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

See also:

Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - The Major Schools, Vaishnavism - The Supreme Godhead, Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - Vaishnava Upanishads

Read more here: » Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia II - Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism

Thanks to 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 Ramanujar, Surdas, Tulsidas, Tyagaraja, etc. With the entry of other religions into the Indian subcontinent, Hindus united and the discriminations of Vaishnavism and Saivism became intellectual ...

See also:

Vaishnavism, 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 II - Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism

Vaishnavas worship Vishnu, or Krishna and his avataras (especially Rama) as the supreme deity. This is the largest denomination. Vaishnava sampradayas: Madhvas - followers of Madhavacharya Shri Vaishnavas, followers of Ramanujacharya Rudra Vaishnavas, followers of Vallabhacharya Nimbarka Vaishnavas Gaudiya Vaishnavism, followers of Chaitanya Mahaprab ...

See also:

Hindu denominations, Hindu denominations - Basic overview, Hindu denominations - Vaishnavism, Hindu denominations - Śaivism, Hindu denominations - Shaktism, Hindu denominations - Smartha sect, Hindu denominations - Newer denominations, Hindu denominations - Agama Hindu Dharma

Read more here: » Hindu denominations: Encyclopedia II - Hindu denominations - Vaishnavism

Hindu Sects

Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism are considered to be the major sects of Hinduism. Followers of Saivism worship Lord Siva as their chief deity and regard him as Iswara, the Supreme Brahman. They wear a mark of three horizontal stripes on their foreheads. Followers of Vaishnavism worship Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Creator and wear a U shaped mark on the forehead with a long stripe between the two arms of U. The followers of Shakti consider the Mother Goddess as the Universal Self and creator of all. 

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Major Sects of Hinduism

The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.

A map over the different sects and cults in Hinduism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Hinduism - A Fellowship Of Faiths And A Federation Of Philosophies - about Hindu Sects and Cults

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) See also:

Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - The Major Schools, Vaishnavism - The Supreme Godhead, Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism - Vaishnava Upanishads

Read more here: » Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia II - Vaishnavism - Vaishnava Upanishads

Of the 108 Upanishads of the Muktika, 13 are considered Vaishna Upanishads. They are listed with their associated Veda (SV, ŚYV, KYV, AV): Nṛsiṃhatāpanī (AV) Mahānārāyaṇa (AV) See also:

Vaishnavism, 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 II - Vaishnavism - Vaishna Upanishads

If we meet no Gods, its because we harbour none, said Emerson. For us, God is not a remote, abstract figure; He is a living, loving Presence. The nirguna or formless God of Shankara’s Advaita is difficult to relate to - but give Him a sweet form and through saguna upasana or worship He can become your very own because of the wonderful ease it creates in human divine encounter.

The predominant religious motif of practising Hinduism is this archanam andpadasevanam - the worship and adoration of a God made visible to our eyes in beautiful images, in homes and in temples. It is the ornamental centrepiece of the Vaishnav bhakti tradition set in motion by acharyas like Ramanuja, Madhava and Vallabha.

(See also: Hindu Worship, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, 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

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)

Mayavada (Sanskrit maya, illusion, and vada, doctrine) is a Hindu school of Advaita philosophy of Adi Shankara. It is fervently opposed by various Dvaita schools. See also. Madhva Vaishnavism ...

Read more here: » Mayavada: Encyclopedia - Mayavada

Virashaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. The adherents are known as Veerashaivas, or more commonly Lingayats. This important sect of Hinduism represents a reform movement attributed to Basavanna in the 12th century. Basavanna lived and taught in what is now Karnataka State. Some believers believe that Basavanna is an incarnation of Nandi, Shiva's greatest devotee. Nandi serv ...

Read more here: » Virasaivism: Encyclopedia - Virasaivism

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Shaivism (also spelled Saivism, IAST Śaivism; see Sanskrit for pronunciation) is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. Followe ...

Including:

• Shaivism - Philosophy and Worship
• Shaivism - History
• Shaivism - Features of Shaivism
• Shaivism - Within Hinduism
• Shaivism - Shaiva Upanishads

Read more here: » Shaivism: Encyclopedia - Shaivism

Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu denominations. A denomination shares a common ground of beliefs but embraces many different movements and schools inside its philosophical branches. Hindu denominations - Basic overview. Contemporary Hinduism is traditionally divided into four major denominations: Śaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartha. Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion. Each of its four denominations share rituals, bel ...

Including:

• Hindu denominations - Basic overview
• Hindu denominations - Vaishnavism
• Hindu denominations - Śaivism
• Hindu denominations - Shaktism
• Hindu denominations - Smartha sect
• Hindu denominations - Newer denominations
• Hindu denominations - Agama Hindu Dharma

Read more here: » Hindu denominations: Encyclopedia - Hindu denominations

Sri Vaishnavism is a hindu sect,the members of which worship lord Maha Vishnu.The prefix Sri is used for this sect because they give special importance to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi,the consort of the Supreme God ,Lord Vishnu.There are two sub-sects of sri vaishnavaites they are vadagalai and tenkalai. Most of the people belonging to Sri Vaishnavism follow Vishistadvaita even though it does not imply that every Sri Vaishnavaite has to be a Vishistadvaitin. Sri vaishnavism is characterised by various specialities. one of them is th

Read more here: » Srivaishnavism: Encyclopedia - Srivaishnavism

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada (1874-1937), the well-known preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, was born Bimal Prasad Dhutt in the seaside pilgramge town of Jagganath Puri, Orissa, India. His father was the Vaishnava scholar Sri Kedarnath Dhutt, later known as Bhaktivinode Thakur, the first to present the teachings of Chaitanyite Vaishnavism to the English speaking world and was a notable Gaudiya Vaishnava Theologian. Bimal ...

Read more here: » Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: Encyclopedia - Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Nityananda (Bangla: শ্রী নিত্যানন্দ) (b 1474 CE) was a Vaishnavite saint. His importance in Vaishnavism, and especialy Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Bengal, is central. Nityananda was Chaitanya's friend, disciple and spiritual mate. They are often mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai (Gaura, "golden one", referreing to Chaitanya) or Nimai-Nitai (Nimai referring to Chaitanya). Followers often refer to Nityananda as Sri Nityananda, Including:

• Nityananda - Life
• Nityananda - The Jagai-Madhai episode
• Nityananda - Legacy

Read more here: » Nityananda: Encyclopedia - Nityananda

In the devotional school of Indian philosophy known as Vaishnavism, the process of total surrender to God (in this case Vishnu or Krishna) is called ‘Saranagati’ (Skt. Surrender). Saranagati is divided into six divisions: 1) Accepting those things that are favorable for devotion to God (anukulyasya sankalpa) 2) Rejecting those things that are averse to surrendering to God (pratikulyasya varjanam) 3) Considering God to be one’s protector in all circumstances (raksisyatiti visvasa) 4) Accepting God as ones maintainer (goptrtve varanam) 5) Surrende ...

Read more here: » Saranagati: Encyclopedia - Saranagati