Part of a series on Hinduism Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages)[1] is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ...
History · Deities Denominations · Literature Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Hinduism has prehistoric roots, including suspected survivals of traditions of the Bronze Age and right through to when yamum got down and funky. ... Within Hinduism a large number of personalities, or forms, are worshipped as murtis. ... Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu denominations. ... Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ...
Beliefs and practices Dharma · Artha · Kama · Moksha Karma · Samsara · Yoga · Bhakti Maya · Puja · Mandir Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... For other uses, see Dharma (disambiguation). ... Artha is a Sanskrit term referring to the idea of material prosperity. ... Kāma (Skt. ... For other uses, see Moksha (disambiguation). ... Karma is a concept in Hinduism, based on the Vedas and Upanishads, which explains causality through a system where beneficial events are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful events from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a persons reincarnated lives. ... For other uses, see Samsara (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... Bhakti (DevanāgarÄ«: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion and also the path of devotion itself, as in Bhakti-Yoga. ... Maya (illusion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflowing river Shipra. ... The Gopuram of temples, in south India, are adorned with colourful icons depicting a particular story surrounding the temples deity. ...
Scriptures Vedas · Upanishads · Ramayana Mahabharata · Bhagavad Gita Purana · others Template:Hindu scriptures - Vedic Scriptures Hindu scripture, which is known as Shastra is predominantly written in Sanskrit. ... Veda redirects here. ... The Upanishads (उपनिषद्, Upanişad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The following is a bibliography of Hindu scriptures and texts. ...
Related topics Hinduism by country Gurus and saints · Reforms Ayurveda · Calendar · Criticism Festivals · Glossary · Jyotisha Hinduism - Percentage by country The percentage of Hindu population of each country was taken from the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2004. ... These are some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Hinduism (in alphabetical order): A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Adi Shankara Akhandanand Mata Amritanandamayi Sri Aurobindo Baba Lokenath Brahmachari Bhakti Tirtha Swami Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaj Bhagawan Nityananda Bhagwan Swaminarayan Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chinmayananda Sri Chinmoy Dharmsamrat Paramhans Swami Madhavananda... Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements, collectively termed as Hindu reform movements. ... Shirodhara, one of the techniques of Ayurveda Ayurveda (Devanagari: ) or Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. ... A page from the Hindu calendar 1871-72. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Glossary of terms in Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Jyotisha (, in Hindi and English usage Jyotish; sometimes called Hindu astrology, Indian astrology, and/or Vedic astrology) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga, and regarded as one of the oldest schools of ancient astrology to have had an independent origin, affecting all other...
Image File history File links HinduSwastika. ... This box: view • talk • edit

Vaishnavism is one of the principal traditions of Hinduism, and is distinguished from other schools by its primary worship of Vishnu (and his associated avatars) as the Supreme God. It is principally monotheistic in its philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as being panentheistic. Its beliefs and practices, (known as Bhakti Yoga, or Bhakti) are based largely on Vedic and Puranic texts such as Bhagavad Gita, Isha Upanishad, and the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas. The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as 'Vaishnava(s)', sometimes 'Vaishnavites' in English. According to recent statistics Vaishnavas make up a majority of the total of all followers of Hinduism ^[1] with the vast majority of these being in India. The Gaudiya Vaishnava branch of the tradition has significantly increased the awareness of Vaishnavism on an international basis over the past fifty years, largely through the activities and geographical expansion of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON).^[2][3] Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages)[1] is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... This article is about the concept in Hindu philosophy. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Monotheism (in Greek monon = single and Theos = God) is the belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity. ... Panentheism (Greek words: pan=all and Theos=God) is the view that God is immanent within all creation and that the universe is part of God or that God is the animating force behind the universe. ... Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. ... Bhakti (DevanāgarÄ«: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion and also the path of devotion itself, as in Bhakti-Yoga. ... Veda redirects here. ... ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... The Isha Upanishad () or Ishopanishad (), also known as the Ishavasya Upanishad (), is a Sanskrit poem (or sequence of mantras) from the Upanishads and is considered Åšruti by followers of a number of diverse traditions within Hinduism. ... The Vishnu Purana is one of the oldest of the Puranas (dating to maybe the 5th century), containing some 23,000 shlokas, presented as a dialogue between Parasara with his disciple Maitreya. ... The Bhagavata Purana (sometimes rendered as Bhagavatha Purana), also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam, written c. ... Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ... Hare Krishna Mantra in Devanagari The Hare Krishna mantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra (Great Mantra), is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well known outside of India by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the Hare Krishnas)[1]. It is believed by practitioners... The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is a new religious movement based on Bengali, or more specifically Gaudiya, Vaishnavism founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, referred to by followers as His Divine Grace, in New York in 1966. ...

