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Vaishnavism (Vaisnava dharma) is one of the major branches of Hinduism along with Shaivism, Smartism, and Shaktism. It is focused on the veneration of Vishnu. Vaishnavites, or the followers of the Vishnu, lead a way of life promoting monotheism, which gives importance to Vishnu and his ten incarnations.

Followers worship Vishnu, the Supreme Lord and preserver of the Hindu Trimurti ('three images', the Trinity), and his ten incarnations, including Rama and Krishna. The adherents of this sect are generally non-ascetic, monastic and devoted to meditative practice and ecstatic chanting.[1][2][3] Vaishnavites believe that both monism and dualism fail to explain reality accurately, and are of the understanding that God is inconceivably and simultaneously different from and nondifferent from everything else in reality (In Sanskrit this view is referred to as Acintya Bhedabheda Tattva). They are deeply devotional. Their religion is rich in saints, temples and scriptures.[4]

Its beliefs and practices, especially the concepts of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga, are based largely on the Upanishads, and associated with the Vedas and Puranic texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, and the Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana.[5][6][7][8]

The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as Vaishnava(s) or Vaishnavites. Since the mid-1900s, the Gaudiya Vaishnava branch[9] of the tradition has raised awareness of Vaishnavism internationally, mainly due to the Hare Krishna movement founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and several other Vaishnava organizations such as Pure Bhakti Yoga Society of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj, conducting preaching activities in the West.[10]

Principal historic branches[edit]

Bhagavatism, early Ramaism and Krishnaism, merged in historical Vishnuism,[11] a tradition of Historical Vedic religion, distinguished from other traditions by its primary worship of Vishnu.[12] Vaishnavism, is historically the first structured Vaishnava religion as "Vishnuism, in a word, is the only cultivated native sectarian native religion of India."[13] Although it is usual to speak of Vishnu as the source of the Avatar, this is only one of the names by which the god of Vaishnavism is known. The other names include Narayana, Vasudeva, Rama and Krishna; each the name of a divine figure with attributed supremacy, which each associated tradition of Vaishnavism believes to be distinct.[14] For example, in the Krishnaism branch of Vaishnavism,[15] such as the Gaudiya Vaishnava, Nimbarka and Vallabhacharya traditions, devotees worship Krishna as the One Supreme form of God, and source of all avatars, Svayam Bhagavan, in contrast to the belief of the devotees of the Sri Sampradaya.[16]

Principal beliefs[edit]

Supreme God[edit]

The principal belief of Vishnu-centered sects is the identification of Vishnu or Narayana as the one supreme God. This belief contrasts with the Krishna-centered traditions, such as Nimbaraka and Vallabha, in which Krishna is considered as the Supreme Lord Vishnu.

The belief in the supremacy of Vishnu is based upon the many Avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu listed in the Puranic texts, which differs from other Hindu deities such as Ganesha, Surya or Durga. According to many Vaishnavites, the latter are instead classified as demi-gods or devas.

Swaminarayan, founder of the Swaminarayan faith, differs with this view and holds that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the same God.[17]


Vaishnavas although follow a process of initiation (diksha), given by a guru, under whom they are trained to understand Vaishnava practices gives more importance to the acceptance of the Supremacy of Lord Vishnu by men and women. At the time of initiation, the disciple is traditionally given a specific mantra, which the disciple will 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 guru is based on injunctions throughout the scriptures held as sacred within the Vaishnava traditions but is not mandatory:

"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)[19]

The scriptures specific to the Gaudiya Vaishnava group also state that one who performs an act of worship as simple as chanting the name of Vishnu or Krishna can be considered a Vaishnava by practice:

"Who chants the holy name of Krishna just once may be considered a Vaishnava. Such a person is worship-able and is the topmost human being."(Chaitanya Charitamrita)[20]

Attitude toward scriptures[edit]

Vaishnava traditions refer to the writings of previous acharyas in their respective lineage or sampradya (see below) as authoritative interpretations of scripture.[21] While many schools like Smartism and Advaitism encourage interpretation of scriptures philosophically and metaphorically and not too literally,[citation needed] 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."[21][22]

Vaishnava sampradayas[edit]

Vaishnavite Brahmin students at a theological seminary in Tanjore. Source:The National Geographic Magazine, Nov 1909

Within Vaishnavism there are four main disciplic lineages (sampradayas),[23] each exemplified by a specific Vedic personality. The four sampradayas follow subtly different philosophical systems regarding the relationship between the soul (jiva) and God (Vishnu or Krishna), although the majority of other core beliefs are identical.[5][10][21][24]

Sri Sampradaya which is the Sampradaya of Lakshmi
Philosophy: Vishishtadvaita ("Qualified Monoism"), espoused by Chidachida Visishtam Ramanujacharya
See Sri Vaishnavism, Vaikhanasa, Ramanandi Sect, Swaminarayan.
Brahma sampradaya
Philosophies: Dvaita ("dualism"), espoused by Madhvacharya, and Achintya Bheda Abheda (literally "inconceivable difference and non-difference").
Rudra sampradaya
Philosophy: Shuddhadvaita ("pure nondualism"), espoused by Vishnuswami and Vallabhacharya.
Philosophy: Dvaitadvaita ("duality in unity"), espoused by Nimbarka.[25]

Vaishnavism in South India[edit]

Broadly, Vaishnavas in South India can be classified as Brahmins and non-Brahmins.

