espoused by ].

	===Other Branches===
	*''']''', espoused by ].

	==History of Vaishnavism==
	With the help of ], a set of twelve people who with their ]al ]s spread the sect to the common people, Vaishnavism flourished in ]. Some of the prominent ''azhvars'' are ''Poigaiyazhvar'', ''Peyazhvar'',
	''Periyazhvar'', ''Nammazhvar'' and ''Andal''. Vaishnavism grew in later years due to the influence of ]s like ],], ], ], ], etc.

	With the entry of other religions into the Indian subcontinent, Hindus became more united and the discriminations of Vaishnavism and ] turned more into intellectual arguments rather than mutually exclusive philosophies.

	==The Puranic Epics==
	]. <small>''Artwork © courtesy of ''</small>]]
	The heroes of both the great ] ]s are believed to be incarnations of Lord Vishnu. These epics, the '']'' and the '']'', concern ] and ], respectively. Rama with His ] named ], brother ] and devotee ] are central characters of Ramayana. Rama and Lakshman are always shown to be ready for battle (with bow and arrow) as it is their ] '']'' to fight.

	==Vaishnava Upanishads==
	Of the 108 ]s of the ], 13 are considered Vaishnava Upanishads.
	They are listed with their associated Veda ({{Unicode\|], ], ], ]}}):
	<!-- needs reference, copied from ]-->

	#{{IAST\|Nṛsiṃhatāpanī}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Mahānārāyaṇa}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Rāmarahasya}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Rāmatāpaṇi}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Vāsudeva}} (SV)
	#{{IAST\|Avyakta}} (SV)
	#{{IAST\|Tārasāra}} (SYV)
	#{{IAST\|Gopālatāpani}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Kṛṣṇa}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Hayagrīva}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Dattātreya}} (AV)
	#{{IAST\|Gāruḍa}} (AV)
	#] ({{IAST\|Kali}}) (KYV)

	==See also==
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==References==
	<references />

	== External links ==
	* (Heart of Hinduism)
	* (srivaishnavan.com)
	* (krishna.com)
	* ( gaudiya.com)

	{{Hinduism}}

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Latest revision as of 10:14, 10 November 2006

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