Etymology

The name Vaishnavism is an English formation from the Sanskrit Vaishnava, (IAST vaiṣṇava), from the Vriddhi form of Vishnu. It means belonging to, or derived from Vishnu. Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... IAST, or International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is the academic standard for writing the Sanskrit language with the Latin alphabet and very similar to National Library at Calcutta romanization standard being used with many Indic scripts. ... Vrddhi is a Sanskrit word meaning growth (cognate to English weird, Old English wyrd). ...

Principal beliefs

Vishnu: The Supreme

Vishnu, as commonly depicted in his four-armed form

The principal belief of Vaishnavism is the supremacy of Vishnu or Narayana as the one Supreme God. This principle is also applicable to the many avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu as listed within the Puranas but excludes all other personalities referred in the Vedas or similar texts, (i.e Ganesh, Surya or Durga etc...) which are instead classified as 'demi-gods' or devas. Shiva is also viewed as subservient to Vishnu, although with the understanding that he is also above the category of an ordinary living being (jiva) ^[4]. Some Vaishnava schools also identify the God of the Abrahamic religions with Vishnu^[5], although it is not an essential tenet of Vaishnava belief, being outside of the scope of Vedic evidence. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 391 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (510 × 781 pixel, file size: 62 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Vishnu standing on Shesha. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 391 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (510 × 781 pixel, file size: 62 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Vishnu standing on Shesha. ... Narayana (नारायण; ) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... This article is about the concept in Hindu philosophy. ... Veda redirects here. ... Popular image of Ganesh In Hinduism, Ganesha (Gaṇeśa, lord of the hosts, also spelled Ganesa and sometimes referred to as Ganesh in Hindi, Bengali and other Indian vernaculars) is the god of wisdom, intelligence, education and prudence. ... In Hinduism, Surya (Devanagari: सूर्य, sÅ«rya) is the chief solar deity,one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wife Aditi[1] ,in Nordics Tyr he is said to be the son of Dyaus Pitar. ... In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: ) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. ... For other uses, see Deva (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being, subject to maya. ... map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (purple) and Dharmic (yellow) religions in each country. ...

Worship

Vaishnava theology includes the central beliefs of Hindusim such as reincarnation, samsara, karma, and the various Yoga systems, but with a particular emphasis on devotion (bhakti) to Vishnu through the process of Bhakti yoga, often including singing Vishnu's name's (bhajan), meditating upon his form (dharana) and performing deity worship (puja). Within their worship Vaishnava devotees will always see themselves as (at least partially) separate or distinct from their lord, Vishnu. Unlike other schools of Hinduism whose goal is liberation (moksha), or union with the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate goal of Vaishnava practice is an eternal life of bliss (ananda) in service to Vishnu, or one of his many avatars, in the spiritual realm of 'Vaikuntha', which lies beyond the temporary world of illusion (maya). The three features of the Supreme as described in the Bhagavata Purana--Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan--are viewed as the Universal Vishnu, Vishnu within the heart, and Vishnu the personality respectively. ^[6] This article is about the theological concept. ... For other uses, see Samsara (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... Bhakti (Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion and also the path of devotion itself, as in Bhakti-Yoga. ... Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. ... A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu devotional song, often of ancient origin. ... Dharana (Pronounced Dhaaranaa, with a voiced, aspirated dh) is the sixth of the eight steps of Patanjalis Ashtanga Yoga. ... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflowing river Shipra. ... For other uses, see Moksha (disambiguation). ... This page deals with the Hindu concept of The Supreme Reality. ... For Paulina Rubio album of the same title, see Ananda (album). ... Vaikunta is the abode of Lord Vishnu, one of the Trimurti Hindu Gods. ... Maya (illusion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Bhagavata Purana (sometimes rendered as Bhagavatha Purana), also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam, written c. ... In Hindu theology, Paramatman is Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul. ... Bhagavan, also written Bhagwan or Bhagawan, from the Sanskrit nt-stem (nominative/vocative ) (hindi sandhi vichchhed:भ्+अ+ग्+अ+व्+आ+न्+अ)literally means: भ bh=bhoo soil अ a=agni fire ग g=gagan sky वा va=vaayu air न n=neer water BHAGAVAN is said to be composed up of all five matters other meanings possessing fortune, blessed, prosperous...

