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| '''Vaishnavism''' is one of the principal traditions of ], and is identified from other schools by its primary worship of ] (and his associated ]s) as the Supreme ]. It is principally ] in its philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as being ]. Its 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 (]s), each of which traces its 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 two great ] ]s, ] and ], are essential to Vaishnava philosophy and culture: | |||
| The Ramayana describes the story of the avatar known as ] or Ramachandra, and is taken as a history of the 'ideal king', based around the principles of ], morality and ethics. Rama's wife ], his brother ] and servant ] all play key roles within the Vaishnava tradition as examples of Vaishnava etiquette and behaviour. As does the evil king ] who plays the opposite role of how not to behave. | |||
| The Mahabharata is centered around the popular avatar ], and details the story of a dynastic war between two sets of cousins, with Krishna and his close the ] playing pivotal roles in the drama. The philosophical highlight of the work is the chapter covering a conversation between ] and Krishna prior to the final battle, individually known as the ]. The Bhagavad Gita although influential in most philosophical of Hinduism is of particular importance to Vaishnavas as it is believed to be an accurate record of the very words spoken by Krishna himself. Vaishnavas regard Krishna either as an avatar of Vishnu, or as the source of all avatars, including Vishnu himself <ref> "krishnas tu bhagavan svayam" </ref>(this is a view held especially by Gaudiya Vaishnavas). As such there is no higher source of information within Vaishnava theology than that of Krishna himself. | |||
| Both works are often re-enacted in part as dramas by followers of Vaishnavism, especially on festival days concerning each of the specific avatars. The Bhagavad Gita is widely studied as a theological textbook. | |||
| ==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) | |||
| * (veda.harekrsna.cz) | |||
| * (dvaita.org) | |||
| * (srivaishnavan.com) | |||
| * (krishna.com) | |||
| * (gaudiya.com) | |||
| {{Hinduism}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 10:14, 10 November 2006
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