Among the Brahmins the main groups are:

  1. The Iyengars, who follow the Sri Vaishnava Vishistadvaita philosophy of Asuri Ramanujacharya. The Iyengars are further divided into the Vadakalai-i.e. the northern school, and Thenkalai or southern school. Both these sects adhere to the Pañcaratra agama, in temples.

These two sects evolved about 200 years after Ramanuja and differ on 18 points of doctrine. The founder of the Vadagalai sect is Swami Vedanta Desika, and the Tengalai sect is Manavala Mamuni.[26] But both schools have a common Guru Parampara prior to the division. The Sri Vaishnavas use both the Sanskrit veda as well as the Tamil divyaprabandham in temple worship.

  1. The Madhvas, who follow the Sadvaishnava Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya.
  2. The Vaikhanasas, who are primarily an ancient community of temple priests, who use the Vaikhanasa Agama in temple worship. They use Sanskrit exclusively in temple worship.

Among the non-Brahmins, sections of various communities like the Chettiars and Mudaliars (Thuluva Vellalars)in Tamil Nadu, Namadhari in Karnataka and sections of the Komati Caste, Kammas, Padmashalis, Reddys, Rajus and Haridasus in Andhra Pradesh and so on in other states are known as Vaishnavites. Some groups tend to be vegetarians like the Brahmins.

In temple worship, a Vaikhanasa temple (like Tirumala), a Madhva temple (like Udupi), a Tengalai temple (like Melukote) and a Vadagalai temple (like Thiruvallur) all have distinctly different rituals and customs with priests of that particular denomination who perform the worship. However all temples are popularly visited by all Vaishnavas as lay worshippers, as also members of various other denominations.

In Kerala, some communities call themselves Vaishnavas, especially the pisharodies and Gauda Saraswatha Brahmins and Embranthiries who settled in Kerala at a later phase of Brahmin Settlement. The Sagara Brahmins in and around Thiruvalla Sree Vallabha Vishnu Temple are also referred to as Vaisnavas accepting the Supremacy of Lord Vishnu.

Other branches and sects[edit]

Vaishnava Saint Kabir:[27]


Adi GranthIV.XXV.I

Tilaka styles[edit]



Main article: Historical Vishnuism

Vaishnavism is the largest denomination of Hinduism,with almost 350 million followers.[30] The worship of Vishnu was already well developed in the period of the Itihasas.[31] Hopkins says "Vishnuism, in a word, is the only cultivated native sectarian religion of India."[13] Vaishnavism is expounded in a part of the Mahabharata known as the Bhagavad Gita, which contains a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. In this dialogue, Krishna plays the role of Arjuna's charioteer.

Many of the ancient kings, beginning with Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) (375-413 CE) were known as Parama Bhagavatas, or Bhagavata Vaishnavas.[32]


In later years Vaishnava practices increased in popularity due to the influence of sages like Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya, Vedanta Desika, Manavala Mamunigal, Surdas, Tulsidas, eknath, Tyagaraja, and many others.[35][36][37][38]

Krishna murti (left) with Radha

In his The Religions of India, Edward Washburn Hopkins presents an accepted distinction as to the assumption that Vishnuism is associated with Vedic brahmanism, and was part of brahmanism. Krishnaism was adopted much later, and it is for this reason, amongst others, that despite its modern iniquities Shiva has appealed more to the brahmans than Krishna. It's only later that Vishnuism merged with Krishnaism.[39] thus,today,vashnavism is by far the most popluar sect of hinduism,having more followers than shaivism and shaktaism combined.

Large Vaishnava communities now exist throughout India, and particularly in Western Indian states, such as western Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Maharashtra and Gujarat. Important sites of pilgrimage for Vaishnavs include: Guruvayur Temple, Sri Rangam, Vrindavan, Mathura, Ayodhya, Tirupati, Pandharpur (Vitthal), Puri (Jaggannath), Mayapur, Nathdwara and Dwarka.[40][41]

Puranic epics[edit]

Two great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, form an important part of Vaishnava philosophy, theology, and culture.

The Ramayana describes the story of Rama, an avatara of Vishnu, and is taken as a history of the 'ideal king', based on the principles of dharma, morality and ethics. Rama's wife Sita, his brother Lakshman, with his devotee and follower Hanuman all play key roles within the Vaishnava tradition as examples of Vaishnava etiquette and behaviour. Ravana, the evil king and villain of the epic, plays the opposite role of how not to behave.