Initiation

Vaishnavas commonly follow a process of initiation (diksha), given by a guru, under whom they are trained in order to 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 Vishnu or one of his avatars. The practice of repetitive prayer is known as japa. The system of receiving initiation and training from a spiritual master is based on injunctions throughout scriptures held as sacred within the Vaishnava traditions: In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into the worship of some deity by a guru (diksha guru) who bestows mantra(s) and takes the karma of the initiate - at least in case of Vaishnava diksha, as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1. ... For other uses, see Guru (disambiguation). ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... Japa, or Japam, is a spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of the God. ...

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth".(Bhagavad Gita)^[7]

"One who is initiated into the Vaishnava mantra and who is devoted to worshiping Lord Vishnu is a Vaishnava. One who is devoid of these practices is not a Vaishnava."(Padma Purana) ^[8]

However, other scriptures (in this instance from the Gaudiya lineage) also give the opinion that: "Who chants the holy name of Krishna just once may be considered a Vaishnava. Such a person is worshipable and is the topmost human being.."(Chaitanya Charitamrita) ^[9]

Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Padma Purana (Devanagari: पद्म पुराण), one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is divided into five parts. ... The Chaitanya Charitamrita is the biography written by Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a pivotal figure of the Hindu sect Gaudiya Vaishnavism. ...

Attitude to scriptures

Vaishnava traditions refer to the writings of previous acharyas in their respective lineage or sampradya (see below) as authoritive interpretations of scripture. While many schools like Smartism and Advaitism encourage interpretation of scriptures philosophically and metaphorically and not too literally, Vaishnavism stresses the literal meaning (mukhya vṛitti) as primary and indirect meaning (gauṇa vṛitti) as secondary: sākṣhād upadesas tu shrutih - "The instructions of the shruti-shāstra should be accepted literally, without fanciful or allegorical interpretations."^[10] For the pen name of D. Murdock, see Acharya S. An acharya is an important religious teacher. ... Smartism[1], (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit), is a denomination of the Hindu religion. ... Advaita Vedanta is probably the best known of all Vedanta schools of Hinduism, the others being Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. ... Template:Hindu scriptures - Vedic Scriptures Hindu scripture, which is known as Shastra is predominantly written in Sanskrit. ...

The Four Vaishnava sampradayas

Within traditional Vaishnavism there are four main disciplic lineages (sampradayas), each of which traces its roots back to a specific Vedic personality. The four sampradayas follow subtly different philosophical systems regarding the relationship between the soul (jiva) and God (Vishnu), although the majority of other core beliefs are identical. In Hinduism, a Sampradaya is a tradition of disciplic succession serving as a spiritual channel and encompassing a common philosophy embraced by many schools, groups, or guru lineages (called parampara). ... In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being, subject to maya. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ...

• Rudra-Sampradaya

Philosophy: Shuddhadvaita ("pure nondualism"), espoused by Vallabhacharya.

• Brahma-Sampradaya

Philosophy: Dvaita ("dualism"), espoused by Madhvacharya, and also -

Achintya Bheda Abheda ("inconceivable oneness and difference"), espoused by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (See Gaudiya Vaishnavism).

• Lakshmi-Sampradaya

Philosophy: Vishishtadvaita ("qualified nondualism"), espoused by Ramanujacharya (See Sri Vaishnavism).

