Vaishnavas:

Worshippers of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna, since it is believed that the one comes from the other. Vaishnavas worship Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu because He is supreme. All other gods come from Him. Scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavat, Vishnu, Garuda Puranas to name a few, recommend Vaishnavism as the supreme Snatana dharma of the jiva soul.

(See also: Vaishnavas, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Vaishnava

(Sanskrit) A follower of the Hindu god Vishnu

(See also: Vaishnava, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Vaishnava

A devotee of the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Since Krishna and Vishnu are different aspects of the same Supreme Person, devotees of Krishna are also Vaishnavas.

(See also: Vaishnava, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

The Vaishnava Agamas are of four kinds: the Vaikhanasa, Pancharatra, Pratishthasara and Vijnanalalita. The Brahma, Saiva Kaumara, Vasishtha, Kapila, Gautamiya and the Naradiya are the seven groups of the Pancharatras. The Naradiya section of the Santi-Parva of the Mahabharata is the earliest source of information about the Pancharatras.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vaishnava Agamas: The Vaishnava Agamas in the Hindu Scriptures

Vaishnava Theology is the theological discourse concerning the Hindu deity Vishnu and/or one of His avatar. Vaishnava Theology - Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools. Radhavallabha Theology, espoused by Harivamsa Gosvami. Vishishtadvaita, espoused by Ramanuja Dvaita, espoused by Shri Madhvacharya Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology, espoused by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan Shuddhadvaita, espoused by Vallabhacharya Dvaitaadvaita, ...

Including:

• Vaishnava Theology - Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools
• Vaishnava Theology - Contemporary Vaishnava Theological Discourse
• Vaishnava Theology - Bhaktivedanta College and Vaishnava Theology
• Vaishnava Theology - The Journal of Vaishnava Studies
• Vaishnava Theology - Dasavatara
• Vaishnava Theology - Puranic Vishnu Avatara

Read more here: » Vaishnava Theology: Encyclopedia - Vaishnava Theology

Vairagis: A Vairagi is one who is devoid of passion. Vairagis are Vaishnavas. They worship Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman. They read the Ramayana of Tulasidas. The mendicant Vaishnavas of the Ramanandi class are the Vairagis. This ascetic order was instituted by Sri Ananda, the twelfth disciple of Ramananda.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vairagis: Hindu Sects and Cults - Vairagis

Vaishnavism (Vaishnava): (Sanskrit) "Way of Vishnu."

One of the four major religions, or denominations of Hinduism, representing roughly half of the world's one billion Hindus.

It gravitates around the worship of Lord Vishnu as Personal God, His incarnations and their consorts. The doctrine of avatara (He who descends), especially important to Vaishnavism, teaches that whenever adharma gains ascendency in the world, God takes a human birth to reestablish "the way." There are either 10, 22 or 34 avataras of Vishnu, according to various scriptures. The most renowned avataras were Rama and Krishna. The last to come will be Kalki, the harbinger of a golden age on Earth.

Vaishnavism stresses the personal aspect of God over the impersonal, and bhakti (devotion) as the true path to salvation. The goal of Vaishnavism is the attainment of mukti, defined as blissful union with God's body, the loving recognition that the soul is a part of Him, and eternal nearness to Him in Vaikuntha, heaven. Foremost among Vaishnava scriptures are the Vaishnava Agamas, Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana. Among the earliest schools were the Pancharatras and the Bhagavatas.

The five major contemporary schools (founded between 1000 and 1500) are those of Ramanuja (Sri Vaishnavism), Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha and Chaitanya. Philosophically they range from Madhva's pure dualism to Vallabha's lofty monistic vision.

(See also: Vaishnavism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Vaishnavism (Vaishnava): (Sanskrit) "Way of Vishnu."

One of the four major religions, or denominations of

Hinduism, representing roughly half of the world's one

billion Hindus.

It gravitates around the worship of Lord

Vishnu as Personal God, His incarnations and their

consorts. The doctrine of avatara (He who descends),

especially important to Vaishnavism, teaches that

whenever adharma gains ascendency in the world, God

takes a human birth to reestablish "the way." There are

either 10, 22 or 34 avataras of Vishnu, according to

various scriptures. The most renowned avataras were

Rama and Krishna. The last to come will be Kalki, the

harbinger of a golden age on Earth.

Vaishnavism stresses

the personal aspect of God over the impersonal, and bhakti

(devotion) as the true path to salvation. The goal of

Vaishnavism is the attainment of mukti, defined as

blissful union with God's body, the loving recognition that

the soul is a part of Him, and eternal nearness to Him in

Vaikuntha, heaven. Foremost among Vaishnava scriptures

are the Vaishnava Agamas, Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata

Purana. Among the earliest schools were the Pancharatras

and the Bhagavatas.