The Mahabharata is centered around Krishna and details the story of a dynastic war between two families of cousins, with Krishna and the Pandavas, five brothers, 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. 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 and is rendered in numerous English translations and world languages.

Academic study[edit]


See also[edit]


  1. ^ "ISKCON". Retrieved 7 February 2014. 
  3. ^ Dubois (2007-04-01). Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies. Cosimo. p. 111. ISBN 9781602063365. 
  4. ^ "HimalayanAcademy". Retrieved 7 February 2014. 
  7. ^ Heart of Hinduism - Vaishnavism
  8. ^ Explanation of different scriptural texts within Hinduism
  9. ^ Dimock Jr, E.C. (1963). "Doctrine and Practice among the Vaishnavas of Bengal". History of Religions 3 (1): 106–127. doi:10.1086/462474. JSTOR 1062079. 
  11. ^ Gonda, J. (1993). Aspects of Early Visnuism. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 163. ISBN 978-81-208-1087-7. 
  13. ^ a b Hopkins,The Religions of India, p.690
  14. ^ Matchett, Freda (2000). Krsna, Lord or Avatara? the relationship between Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu: in the context of the Avatara myth as presented by the Harivamsa, the Visnupurana and the Bhagavatapurana. Surrey: Routledge. p. 254. ISBN 0-7007-1281-X.  p. 4
  16. ^ Page 1–Ramanuja and Sri Vaisnavism "In general, the Vaishnava Agamas describe Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Being and the foundation of all existence."
  17. ^ According to this site, [1], verses 47, 84, of their scripture, Shikshapatri, states, "And the oneness of Narayana and Shiva should be understood, as the Vedas have described both to be brahmaroopa, or form of Brahman, i.e., Saguna Brahman, indicating that Vishnu and Shiva are different forms of the one and same God.
  18. ^ Bhag Gita 4:34
  19. ^ Caitanya Caritamrta: Madhya-lila, 15.106, 16.72, 16.74
  20. ^ Chaitanya Charitamrita: Madhya-lila, 15.106
  21. ^ a b c Gupta, Ravi M.; Edited by Gavin Flood, University of Stirling (2007). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami: When knowledge meets devotion. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-40548-3. 
  22. ^ Jiva Goswami, Kṛiṣhna Sandarbha 29.26-27
  23. ^ The Sampradaya of Sri Caitanya, by Steven Rosen and William Deadwyler III "the word sampradaya literally means 'a community'. A text from the Padma Purana quoted widely in Vaisnava writings speaks directly about these authorised communities. It says that 'Those mantras which are not received within a sampradaya are fruitless; they have no potency'. The text then specifically names the sampradayas. 'In the Kali-yuga, there will be four sampradayas.' ― we are talking about Vaisnava sampradayas ― 'They are the Brahma Sampradaya, originating with Brahma; Sri Sampradaya, starting with Laksmi; Rudra Sampradaya, starting with Siva; there's another one starting from Sanaka and the others, the Kumaras'. Those are the four recognised Vaisnava sampradayas."
  24. ^ Guy L. Beck (2005). "Krishna as Loving Husband of God". Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity. ISBN 978-0-7914-6415-1. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 
  25. ^ Klostermaier, K.K. (1998). A concise encyclopedia of Hinduism. Oneworld. 
  26. ^ Chari, S.M Srinivasa (1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 224. 
  28. ^ Vaishnavism
  29. ^
  30. ^
  31. ^
  35. ^ Jackson, W.J. (1992). "A Life Becomes a Legend: Sri Tyagaraja as Exemplar". Journal of the American Academy of Religion 60 (4): 717–736. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lx.4.717. JSTOR 1465591. 
  36. ^ Jackson, W.J. (1991). Tyagaraja: Life and Lyrics. Oxford University Press, USA. 
  37. ^ Ayyappapanicker, K.; Akademi, S. (2000). Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. 
  38. ^ Roy Chaudhury, H.C.; Prajnananda, S. (2002). "Further Reading". Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. 
  39. ^ Hopkins,The Religions of India, p.530 "When, however, pantheism, nay, even Vishnuism, or still more, Krishnaism, was an accepted fact upon what, then, was the wisdom of the priest expended?"
  41. ^ Valpey, K.R. (2004). The Grammar and Poetics of Murti-Seva: Caitanya Vaisnava Image Worship as Discourse, Ritual, and Narrative. University of Oxford. 
  42. ^ Selengut, Charles (1996). "Charisma and Religious Innovation:Prabhupada and the Founding of ISKCON". ISKCON Communications Journal 4 (2). [dead link]
  43. ^ Herzig, T.; Valpey, K. (2004). "Re—visioning Iskcon". The Hare Krishna Movement: the Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. ISBN 978-0-231-12256-6. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 

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