• Kumara-Sampradaya

Philosophy: Dvaitadvaita ("duality in unity"), espoused by Nimbarka. (See Nimbarka Sampradaya)

Rudra (Sanskrit: रुद्रः) (Howler) is a Rigvedic God of the storm, the hunt, death, Nature and the Wind. ... Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531) was the founder of the Vallabha sect in Indian philosophy. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Dvaita (Devanagari:द्बैत, Kannada:ದ್ವೈತ) (also known as Tattvavada and Bheda-vada), a school of Vedanta (the most widespread Hindu philosophy) founded by Madhvacharya, stresses a strict distinction between God (Vishnu) and the individual living beings (jivas). ... For Madhavacharya the Advaita saint, see Madhava Vidyaranya. ... Achintya-Bheda-Abheda is the philosophy of inconceivable one-ness and difference, in relation to the individual soul (jiva) and God (Krishna) within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. ... Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST ) (Bengali ) (1486 - 1534), was an ascetic Vaishnava monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal[1], (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Orissa in India[2]. Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning... Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ... For other uses, see Lakshmi (disambiguation). ... VishishtAdvaita Vedanta (IAST ;Sanskrit: विशिष्टाद्वैत)) is a sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy, the other major sub-schools of Vedānta being Advaita and Dvaita. ... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017 - 1137 AD) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Vaishnavism is the branch of Hinduism in which Vishnu or one of his avatars is worshipped as the supreme God and is a monotheistic faith. ... The Four Kumaras or Catursana are the four sons of Brahma from the Puranic texts of Hinduism[1] named Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-Kumara. ... Dvaitadvaita was proposed by Nimbarka, a 13th Century Vaishnava Philosopher who hailed from Andhra Region. ... Nimbarka, is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitaadvaita, duality in unity. ... The Sri Nimbarka Sampradaya (IAST Śrī Nimbārka Sampradāya; Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय), also known as the Hamsa Sampradāya, Kumāra Sampradāya, Catuḥ Sana Sampradāya, Sanakādi Sampradāya etc, is one of the four authorised Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas (philosophical schools characterised by leaders in disciplic succession) as...

Other Branches

• The Ramanandi movement, begun by Ramananda.
• Mahapuruxiya Dharma, espoused by Sankardeva.

This denomination, it is widely believed, has played a powerful role in shaping the social and spiritual climate of the populous Ganga valley. ... Ramananda was a vaishnava saint, a Ramayat - devotee of Lord Rama. ... Mahapurixiya dharma is the religion initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. ... Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1568) is a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India. ...

Vaishnava tilak

The yellow forehead marking known as tilak is the symbol of Gaudiya Vaishnavas.

The different Vaishnava sampradayas each have their own distinctive style of Tilak which depict the siddhanta of their particular lineage: Image File history File links Prabhupada_03. ... Image File history File links Prabhupada_03. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Siddhanta, a Sanskrit term, roughly translates as the Doctrine or This term Siddhanta is an established theological term within Hinduism which denotes a specific line of theological development within a Hindu religious traditon. ...

In the Vallabha, Rudra-sampradaya the tilak worn is generally a single vertical red line. This line represents Yamuna devi. The form of Krishna worshiped in the Vallabha line is Sri Nathji or Govardhana. The consort of the Govardhana hill is the river Yamuna. Their process of surrender goes through Yamuna devi. Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531) called his system of thought Shuddhadvaita (pure monism). ... Not to be confused with the nearby Jamuna River a tributary of the Meghna River, which is sometimes confused both in older historical literature, and by translations of the local dialects. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nathdwara. ... Krishna holding Govardhan hill from Smithsonian Institute’s collections Govardhan hill, literal meaning the increasing cattle, was the name of a mythical hill near Vrindavan. ...

The Madhva sampradaya mark two vertical lines representing Krishna's 'lotus feet'. In between a vertical black line is made from the daily coal of the yajna-kunda (fire sacrifice). In their sampradaya, the process of worship involves 'nitya-homa', or daily fire sacrifices to Narayana or Krishna. The remnant coal of the puja (worship) is used each day to mark the forehead. Underneath the black line, a yellow or red dot is added to indicate either Lakshmi or Radharani. Those who did not perform daily fire sacrifice wear the simple two line tilak only. Madhva can refer to: Shri Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflowing river Shipra. ... For other uses, see Lakshmi (disambiguation). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Members of the Sri Vaishnava tradition form tilak with two lines representing the feet of Narayana, with a red line in the middle which representing Lakshmidevi and a small line on the top bridge of the nose which represents the guru. Because the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya begins with Lakshmi, and because they approach Narayana through Lakshmi, their tilak reflects this process of surrender, know as Saranagati (or sometimes also Prapatti). Within Sri Vaishnavism, this process of surrender (sarangati) to Vishnu as Venkateshwara or Balaji is understood to be the most effective religious practice in the current age of Kali yuga. A variant to this is found within the Ramanandi sect, begun by Ramananda, who wear a similar tilak design but in reference to Sita and Rama (whom their devotion is focused upon) rather than Lakshmi and Narayana. Sri Vaishnava is a hindu sect,the members of which follow Vishishtadvaita. ... Narayana (नारायण; ) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... For other uses, see Lakshmi (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guru (disambiguation). ... An acronym SRI may refer to one of the following: Socially Responsible Investment. ... Saranagati (Sanskrit for surrender), in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as Vaishnavism, is the process of total surrender to God (in this case Vishnu or Krishna). ... Venkateshwara (Sanskrit वॆन्कटॆष्वरा), also called Venkatachalapathy, is Telugu god believed to be a form of the Hindu deity [[Vishnu]. Venkateshwara has His holy abode in the Venkatam hills (the hills are more often referred to as ThiruVenkatam) in Tirupathi. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... This denomination, it is widely believed, has played a powerful role in shaping the social and spiritual climate of the populous Ganga valley. ... Ramananda was a vaishnava saint, a Ramayat - devotee of Lord Rama. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ...

