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{{mergefrom|Vaishnava theology}} | |||
'''Vaishnavism''' is one of the principal divisions of ]. Its adherents worship ] as the supreme ] or one of his ]s and are principally ] whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as ] in nature. ]s, or ]ers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavites, an English term that originated from ''Vaishnava'' in ], which is the ] form of ''Vishnu''). The ] movement is a modern example of a Vaishnavite organisation. | |||
==Schools of Vaishnavism== | |||
Major Vaishnava schools of thought include: | |||
*''']''' ("qualified nondualism"), espoused by ] (See ]). | |||
*''']''' ("dualism"), espoused by ]. | |||
*''']''' ("duality in unity"), espoused by ]. | |||
*''']''', espoused by ]. | |||
*''']''' ("inconceivable oneness and difference"), espoused by ] (See ]). | |||
Other Vaishnava schools: | |||
*''']''', espoused by ]. | |||
*''']''', espoused by ]. | |||
==The major schools== | |||
] <small>''Artwork © courtesy of ''</small>]] | |||
Vaishnavas believe that Vishnu-Narayana is the one supreme God (Parabrahman) and all other living entities (including ]s such as ] and ]) are subservient to Him. ] is also viewed as subservient to lord Vishnu, although it is still understood that he is above the category of an ordinary ]. | |||
While many schools like ] and Advaitism encourage people to interpret 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, ]n is not ]. Furthermore, Vaishnavites do not believe in the ] concept of ] which believe in "union with ]" but rather believe, that moksha is "eternal life in ], the abode of Vishnu." | |||
==The great Epics== | |||
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. | |||
==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. | |||
==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== | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
== External links == | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* - A collaborated wiki web site covering all aspects of Hinduism. | |||
{{Hinduism}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 10:14, 10 November 2006
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