The five major contemporary schools

(founded between 1000 and 1500) are those of Ramanuja

(Sri Vaishnavism), Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha and

Chaitanya. Philosophically they range from Madhva's pure

dualism to Vallabha's lofty monistic vision.

(See also: Vaishnavism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya is the disciplic succession following this particular type of Vaishnavism (and Vaishnava Theology), which worships Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya and other Vaishnava schools: main theological differences. Krishna is the original form of God, the source of Vishnu and not His avatar. This teaching - shared by Nimbar ...

Including:

• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya and other Vaishnava schools: main theological differences
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Modern times
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations

Read more here: » Gaudiya Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia - Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Radha refers to either one of two figures in Hindu religion. By far the most important is Radha, the gopi, who participates in the Rasa Lila with Krishna. Radha - The Mahabharata. Radha - Radha the gopi. In the story of Krishna, as told in the Puranas and the Mahabharata, she is one of the gopis (cow-herding women) of the forest of Vrindavan, and was brought up in this community with Krishna. In the orginal story she is briefly mentioned as one of the gopis who Krishna plays wit ...

Including:

• Radha - The Mahabharata
• Radha - Radha the gopi
• Radha - The foster mother of Karna
• Radha - Radha the Gopi in later Vaishnava traditions
• Radha - Festivals
• Radha - Radha the most important Gopi of Krishna
• Radha - Radha the beautiful one

Read more here: » Radha: Encyclopedia - Radha

A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person, and by convention almost always refers to men (while the term nun is more commonly used to refer to female monastics), a ...

Including:

• Monk - Roman Catholic monks
• Monk - Eastern Orthodox monks
• Monk - Anglican monks
• Monk - Buddhist monks
• Monk - Vaishnava monks

Read more here: » Monk: Encyclopedia - Monk

In early Hindu philosophy, turiya (also called caturtha) is a state of pure consciousness, or the experience of ultimate reality and truth. It is a fourth state of consciousness that underlies and at the same time transcends three common states of consciousness: (i) the state of waking consciousness (jagrata), (ii) the state of dreaming (svapna), (iii) and dreamless sleep (susupti). Turiya - Advaita concept. The first two states are defective as experiences of reality and truth because ...

Including:

• Turiya - Advaita concept
• Turiya - Dvaita Vaishnava concepts

Read more here: » Turiya: Encyclopedia - Turiya

Baladeva Vidyabhushana (? - ?) was a prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya (religious teacher). He never mentioned his birth place or anything about his family background. Historians have estimated that he was born sometime in the eighteenth century, most probably in Orissa (possibly near Remuna). At a very early age, he finished his studies of grammar, poetry, rhetoric and logic and then went on pilgrimage. During this time he spent some time with the Tattvavadis in South India and thus became conversant with the Vaishnava Theology of Sri Madhva. H ...

Including:

• Baladeva Vidyabhushana - Govinda Bhashya: Gaudiya Vaishnava commentary on Vedanta
• Baladeva Vidyabhushana - In Vrindavan

Read more here: » Baladeva Vidyabhushana: Encyclopedia - Baladeva Vidyabhushana

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. Its adherents worship Vishnu or one of his avatars and are panentheistic monotheistic. Bhaktas, or worshippers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavites, an English term that originated from Vaishnava in Sanskrit). Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism. Major Vaishnava schools of thoug ...

Including:

• Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism
• Vaishnavism - The Major Schools
• Vaishnavism - The Supreme Godhead
• Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism
• Vaishnavism - Vaishna Upanishads
• Vaishnavism - See Also

Read more here: » Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia - Vaishnavism

Bhakti movements are Hindureligious movements in which the main spiritual practice is the fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. They are monotheistic movements generally devoted to worship of Shiva or Vishnu or Shakti. Sikhism evoloved out of the Bhakti movement. Bhakti movement - Origins. The Bhakti Movement was essentially founded in South India and later spread to the North during the late medieval period. The notion of 'Bhakti' (loosely translated as devotional love to God) i ...

Including:

• Bhakti movement - Origins
• Bhakti movement - Rama bhakti
• Bhakti movement - Vaishnava bhakti
• Bhakti movement - Influences
• Bhakti movement - Bibliography

Read more here: » Bhakti movement: Encyclopedia - Bhakti movement

Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Vishisthadvaita is a qualified monism in which God alone exists but admits plurality. By holding such beliefs, Vishisthadvaita is midway between Advaita and Dvaita. The book, "All about Hinduism" by Swami Sivananda discusses ...