In the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya the tilak is usually made out of mud from Vrindavan. The main tilak is basically identical to the Madhva tilak. The slight difference arose due to the emphasis on the chanting (japa and kirtan) in the Gaudiya tradition. In Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's line, chanting is given as the essential devotional (bhakti) activity to be performed in Kali yuga in preference to fire sacrifices. As such, the black line made from the ash of the fire sacrifice is not included. The second difference arose due to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's process of approaching Krishna. In the Gaudiya line devotees generally approach Radha and Krishna through a servant such as Tulsidevi. To indicate this, the red dot representing Radha is replaced with a tulsi leaf offered at the base of Krishna's feet. In Gaudiya belief only through the mercy of Tulsi (or another pure devotee) can pure devotion to Radha & Krishna or Krishna & Balarama be awakened. Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ... , Vrindavan   (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan), or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on the site of an ancient forest which is believed to have been the region where the famous cowherd boy, Krishna, from Hindu scriptures spent his childhood days. ... Madhva can refer to: Shri Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Japa, or Japam, is a spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of the God. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST ) (Bengali ) (1486 - 1534), was an ascetic Vaishnava monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal[1], (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Orissa in India[2]. Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning... Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. ... Bhakti (DevanāgarÄ«: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion and also the path of devotion itself, as in Bhakti-Yoga. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Binomial name Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Synonyms Ocimum sanctum L. The Tulsi (also known as Tulasi) plant or Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is an important symbol in many Hindu religious traditions. ... Balarama, next to the river Yamuna. ...

In Nimbarka Sampradaya, the tilak is made of Gopi-Chandana (the clay from Gopi Kunda lake in Dwarka, Gujarat), as described in the Vasudeva Upanishad. It starts at the bridge of the nose and continues as two vertical lines to the top of the forehead. This is said to represent the temple of God. Within these lines, between the eyebrows is a black dot, made from the slate found in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, the sacred birthplace of Radha. This is said to represent God as Radha and Krishna together. This tilak personifies the tenets of the Sampradaya, that God is Radha and Krishna together, none else. It is supposed to have been first given to Nimbarka at the time of his initiation to the Sage, Narada. The tilak is first given to an initiate by their guru at the time of initiation, and after this, daily the devotee will remember his guru before he adorns the tilaka on his head. The Sri Nimbarka Sampradaya (IAST ÅšrÄ« Nimbārka Sampradāya; Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय), also known as the Hamsa Sampradāya, Kumāra Sampradāya, Catuḥ Sana Sampradāya, Sanakādi Sampradāya etc, is one of the four authorised Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas (philosophical schools characterised by leaders in disciplic succession) as... Gopis as depicted in portrait at the Smithsonian Institute Gopi is a word of Sanskrit (गोपी) origin meaning cow-herd girl. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi (sometimes gopika) is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion (bhakti... , Dwarka   is a city and a municipality in Jamnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... This article is for the Indian state. ... The Upanishads (Devanagari: उपनिषद्, IAST: upaniá¹£ad) are part of the Vedas and form the Hindu scriptures which primarily discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of God; they form the core spiritual thought of Vedantic Hinduism. ... Barsana is a village near Mathura (a part of Mathura District) which was a playground for ancient gods. ... , Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: , IPA:  , translation: Northern Province), [often referred to as U.P.], located in central-south Asia and northern India, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Narada (Sanskrit: नारद, nārada) is the Hindu divine sage, who is an enduring chanter of the names Hari and Narayana which other names for Vishnu, considered to be the supreme God by Vaishnavites and many other Hindus. ... For other uses, see Guru (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Initiation (disambiguation). ...

