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There is another group of scriptures known as the '''Tantras'''. They belong to the Sakta cult. They glorify Sakti as the World-Mother. They dwell on the Sakti (energy) aspect of God and prescribe numerous courses of ritualistic worship of the Divine Mother in various forms. There are seventy-seven Agamas. These are very much like the Puranas in some respects. The texts are usually in the form of dialogues between Siva and Parvati. In some of these, Siva answers the questions put by Parvati, and in others, Parvati answers, Siva questioning. Mahanirvana, Kularnava, Kulasara, Prapanchasara, Tantraraja, Rudra-Yamala, Brahma-Yamala, Vishnu-Yamala and Todala Tantra are the important works.<ref name=":022" />

There is another group of scriptures known as the '''Tantras'''. They belong to the Sakta cult. They glorify Sakti as the World-Mother. They dwell on the Sakti (energy) aspect of God and prescribe numerous courses of ritualistic worship of the Divine Mother in various forms. There are seventy-seven Agamas. These are very much like the Puranas in some respects. The texts are usually in the form of dialogues between Siva and Parvati. In some of these, Siva answers the questions put by Parvati, and in others, Parvati answers, Siva questioning. Mahanirvana, Kularnava, Kulasara, Prapanchasara, Tantraraja, Rudra-Yamala, Brahma-Yamala, Vishnu-Yamala and Todala Tantra are the important works.<ref name=":022" />

== Sampradayas ==

== Sampradayas ==

The Vedic vision categorizes the fields of knowledge without separating them, as everything and everyone is integral part of the Supreme. There are practically innumerable branches of the main three schools (Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita), called Sampradayas, generally categorized as Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, and Smarta. These schools have developed independent literature over time after the particular preceptors who started or advocated the concepts.

The Vedic vision encompasses all fields of knowledge as everything and everyone is integral part of the Supreme. There are practically innumerable branches of the main three schools (Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita), called Sampradayas, generally categorized as Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, and Smarta. These schools have developed independent literature over time after the particular preceptors who started or advocated the concepts.

A Sampradaya is an ideological tradition in which the teachings of a founder are transmitted faithfully

A Sampradaya is an ideological tradition in which a founder called as Acharya lays down some principles based mostly on the theological and darshanic concepts from Vedas and Vaidika vangmaya. These teachings are transmitted faithfully by his students who in turn became teachers after absorbing those principles and practices to perfection, self-realization and mastery. Any established set of theory and associated practices, forms a particular school of thought of the founder called as a Sampradaya and a traditional lineage of teachers from any Sampradaya is called Parampara. This concept applies at various levels and constitutes the basis of religious Institutions (or Mathas) founded by great Acharyas, and also the heritage of high level family traditions in the Hindu concept. In traditional Hinduism, often these two (religious affiliation and family descendence) are strictly interconnected as Vedic knowledge makes no difference between son and disciple. In the case of religious affiliation, a disciple approaches a Sampradaya because he is attracted by the teachings and by the behavior manifested by the current representatives of the Tradition, and therefore accepts to become integrated into the system of beliefs and practices that constitutes the characteristic of

 

in a line of descendants who in turn became teachers after achieving perfection in self-realization and

 

mastery over the theory and practices that constitute the particular perspective of the founder. Any

 

established philosophical school within a denomination is called a Sampradaya and a traditional lineage of

 

teachers from any Sampradaya is called Parampara. This concept applies at various levels and constitutes

 

the basis of religious Institutions (or Mathas) founded by great Acharyas, and also the heritage of high level

 

family traditions in the Hindu concept. In traditional Hinduism, often these two (religious affiliation and

 

family descendence) are strictly interconnected as Vedic knowledge makes no difference between son and

 

disciple. In the case of religious affiliation, a disciple approaches a Sampradaya because he is attracted by

 

the teachings and by the behavior manifested by the current representatives of the Tradition, and therefore

 

accepts to become integrated into the system of beliefs and practices that constitutes the characteristic of

the Tradition itself.

the Tradition itself.