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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== | |||
| ===Vishnu: The Supreme=== | |||
| 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 (]) <ref> "The supremacy of Sambhu is subservient to that of Govinda ; hence they are not really different from each other... He is the lord of jiva but yet partakes of the nature of a separated portion of Govinda." </ref>. 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. | |||
| ===Worship=== | |||
| 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 (]). Within their worship Vaishnava devotees will always see themselves as (at least partially) seperate or distinct from their lord, Vishnu. Unlike other schools of Hinduism whose goal is liberation (]), or union with the Supreme ], the ultimate goal of Vaishnava practice is an eternal life of bliss (]) in service to Vishnu, or one of his many avatars, in the spiritual realm of ']', which lies beyond the temporary world of illusion (]). The three features of the Supreme as described in the ]: Brahman, ] and ]; are viewed as the ''Universal Vishnu'', ''Vishnu within the heart'', and ''Vishnu the personality'' respectively. <ref> "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan." </ref> | |||
| ===Attitude to scriptures=== | |||
| 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). | |||
| ==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== | |||
| {{expandsection}} | |||
| 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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