History of Vaishnavism

Temple dedicated to the worship of Vishnu as Venkateswara.

With the help of 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 Alvars are: Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 796 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1098 × 827 pixel, file size: 639 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Gopuram Tirumala Venkateswara Temple Vaishnavism Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 796 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1098 × 827 pixel, file size: 639 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Gopuram Tirumala Venkateswara Temple Vaishnavism Metadata... The Venkateswara Temple (Telugu: తిరుమల వేంకటేశ్వర దేవాలయం, Tamil: திருப்பதி வேங்கடேஸ்வரர் கோவில்) at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Venkateswara (or Srinivasa) and attracts followers from a wide range of Hindu traditions. ... Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala “वेंकटाद्रि समम् स्थानम् ब्रह्मांडे नास्ति किञ्चन । वेंकटेश समो देवो न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥“ There is no place in the Universe that is as great as “Venkatadri”. There is no God as great as Lord Venkateshwara in past or future. ... The Alvars are Hindu saints, followers of Lord Vishnu. ... A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a god or other religiously significant figure. ... The geographical south of India includes all Indian territory below the 20th parallel. ...

1. Poigai Alvar
2. Bhoothathalvar
3. Peyalvar
4. Thirumalisai Alvar
5. Madhurakavi Alvar
6. Nammalvar
7. Periyalvar
8. Andal
9. Kulasekara Alvar
10. Thondaradippodi Alvar
11. Thiruppaana Alvar
12. Thirumangai Alvar

Vaishnavism is still particularly commonplace throughout South India as a result of the Alvars, especially in Tamil Nadu. The temples which the Alvars visited or founded are now known as Divya Desams. Their poems in praise of Vishnu in Tamil language are collectively known as Naalayira (Divya Prabandha). Poigai Alvar was one of the twelve Alvars and was a Hindu saint. ... Bhoothathalvar was one of the twelve Alvars and was a Hindu saint. ... Payalvar was one of the twelve Alvars and was a Hindu saint. ... A tamil mendicant-saint revered in the srivaishnavismschool of south india probably between the 4th to 8th century CE. There are no historical records of this alvars. ... A Tamil saint/composer of the 6th to 8th century. ... Nammalvar was a Hindu bhakti saint, well-known for his many poems about devotion to Vishnu. ... He was born in a brahmin family in Srivilliputhur, near madurai in the 6th to 9th century CE and was named vishnuchittar meaning one who has vishnu in his mind. Legend says he rejected the vedic philosophical debates of his upbringing to focus bhakti especially on doing simple tasks for... Andal, pronounced aanDaaL is one of the twelve Alvars of Vaishnavism, and is the second most important of them. ... Born in the asterism Punarvasu as Kulasekara Verma, he was king of the Chera Kingdom and lived in kollam in kerala. ... Thondaradippodi Alvar, who is also named as Vipra Narayanar led his life as the slave to the Perumal and worked for the Perumal by dedicating him with Garlands. ... The Alvars () were twelve Vaishnava saints, who during the early medieval period of Tamil history (between the seventh and the tenth centuries CE) helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. ... The Alvars () were twelve Vaishnava saints, who during the early medieval period of Tamil history (between the seventh and the tenth centuries CE) helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... The Divya desams are 108 temples that are regarded by Srivaishnavite Hindus as being of special holiness. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... The Nalayira Divya Prabandha is a divine [1] collection of 4,000 verses (Naalayira in Tamil means four thousand) composed sometime around the 8th and 12th century AD, by the 12 Alvars (also aazhvaars), the Tamil mystic poets, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th...

