Hindu denominations
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Hinduism comprises numerous sects or denominations. The main divisions in current Hinduism are Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartha. These four denominations share rituals, beliefs, and traditions, but each denomination has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal (moksa, liberation).
An established philosophical school within a denomination is called a sampradaya and a traditional lineage of teachers from any sampradaya is a parampara.
The presence of different denominations and schools within Hinduism should not be viewed as a schism. On the contrary, there is no animosity between the schools, and among Hindu followers as a whole, there is a strong belief that there are many paths leading to the One God or the Source, whatever one chooses to call that ultimate Truth. Instead there is a healthy cross-pollination of ideas and logical debate that serves to refine each school's philosophy. It is not uncommon, or disallowed, for an individual to follow one school but take the point of view of another school for a certain issue.
According to Adherents.com[1], the majority of Hindus are Vaishnavas, though often mixing in some aspects of the Smarta viewpoint.
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Vaishnavism is the monotheistic tradition worshiping Vishnu (or his forms of Krishna and Rama) as the supreme or svayam bhagavan. This is the largest denomination, with approx. 580 million followers.[1]
The different Vaishnava schools (sampradayas) and the principle teachers (acharyas) connected with them are as follows:
- Rudra Sampradaya: principle acharya -Vallabhacharya
- Brahma Sampradaya associated with Vishnu, who is the para-brahma( Universal Creator ), not to be confused with the other Brahma, who is the four-faced god in hindu religion: principle acharya - Madhvacharya. Gaudiya Vaishnavism is associated with this sampradaya and is associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, International Society for Krishna Consciousness belongs to this sampradaya.
- Sri Sampradaya associated with Laksmi: principle acharya - Ramanujacharya
- Kumara Sampradaya is the tradition associated with Four Kumaras: principle acharya - Nimbarka, hence Nimbarka Sampradaya
The independent traditions:
- Vaikhanasa tradition: principle acharya - Vaikhanasa
Modern Vaishnava groups attached to the main sampradayas:
- Swaminarayan Sampraday - This stems from the Sri Sampradaya
Śaivites are those who primarily worship God Śiva as Supreme God, both Immanent and Transcendent. There are approx. 220 million followers of Śaivism.
Śaivism embraces at the same time Monism (specifically Nondualism) and Dualism. It focuses on yoga, meditation and love for all beings.
Major theological schools of Śaivism include Kashmir Śaivism, Śaiva Siddhanta and Virasaivism.
To Śaivites God Śiva is both with and without form; He is the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja; He is the linga, without beginning or end.
- Lingayats in Karnataka
Shaktas worship Shakti, the divine Mother, in her many forms like (Kali, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati etc.).
Shakta form was one of the oldest forms of Hindu religion (evidences even from Indus valley civilization), but with evolution of civilization and emergence of various doctrines, various other forms of Hindu philosophy emerged. Shaivism and Shakta forms are really inseparable, as is the description of Shiva and Shakti/Sati/Parvati. Vaishanvism has also its connections with Shakta philosophy as Goddess Durga herself is called Narayani.
Smarthas have free rein to choose whichever deity they wish to worship. They usually worship five deities (pancopasana) or panchadevata as personal formful manifestations of the impersonal Absolute, Brahman. Smartas accept and worship the six manifestations of God, (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda) and the choice of the nature of God is up to the individual worshipper since different manifestations of God are held to be equivalent. It is a liberal and eclectic sect.
- It is the Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in the West[citation needed] as Smarta belief includes Advaita belief and the first Hindu saint, who significantly brought Hinduism to the west was Swami Vivekananda, an adherent of Advaita. Not till much later, gurus, such as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and others, brought a Vaishnavite perspective to the West. By contrast with Smarta/Advaita belief, Vaishnavism and Shaivism follows a singular concept of God, or panentheistic monotheism or panentheistic monism.
Some prominent Smarta communities:
- In south India
- Havyaka
- Iyer
- Vaidiki Mulukanadu
- Vaidiki Velanadu
- Vaidiki Veginadu
- Vaidiki Telanganya
- Namboothiri
- Badaganadu
- Hoysala Kannada
- Kota brahmin
- Babboor Kamme
- Arvel Niyogi Brahmins
- In Maharashtra
- Saraswat Brahmins
- Gaud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB's)
The medieval Bhakti movement has had a significant impact on the traditional denominations of Pauranic Hinduism, especially on Vaishnavism The Alvars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between sixth and ninth centuries and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Usually twelve Vaishnava saints, who, during the early medieval period of Tamil history, helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. The collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabhandham The Bhakti literature that sprang from these Alvars has contributed to the establishment and sustenance of a culture that broke away from the ritual-oriented Vedic religion and rooted itself in devotion as the only path for salvation. In addition they helped to make the Tamil religious life independent of a knowledge of Sanskrit. [2] As part of the legacy of the Alvars, five Vaishnava philosophical traditions (sampradayas) has developed at the later stages.[3]
- Further information: Hindu Revival in Indonesia
A sect of Balinese Hindus flourished on the nearby island of Java until the late 16th century, when a vast majority of its adherents converted to Islam. Theologically, it is closer to Śaivism than to other major sects of Hinduism.
The term "Agama Hindu Dharma" can also refer to the traditional practices in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi and other places in Indonesia, where people have started to identify and accept their agamas as Hinduism.
- Further information: Bengal Renaissance, Ayyavazhi, and Contemporary Sant Mat movements
Influential 19th to 20th century Hindu revivalist organizations include Arya Samaj, Tilak Mission Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Brahmo Samaj, Parisada Hindu Dharma, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana, Swadhyay Movement, Swaminarayan Sampraday, Sathya Sai Organisation.
Hinduism was politicized in the context of the Indian independence movement, and has resulted in the rise of Hindu nationalism to a significant political force in the Republic of India.
- ^ adherents.com 580 million statistic
- ^ "About Alvars", divyadesamonline.com. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.
- ^ Mittal, S. G. R. Thursby (2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Routledge.