Including:

• Vishishtadvaita - The Philosophy
• Vishishtadvaita - Natha Muni
• Vishishtadvaita - Yamunacharya
• Vishishtadvaita - Ramanuja
• Vishishtadvaita - Vedanta Desika
• Vishishtadvaita - Pillai Lokacharya
• Vishishtadvaita - What is it to be a Vaishnava

Read more here: » Vishishtadvaita: Encyclopedia - Vishishtadvaita

Brahman (ब्रह्मन् in devanagari script) in the Vedantic (and subsequently Yogic) schools of Hinduism, is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being in this universe. This Supreme Cosmic Spirit is regarded to be eternal, genderless, omnipotent, omniscient and yet indescribable. It can be at best described as infinite Truth, infinite Consciousness and infinite Bliss. It is regarded as the source and sum of the cosmo ...

Including:

• Brahman - Etymology
• Brahman - Semantics and pronunciation
• Brahman - Brahman and Atman
• Brahman - Enlightenment and Brahman
• Brahman - Advaita concept
• Brahman - Dvaita Vaishnava concept
• Brahman - External links
• Brahman - Notes

Read more here: » Brahman: Encyclopedia - Brahman

SikhA or scalp-lock is a long tuft of hair left on top or on the back of the shaven head of a male Brahmin Vaishnava sadhu. It signifies one-pointed ('ekanta') focus on one's spiritual goal, devotion to Brahman, mainly in the form of Vishnu, or Krishna. Other related archivesBrahman, Brahmin, Krishna, Vaishnava, Vishnu, sadhu

Read more here: » Sikha: Encyclopedia - Sikha

Appayya Dikshidar (1520-1593), born in Adayapalam, near Vellore, South India, a great householder in the orthodox Indian tradition, was a remarkable expositor and practitioner of the advaita school of Indian Philosophy. Appayya Dikshidar - Tolerant but staunch advaitin. As the true follower of advaita that he was, he saw no differences in the different manifestations of the Supreme Absolute. Stemming the tide of Vaishnavite attacks on Shaivism during the one century prior to his times, one of his missions i ...

Including:

• Appayya Dikshidar - Tolerant but staunch advaitin
• Appayya Dikshidar - Scholarly eclectic writing
• Appayya Dikshidar - 104 Works
• Appayya Dikshidar - Multi-faceted Vedanta
• Appayya Dikshidar - ‘Parimala’
• Appayya Dikshidar - Magnum Opus
• Appayya Dikshidar - Mission against Vaishnava attacks on Shaivism
• Appayya Dikshidar - Other schools as approximations to advaita
• Appayya Dikshidar - The Great Yogi
• Appayya Dikshidar - Voluntary adoption of inebriation
• Appayya Dikshidar - A role model

Read more here: » Appayya Dikshidar: Encyclopedia - Appayya Dikshidar

Jiva Goswami was one of the most prolific and important writers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of Hinduism, and one of the famous Six Goswamis of Vrindavana. He was also the nephew of two of the chief Goswamis, Rupa Goswami (1489 – 1564 CE) and Sanatana Goswami (1488 – 1558 CE). Jiva Goswami - His Birth and Early Years. There seems to be some controversy amongst biographers about Jiva Goswami’s birth. Some opine that he lived from 1511 – 1596 CE, while others claim that he lived from 1533 to 1618 CE. ...

Including:

• Jiva Goswami - His Birth and Early Years
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Leaves Home
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva in Vrindavana
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Goswami’s Contributions
• Jiva Goswami - Achintya-bhedabheda Philosophy
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Goswami’s Literary Achievments
• Jiva Goswami - 1-Harinamamrita Vyakarana
• Jiva Goswami - 2-Sutra-malika
• Jiva Goswami - 3-Dhatu-sangraha
• Jiva Goswami - 4-Radha-Krishna Archana Chandrika
• Jiva Goswami - 5-Rasamrita-sesa
• Jiva Goswami - 6-Madhava-mahotsava
• Jiva Goswami - 7-Sankalpa-kalpadruma
• Jiva Goswami - 8-Gopala-virudavali
• Jiva Goswami - 9-Bhavartha-suchaka-champu
• Jiva Goswami - 10-Gopala-tapani Upanisad commentary
• Jiva Goswami - 11-Commentary on Brahma-samhita
• Jiva Goswami - 12-Commentary on Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu
• Jiva Goswami - 13-Commentary on Ujjvala-nilamani
• Jiva Goswami - 14-Commentary on Yogasara-stavaka
• Jiva Goswami - 15-Agni Puranastha gayatri-bhasya
• Jiva Goswami - 16-Padma Puranokta Krishna-pada-padma-chihna
• Jiva Goswami - 17-Sri Radhika-kara-pada-sthita-chihna
• Jiva Goswami - 18-Laghu Vaishnava Toshani
• Jiva Goswami - 19-Gopala-champu
• Jiva Goswami - 20-Sad Sandarbhas Six Sandarbhas
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva’s Demise
• Jiva Goswami - Bibliography

Read more here: » Jiva Goswami: Encyclopedia - Jiva Goswami