In later years Vaishnava practices increased in popularity due to the influence of sages like Ramanujacharya, Vedantha Desikar, Surdas, Tulsidas, Tyagaraja, etc... A rishi (Sanskrit ऋषि: ) is a Hindu saint or sage. ... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017 - 1137 AD) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Surdas was a Hindu poet, sant and musician of India. ... Gosvāmī Tulsīdās (1532-1623; Devanāgarī: तुलसीदास) was an Awadhi poet and philosopher. ... Sri Tyagaraja (శ్రీ త్యాగరాజ) (17??-1848), an ardent devotee of Sri Ramachandra, was one of the most important composers of Carnatic music. ...

Large Vaishnava communities now exist throughout India, and particularly in Western Indian states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat. Important sites of pilgrimage for Vaishnavs include: Sri Rangam, Vrindavan, Mathura, Ayodhya, Tirupati, Puri, and Dwarka. , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... This article is for the Indian state. ... Srirangam (also Thiruvarangam) is a small town in south India adjoining Tiruchirapalli. ... , Vrindavan   (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan), or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on the site of an ancient forest which is believed to have been the region where the famous cowherd boy, Krishna, from Hindu scriptures spent his childhood days. ... , Mathura   (Hindi: मथुरा, Urdu: متھرا) is a holy city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Ayodhya   (Hindi: अयोध्या, Urdu: ایودھیا IAST Ayodhyā) is an ancient city of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Puri can mean: Puri, a city in the Indian state of Orissa, which is famous for the Jagannath temple and the serene beaches located there . ... , Dwarka   is a city and a municipality in Jamnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. ...

The Puranic Epics

The two great Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, are essential to Vaishnava philosophy and culture: The epic is a broadly defined genre of narrative poetry, characterized by great length, multiple settings, large numbers of characters, or long span of time involved. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ...

The Ramayana describes the story of the avatar known as Rama or Ramachandra, and is taken as a history of the 'ideal king', based around the principles of dharma, morality and ethics. Rama's wife Sita, his brother Lakshman and servant Hanuman all play key roles within the Vaishnava tradition as examples of Vaishnava etiquette and behaviour. As does the evil king Ravana who plays the opposite role of how not to behave. Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... For other uses, see Dharma (disambiguation). ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, Watford, England Lakshmana (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण; IAST Lakṣmaṇa) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana. Within Hindu tradition Lakshmana is considered to be... This article is about a divine entity in Hinduism. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka A great tamil king. ...

The Mahabharata is centered around the popular avatar Krishna, and details the story of a dynastic war between two sets of cousins, with Krishna and his close friends, the Pandavas playing pivotal roles in the drama. The philosophical highlight of the work is the chapter covering a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna prior to the final battle, individually known as the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita, though influential in most philosophies of Hinduism, is of particular importance to Vaishnavas because it is believed to be an accurate record of the very words spoken by Krishna himself. Vaishnavas regard Krishna either as an avatar of Vishnu, or as the source of all avatars, including Vishnu himself ^[11](this view is held within the Gaudiya and Nimbarka sampradayas). Thus, there is no higher source of information within Vaishnava theology than that of Krishna himself. This article is about the Hindu deity. ... The Pandavas were the five sons of the king Pandu. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the late 1400s. ... The Sri Nimbarka Sampradaya (IAST ÅšrÄ« Nimbārka Sampradāya; Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय), also known as the Hamsa Sampradāya, Kumāra Sampradāya, Catuḥ Sana Sampradāya, Sanakādi Sampradāya etc, is one of the four authorised Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas (philosophical schools characterised by leaders in disciplic succession) as...

Both works are often re-enacted in part as dramas by followers of Vaishnavism, especially on festival days concerning each of the specific avatars. The Bhagavad Gita is widely studied as a theological textbook.

Vaishnava Upanishads

Of the 108 Upanishads of the Muktika, 13 are considered Vaishnava Upanishads. They are listed with their associated Veda (SV, ŚYV, KYV, AV): The Upanishads (Devanagari: उपनिषद्, IAST: upaniá¹£ad) are part of the Vedas and form the Hindu scriptures which primarily discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of God; they form the core spiritual thought of Vedantic Hinduism. ... The Muktikā (deliverance) Upanishad is the final Upanishad of the Advaita canon of 108 texts, and it is itself the source of this canon. ... The Samaveda (Sanskrit: सामवेद, sāmaveda, a tatpurusha compound of ritual chant + knowledge ), is third in the usual order of enumeration of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu scriptures. ... ... The Yajur Veda (Sanskrit (Devanagari ) from sacrifice + veda knowledge) is one of the four Hindu Vedas; it contains religious texts focussing on liturgy and ritual. ... The Atharvaveda (Sanskrit: अथर्ववेद, , a tatpurusha compound of , a type of priest, and meaning knowledge) is a sacred text of Hinduism, and one of the four Vedas, often called the fourth Veda. According to tradition, the Atharvaveda was mainly composed by two groups of rishis known as the Bhrigus and the...

