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Jul 19, 2024 · Vaishnavism, one of the major forms of modern Hinduism, characterized by devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations ( avatars ). A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. The devotional Vaishnava literature that emerged in Sanskrit and in vernacular writings from the 10th through the 16th century continues to be a part of Vaishnava ...
The Vaishnava sampradaya associated with Vallabhacharya is a form of pantheism, in contrast to the other Vaishnavism traditions. The Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Chaitanya, states Schweig, is closer to a polymorphic bi-monotheism because both goddess Radha and god Krishna are simultaneously supreme.
Dec 21, 2023 · Vaishnavism is the largest branch of modern Hinduism. Its devotees worship Vishnu, or one of his avatars, as the Supreme God. Vaishnavism has numerous sects and their beliefs vary. Despite the differences, all Vaishnavas believe that there is one Supreme God over all creation. And like other Hindu branches, they believe in the existence of many ...
- Theology
- Orders and Lineages
- Worship
- Symbols
- Significance
- References
- External Links
Vishnu: The Supreme
The principal belief of Vaishnavism is the recognition of Vishnu (also known as Narayana) as the supreme deity. This principle is also distributive to the many avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu as listed within the Puranas, especially Krishna and Rama, and sometimes their consorts, but excludes all other personalities referred to as gods in the Vedas or similar texts (i.e Ganesha, Surya, Durga and so forth). These dieties are instead classified as 'demi-gods' or devas. Shiva, the other major m...
Bhakti Worship
Any Hindu religious movements in which the main spiritual practice involves the development of deep loving devotion to God is classified under the heading of the Bhakti movement. These movements are usually monotheistic in their overarching purview, and generally involve worship of Shiva or Shakti if not Vishnu. Although Vaishnava theology includes the central beliefs of Hindusim such as reincarnation, samsara, karma, and the various Yoga systems in order to escape the cycle of rebirth, the g...
Initiation
Membership within a group of followers and under the tutelage of a guru is indispensable in Vaishnavism. Vaishnavas commonly follow a process of initiation (diksha) given by a guru under whom they are trained in order to fully understand Vaishnava practices. At the time of initiation the disciple is traditionally given a specific mantra, which they will then repeat, either out loud or within the mind, as an act of worship to Vishnuor one of his avatars. The system of receiving initiation and...
Vaishnavas are typically divided into two major (though not mutually exclusive) sects: that of the Bhagavatas and that of the Pancharatas.
Considering the focus upon devotion to a personal god, it is not surprising the importance afforded to ritual image worship in Vaishnavism. Representations of Vishnu in images and rituals are not simply symbolic in nature but are considered actual realities. The same goes for images of his avatars, particularly those of Rama and Krishna, who are al...
Tilak
The tilak is a mark of sectarian affiliation worn by Hindus upon the forehead. Tilak varies in design according to the group an affiliate belongs to, and so the various Vaishnava sampradayas each have their own distinctive marking which depict the siddhanta of their particular lineage. In the Vallabha Rudra-sampradaya, for instance, the tilak worn is generally a single vertical red line which represents Yamuna devi, a consort of one of Krishna's incarnations. The Madhva sampradaya mark is com...
Tulasi Tree
A recurrent symbol in Vaishnavism, particularly the Gaudiya lineage, is the Tulasi tree. This tree is named for Tulasi-devi, one of Krishna’s most devoted gopis, of whom the Tulasi plant is considered a manifestation or expansion. The Tulasi plant and its leaves figure prominently in Vaishnava services, wherein devotees water the Tulasi tree as an illustration of faith in its healing power. Ritual waterings occur daily. Also, Tulasi leaves are collected and given to icons of Krishna as an off...
Chakra
One of the earliest ways in which to identify Vishnu was the circular sudarsana-cakra, from the Sanskrit term for "wheel." In the specific context of Vishnu, this refers to the sharp, spinning disk used by Vishnu as a weapon. It is almost always pictured in one of the many arms of Vishnu or those of any of his incarnations. Vishnu often employs the cakra to decapitate demons and other agents of evil; accordingly, the weapon has been associated by Vaishavas with Vishnu's capacity as preserver...
Vaishnavism represents one of the largest branches of contemporary Hinduism. Vaishnavism stands out among the other major branches in that it represents the closest continuation of the Vedic tradition, and therefore speaks to the staying power of that ancient system of thought. The sheer quantity and variety of religious practices and mythological ...
Bhargava, P.L. India in the Vedic Age. Lucknow: Upper India Publishing, 1971. ASIN B000ZU5N52Dallapiccola, Anna. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. London, UK: Thames and Hudson, 2002. ISBN 0500510881Dandekar, R.N. "Vaishnavism: An Overview." Encyclopedia of Religion. Edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1987. 168-171. ISBN 0029098505Dimmitt, Cornelia, and J.A.B. van Buitenen. Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 1978. ISBN 0877221170All links retrieved July 4, 2020. 1. Hinduism and Vaisnavism VEDA - Vedas and Vedic Knowledge Online 2. Who is Vishnu? Vaishnava FAQ Dvaita 3. Sri Vaishnavan 4. An Overview of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Tradition 5. Path of Devotion 6. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) 7. Krishna.com– All about Krishna. Info, books, MP3s, images, ...
Hinduism: VaishnavismFOUNDED: c. 500 b.c.e.RELIGION AS A PERCENTAGE OF WORLD POPULATION: 9.5 percentOVERVIEWVaishnavism is the name given to the faith and practices of those Hindus who hold Vishnu ("the all pervasive one") and the goddess Lakshmi as supreme deities. The Sanskrit term Vaishnava means "follower of Vishnu."
Jun 30, 2022 · Few, however, have realized, and fewer still have written, that India’s Sanatana Dharma, or “eternal faith,” known today as Hinduism and comprising over a billion followers, is a family of religions with four principal denominations—Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. This single perception is essential for understanding ...
Jul 19, 2024 · Hinduism - Vaishnavism, Shaivism: Vaishnavism is the worship and acceptance of Vishnu (Sanskrit: “The Pervader” or “The Immanent”) or one of his various incarnations (avatars) as the supreme manifestation of the divine. During a long and complex development, many Vaishnava groups emerged with differing beliefs and aims. Some of the major Vaishnava groups include the Shrivaishnavas ...
