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Hindu denominations
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.
Shaivism
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.
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Shaktism
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.
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Vaishnavism
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.
The different Vaishnava schools (sampradayas) and the principle teachers (acharyas)
connected with them are as follows:
Rudra Sampradaya :
In Hinduism, the Rudra Sampradaya is one of
four Vaishnava sampradayas, a tradition of disciplic succession in the
religion. Vaishnavism is distinguished from other schools of Hinduism by its
primary worship of deities Vishnu and/or Krishna and their avatars as the
Supreme forms of God. The ascetic Vishnuswami formed the Rudra-Sampradaya,[1][2]
though the sampradaya is believed to have traced its origins to the Hindu
deity Shiva, also known as Rudra, who passed on the knowledge imparted to
him by Vishnu (or Krishna), on mankind. According to Vaishnavism, Shiva, who
has the Shaivism school dedicated to his worship as the Supreme God, is the
first and foremost Vaishnava, or follower of Vishnu. According to the
tradition, Vishnuswami was fifthteenth in the line of passing of the
knowledge from teacher to student. The date of formation of the sampradaya
is disputed. While James Hastings dates Vishnuswami to the early 15th
century,[3] and Carl Olson dates him to the 13th century, followers of the
sampradaya says that Vishnuswami was born 4500 years earlier.[4] Not much
about the historical Vishnuswami is known and all his works are thought to
have been lost in time. The earliest converts were from Gujarat in western
India. The beliefs of the sampradaya was further propagated by Vallabha
Acharya (1479 – 1531).
Rudra sampradaya has two main sects: Vishnuswamis,
that is, followers of Vishnuswami and the Vallabhas or Pushtimarg sect,
founded by Vallabha
The philosophy of the sampradaya is Shuddhadvaita, pure monism to
Krishna.[6] The sampradaya worship the youthful Krishna, alone or with his
consort Radha. Another form of Krishna, the Bala Gopala or infant Krishna is
also worshipped by the sampradaya.[7]
Unlike other sampradayas in Hinduism, which insist on the clergy to lead an
ascetic's life; the clergy in most Rudra sampradaya sects, are expected to
marry and live a worldly life with their family
The
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(Brahma-sampradāya) refers to the disciplic succession (sampradaya)
of gurus starting with Brahma in Hinduism. The term is most often used to
refer to the beliefs and teachings of Madhvacharya and his Dvaita
philosophy. It may also refer to the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and
his Gaudiya theology. A number of worldwide religious movements belong to
this line, including ISKCON, a derivative of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Followers
of this tradition believe that Vedic knowledge descends from Brahma. In the
Vedic conception, these sampradayas began at the creation of the universe
and endure to the present moment in the person of the student's own guru.
Due to the consistency of the transmission of knowledge, all the previous
gurus are present in the teachings of the present spiritual master. The
Vedic process assures that the transmission remains pure by assuring the
qualifications of the transmitter.
Sri
Sampradaya associated with Laksmi: Sri Sampradaya or Sri Vaishnavism is
a Vaishnava sect within Hinduism. Its origin may date back to around 10th
century and its formation is associated with a collection of the devotional
hymns and songs by Alvars being organized by Nathamuni, who is considered to
be the first guru of the sect. Nathamuni appeared as the pioneer who wrote
Sanskrit works systematizing the Sri Vaishnava theology, largely in debate
with Gauttama philosophy of Buddhism. He was followed by Yamunacharya a
celebrated grand-teacher of Ramanujacharya. In this tradition Vishnuis
believed to be the source of all avatars. Vishnu is the name of God in the
whole Vaishnavism and he is also known as Narayana, Vasudeva and Krishna and
behind each of those names is a devine figure with attributed supremacy in
Vaishnavism and each associated tradition believed to be distinct
historically. Name of the tradition is originating from Sri being the name
of Lakshmi. Two different tilaka or pundra makings are worn by the
representative of two different sect within the Sri Sampradaya following
Ramanujacharya: Ten-galais and Vada-galais, both ascribing the markings to
the footprint of Vishnu on the forehead. Some leaders or acharyas are strict
Iyengar brahmanas and will only take renunciation of sannyasa at a very late
age, while others live in a monastery, Matha .
The associated movement is sometimes called Sri Vaishnavism and is a
Vaishnava sect of Hinduism centered around a temple at Srirangam, and a
philosophical system of thought culminating in the philosophy of
Visishtadvaita espoused by Ramanujacharya.
Followers of Sri Vaishnavism, as Vaishnavas, generally worship Vishnu as the
supreme God. The prefix Sri is used for this sect because they give
special importance to the worship of the Goddess Lakshmi,the consort of
Vishnu, who they believe to act as a mediator between God and man. A
major portion of Sri Vaishnava theology is based upon this tenet. Iyengars,
a subcaste of Tamil Brahmins, follow this tradition.
Kumara
Sampradaya is the tradition associated with Four Kumaras: The
Nimbarka Sampradaya (Nimbārka Sampradāya,), also known as the Hamsa
Sampradāya, Kumāra Sampradāya, Catuh Sana Sampradāya and Sanakādi Sampradāya,
is one of the four authorised Vaisnava Sampradāyas (philosophical schools
characterised by leaders in disciplic succession) as according to the Padma
Purana, one of the eighteen main Puranas
Four Kumaras
The Four
Kumaras namely: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, and Sanat Kumāra are
traditionally the four mind-born sons of Lord Brahmā. Famous throughout the
Puranic literature, they are found also in the Upanishads[5]. They are
renowned yogis, who requested their father for the boon of remaining
perpetually five years old. They were created by their father in order to
advance creation, however, they chose to undertake lifelong vows of celibacy
(brahmacarya). After obtaining initiation into the Śrī Gopāla Mantra, these
four brothers then left meditations into an impersonal God, and realised the
truth lies beyond the impersonal, in the Highest Person, the Supreme Lord
Śrī Krishna. Having obtained his grace and being initiated into Vaishnava
tradition, they began to spread the teachings of the path of renounciation.
During initiation into this Vaishnava tradition, they received the Śrī
Śāligrāma Śilā known as Śrī Śarveśvara Bhagavān, which has been passed on
from each Guru to disciple since their time.
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Smartism
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 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.
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Newer
denominations of Hindu's
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
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