1. Nṛsiṃhatāpanī (AV)
2. Mahānārāyaṇa (AV)
3. Rāmarahasya (AV)
4. Rāmatāpaṇi (AV)
5. Vāsudeva (SV)
6. Avyakta (SV)
7. Tārasāra (SYV)
8. Gopālatāpani (AV)
9. Kṛṣṇa (AV)
10. Hayagrīva (AV)
11. Dattātreya (AV)
12. Gāruḍa (AV)
13. Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa (Kali) (KYV)

The Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa Upaniṣad is a Vaishnava Vedantic text associated with the Black Yajurveda. ...

Academic study

Main article: Krishnology

Vaishnava theology has been a subject of study for many devotees, philosophers and scholars within India for centuries. In recent decades this study has also been taken on by a number of academic institutions in Europe, such as the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Bhaktivedanta College. The Vaishnava scholars instrumental in this western discourse include Tamala Krishna Goswami, Hridayananda dasa Goswami, Graham Schweig, Kenneth R. Valpey, Ravindra Svarupa dasa, Sivarama Swami, Satyaraja Dasa, and Guy Beck, among others. Krishnology (also spelled Krishnaology) is an academic neo-logism for Krishna Theology. ... The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, founded in 1997, is an independent academy for the study of Hindu culture, religion, languages, literature, philosophy, history, arts and society. ... Bhaktivedanta College is a Vaishnava university administered by ISKCON. The college opened in 2002 and aspires to be a Krishna institution. ... Tamala Krishna Goswami singing at London Ratha-Yatra festival Tamala Krishna Goswami (1946–March 15, 2002), was born Thomas G. Herzig in the United States. ... Hridayananda dasa Goswami (b. ... Graham M. Schweig is Associate Professor of Religious Studies [1] and Director of the Indic Studies Program [2] at Christopher Newport University. ... Kenneth R. Valpey is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Theologian who studied at Oxford University, St Cross College (1999 - 2004). ... Ravindra Svarupa Das, sometimes spelled Ravindra Swarupa dasa (born William H. Deadwyler, III) is a religious leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON, popularly known as Hare Krishna). ... Sivarama Swami is a religious leader, and guru of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. ... Satyaraja Dasa, born Steven J. Rosen, is founding editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, an academic magazine that is esteemed by scholars around the world. ... Dr. Guy Beck is a member of the Religious Studies faculty at Tulane University. ...

The Journal of Vaishnava studies

Founded in 1992 by Steven J. Rosen the Journal of Vaishnava Studies (JVS) is an academic journal of Hindu studies, and Vaishnava studies in particular. Dedicated to scholarly research associated with all Vishnu-related traditions. The course has received praise from Indological entities for bringing Vaishnava studies into the Western academic environment. In the year 2002 the Journal affiliated with Christopher-Newport University, in Virginia. Satyaraja Dasa, born Steven J. Rosen, is founding editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, an academic magazine that is esteemed by scholars around the world. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

See also

• Vaikhanasas
• Shaivism
• Shaktism
• Swami Narayan

Visit http://www. ... This article is about the religion Shaivism. ... Shaktism focuses worship upon the Hindu Divine Mother, here manifested as Tridevi – the conjoined forms of Lakshmi , Parvati and Saraswati. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Swãminãrãyan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) is the central figure of the Swaminarayan faith of Hinduism and is regarded as an incarnation of God. ...

References

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. ...

External links

• Vaishnavism (Heart of Hinduism)
• Hinduism & Vaishnavism (veda.harekrsna.cz)
• Who is Vishnu? Vaishnava FAQ (dvaita.org)
• Ramanuja and Srivaishnavism (srivaishnavan.com)
• The Basic Premises of Vaishnavism (krishna.com)
• An Overview of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Tradition (gaudiya.com)
• Online library of articles on Vaishnavism and the Ramanuja Sampradaya (sadagopan.org)