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Hindu theology can be considered as the study and doctrine of the worship and adoration of six forms of the Godhead as Ganesa, Devi (Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati), Siva, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. These aspects of divine worship are known as Shanmatas or the sixfold religious practice of the Hindus.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 157-170</ref>The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.<ref name=":0" />

Hindu theology can be considered as the study and doctrine of the worship and adoration of six forms of the Godhead as Ganesa, Devi (Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati), Siva, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. These aspects of divine worship are known as Shanmatas or the sixfold religious practice of the Hindus.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 157-170</ref>The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.<ref name=":0" />

Swami Sivananda says that diverse sects and creeds are a credit to Hinduism. There are various types of minds and temperaments and so there are various faiths. This is the cardinal tenet of Hinduism. It prescribes spiritual food for everybody, according to his qualification and growth. All diversities are organised and united in the body of Hinduism. It provides food for reflection for different types of thinkers and philosophers all over the world. What appeals to one may not appeal to another, and what is easy for one may be difficult for another. Hence the need for different standpoints.

Swami Sivananda says that diverse sects and creeds are a credit to Hinduism. There are various types of minds and temperaments and so there are various faiths. This is the cardinal tenet of Hinduism. It prescribes adhyatmik food for everybody, according to his qualification and growth. All diversities are organised and united in the body of Hinduism. It provides food for reflection for different types of thinkers and philosophers all over the world. What appeals to one may not appeal to another, and what is easy for one may be difficult for another. Hence the need for different standpoints.

The Rig-Veda declares: एकं सत विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति (Truth is one; sages call it by various names—Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti_

The Rig-Veda declares: एकं सत विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति (Truth is one; sages call it by various names—Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti_

The Hindus are divided into three great classes, viz., '''Vaishnavas''' who worship the Lord as Vishnu; '''Saivas''' who worship the Lord as Siva; and '''Saktas''' who adore Devi or the Mother aspect of the Lord. In addition, there are the Sauras, who worship the Sun-God; Ganapatyas who worship Ganesa as supreme; and Kaumaras who worship Skanda as the Godhead.  

The Hindus are divided into three great classes, viz., '''Vaishnavas''' who worship the Lord as Vishnu; '''Saivas''' who worship the Lord as Siva; and '''Saktas''' who adore Devi or the Mother aspect of the Lord. In addition, there are the Sauras, who worship the Sun-God; Ganapatyas who worship Ganesa as supreme; and Kaumaras who worship Skanda as the Godhead.  

== THE VAISHNAVAS ==

== THE VAISHNAVAS ==

=== Vallabhacharins or Krishna Sampradayins<ref name=":0" /> ===

=== Vallabhacharins or Krishna Sampradayins<ref name=":0" /> ===

The Vallabhacharins form a very important sect in Bombay, Gujarat and the Central India. Their founder Vallabhacharya was born in 1479. Vallabhacharya propounded the '''Shuddhadvaita school''' of Vedanta Darsana. The Vallabhacharins worship Krishna, as Bala-Gopala. Their idol is one representing Krishna in his childhood till his twelfth year. The Gosains or teachers are family men. The eight daily ceremonials for God in the temples are Mangala, Sringara, Gvala, Raja Bhoga, Utthapana, Bhoga, Sandhya, and Sayana. All these represent various forms of adoration of God.   

The Vallabhacharins form a very important sect in Bombay, Gujarat and the Central India. Their founder Vallabhacharya was born in 1479. Vallabhacharya propounded the '''Shuddhadvaita school''' of Vedanta Darsana. The Vallabhacharins worship Krishna, as Bala-Gopala. Their murti or vigraha is one representing Krishna in his childhood till his twelfth year. The Gosains or teachers are family men. The eight daily ceremonials for God in the temples are Mangala, Sringara, Gvala, Raja Bhoga, Utthapana, Bhoga, Sandhya, and Sayana. All these represent various forms of adoration of God.   

The mark on the forehead consists of two red perpendicular lines meeting in a semicircle at the root of the nose and having a round spot of red between them. The necklace and rosary are made of the stalk of the Tulasi (holy Basil). The great authority of the sect is the Srimad-Bhagavata as explained in the Subodhini, the commentary thereon of Vallabhacharya. One of the important centres of this sect is Sri Nathdvara.  

The mark on the forehead consists of two red perpendicular lines meeting in a semicircle at the root of the nose and having a round spot of red between them. The necklace and rosary are made of the stalk of the Tulasi (holy Basil). The great authority of the sect is the Srimad-Bhagavata as explained in the Subodhini, the commentary thereon of Vallabhacharya. One of the important centres of this sect is Sri Nathdvara.  

=== Brahma Samajists ===

=== Brahma Samajists ===

The Brahma Samaj was founded originally by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, early in the nineteenth century. The Brahma Samajists do not perform idol-worship. Keshab Chandra Sen introduced some changes in the year 1860. There are now two branches within the Samaj, viz., Adi Brahma Samaj which holds to the tenets laid down by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Sadharana Brahma Samaj which is a little modern and which follows Keshab Chandra Sen more closely. The Samaj has followers in Bengal.  

The Brahma Samaj was founded originally by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, early in the nineteenth century. The Brahma Samajists do not perform murti or vigraha-worship. Keshab Chandra Sen introduced some changes in the year 1860. There are now two branches within the Samaj, viz., Adi Brahma Samaj which holds to the tenets laid down by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Sadharana Brahma Samaj which is a little modern and which follows Keshab Chandra Sen more closely. The Samaj has followers in Bengal.  

=== Dasnama Sannyasins ===

=== Dasnama Sannyasins ===

Adi Sankaracharya, an eminent exponent of Kevala Advaita philosophy, established four Mutts—one at Sringeri, another at Dvaraka, a third at Puri and a fourth at Joshi-Mutt in the Himalayas, on the way to the Badarinarayana shrine. Sri Sankara had four Sannyasin disciples, viz., Suresvara, Padmapada, Hastamalaka and Totaka. Suresvara was in charge of Sringeri Mutt, Padmapada was in charge of Puri Mutt, Hastamalaka was in charge of Dvaraka Mutt and Totaka was in charge of Joshi-Mutt.   

Adi Sankaracharya, an eminent exponent of Kevala Advaita philosophy, established four Mutts—one at Sringeri, another at Dvaraka, a third at Puri and a fourth at Joshi-Mutt in the Himalayas, on the way to the Badarinarayana shrine. Sri Sankara had four Sannyasin disciples, viz., Suresvara, Padmapada, Hastamalaka and Totaka. Suresvara was in charge of Sringeri Mutt, Padmapada was in charge of Puri Mutt, Hastamalaka was in charge of Dvaraka Mutt and Totaka was in charge of Joshi-Mutt.   

# The Sannyasins of Sringeri Mutt, the spiritual descendants of Sri Sankara and Suresvaracharya, have three names, viz., '''Sarasvati, Puri and Bharati'''.  

# The Sannyasins of Sringeri Mutt, the adhyatmik descendants of Sri Sankara and Suresvaracharya, have three names, viz., '''Sarasvati, Puri and Bharati'''.  

# The Sannyasins of the Dvaraka Mutt have two names, viz., '''Tirtha and Asrama'''  

# The Sannyasins of the Dvaraka Mutt have two names, viz., '''Tirtha and Asrama'''  

# The Sannyasins of the Puri Mutt have two names, viz., '''Vana and Aranya'''  

# The Sannyasins of the Puri Mutt have two names, viz., '''Vana and Aranya'''  

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Sampradayas]]

 

[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]