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Vaishnavism is one of the principal traditions of Hinduism, and is identified from other schools by it's primary worship of Vishnu (and his associated avatars) as the Supreme God. It is principally monotheistic in it's philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as being panentheistic. It's beliefs and practices, (known as Bhakti Yoga, or Bhakti) are based largely on Vedic and Puranic texts such as Bhagavad Gita, Isha Upanishad, and the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas. The followers of Vaishnavism are often refered to as 'Vaishnavas' or 'Vaishnavites', an English term that originated from Vaishnava in Sanskrit, which is the Vriddhi form of Vishnu. According to recent statistics Vaishnavas make up approximately 70% of the total of all followers of Hinduism. . The Gaudiya Vaishnava branch of the tradition has increased significantly in terms of both numbers and worldwide distribution in recent years, largely through the activities of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON).
Schools of Vaishnavism
Major Vaishnava schools of thought include:
- Vishishtadvaita ("qualified nondualism"), espoused by Ramanuja (See Sri Vaishnavism).
- Dvaita ("dualism"), espoused by Madhvacharya.
- Dvaitadvaita ("duality in unity"), espoused by Nimbarka.
- Shuddhadvaita, espoused by Vallabhacharya.
- Achintya Bheda-Abheda ("inconceivable oneness and difference"), espoused by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (See Gaudiya Vaishnavism).
Other Vaishnava schools:
- Radhavallabha theology, espoused by Harivamsa Gosvami.
- Mahapuruxiya Dharma, espoused by Sankardeva.
The major schools
Vaishnavas believe that Vishnu-Narayana is the one supreme God (Parabrahman) and all other living entities (including devas such as Surya and Durga) are subservient to Him. Shiva is also viewed as subservient to lord Vishnu, although it is still understood that he is above the category of an ordinary jiva.
While many schools like Smartism and Advaitism encourage people to interpret the Vedas philosophically and metaphorically and not too literally, Vaishnavism stresses the literal meaning (mukhya vṛitti) as primary and indirect meaning (gauṇa vṛitti) as secondary: sākṣhād upadesas tu shrutih - "The instructions of the shruti-shāstra should be accepted literally, without so-called fanciful or allegorical interpretations." (Jiva Gosvami, Kṛiṣhna Sandarbha 29.26-27). Thus according to Vaishnava theology, atman is not Brahman. Furthermore, Vaishnavites do not believe in the Advaita concept of Moksha which believe in "union with God" but rather believe, that moksha is "eternal life in Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu."
The great Epics
The heroes of both the great Indian epics are believed to be incarnations of Lord Vishnu. These epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, concern Rama and Krishna, respectively. Rama with His Shakti named Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman are central characters of Ramayana. Rama and Lakshman are always shown to be ready for battle (with bow and arrow) as it is their Kshatriya dharma to fight.
History of Vaishnavism
With the help of Alvars, a set of twelve people who with their devotional hymns spread the sect to the common people, Vaishnavism flourished in south India. Some of the prominent azhvars are Poigaiyazhvar, Peyazhvar, Periyazhvar, Nammazhvar and Andal. Vaishnavism grew in later years due to the influence of sages like Ramanuja,Vedantha Desikar, Surdas, Tulsidas, Tyagaraja, etc.
With the entry of other religions into the Indian subcontinent, Hindus became more united and the discriminations of Vaishnavism and Saivism turned more into intellectual arguments rather than mutually exclusive philosophies.
Vaishnava Upanishads
Of the 108 Upanishads of the Muktika, 13 are considered Vaishnava Upanishads. They are listed with their associated Veda (SV, ŚYV, KYV, AV):
- Nṛsiṃhatāpanī (AV)
- Mahānārāyaṇa (AV)
- Rāmarahasya (AV)
- Rāmatāpaṇi (AV)
- Vāsudeva (SV)
- Avyakta (SV)
- Tārasāra (SYV)
- Gopālatāpani (AV)
- Kṛṣṇa (AV)
- Hayagrīva (AV)
- Dattātreya (AV)
- Gāruḍa (AV)
- Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa (Kali) (KYV)
See also
- Gaudiya Vaishnavism
- Vaishnava Theology
- Vaishnava Songs
- International Society for Krishna Consciousness
- The Journal of Vaishnava Studies
- Krishnology
- Shaivism
- Shaktism
External links
- Ramanuja and Srivaishnavism
- Gaudiya Vaishnavism explained - krishna.com
- An overview on Gaudiya Vaishnavism - gaudiya.com
- HinduWiki.Com - A collaborated wiki web site covering all aspects of Hinduism.
- Major Branches - Hinduism from adherents.com