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Vaishnavism
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The largest community within the family of religions called Hinduism worships God under the

Concepts

name of Vishnu ("one who is all-pervading"). Vaishnavas are divided into many smaller

Practice

divisions, often focussing on one form or avatar (descent) of Vishnu.There are also a number of

Lifestyle
Tradition

prominent theologians, who established their own sampradayas (preceptoral successions)

teaching different forms of Vedanta and contesting the purely monistic doctrine of Shankara.

Historical Perspective

There are four main branches of Vaishnavism and the various sampradayas often claim

Doctrine and Scripture

orthodoxy on the basis of belonging to one of these. The two main focuses of veneration are

Movements and Leaders

Krishna and Rama, who are usually considered God, with other deities in relatively subordinate

The Four Main

positions. Vaishnavas tend to be personalists, associated with the devotional, bhakti traditions.

Denominations
Vaishnavism
Shaivism
Shaktism
The Smarta Tradition
Founders and Theologians
The Bhakti Saints
The Reform Movements
Socio-Political Movements
Recent Spiritual and Cultural
Leaders
Modern Hindu Groups and
Leaders
Famous Women within

History
Vaishnavism claims to go back millions of years (in
keeping with its own historical worldview). Worship
of Krishna dates back at least 5,000 years, though
Western scholars suggest it emerged more recently.
Between the 6th and 9th centuries, the twelve
Alvars (poet-mystics) laid the foundations for the
Shri Vaishnavas based in Shri Rangam, South
India. Their founder-theologian is Ramanuja (1017
1137). After him emerged three other sampradayas
headed by Nimbarka (11251162), Vishnuswami
(12001250) and Madhva (12381317).

Hinduism

From the twelfth century onwards a bhakti

Hinduism in Britain Today

renaissance swept across India, bringing waves of

Extras

devotional sentiment. Centres of devotion were

Shri Rangam, the headquarters of the Shri sampradaya.

rediscovered and revived in places such as

Ayodhya and Vrindavana. The bhakti traditions broke through caste barriers and attracted
millions of followers. Among the many bhakti saints are a number of notable women such as
Andal and Mirabai. Vaishnavas remain the largest Hindu community, both within India and the
UK. The four sampradayas, each named after a specific deity shown below.

Main Writings
Mahabharata
Ramayana
Bhagavad-gita
Bhagavat Purana
Vishnu Purana
Hymns of the Alvars (Tamil poet-mystics)
Vedanta Sutras

Important Stories
Those of Krishna

The Ramayan
The Ten Incarnations

Important Places
Mathura/Vrindavana
Ayodhya
Nathdvar
Udupi
Kanchipuram
Guruvayor
Pandhapur (Maharastra)
Puri
Shri Rangam
Mayapur
Tirupati
Dvaraka

Main Sampradayas
Lakshmi
Theologian/Founder: Ramanuja
Other prominent Leaders: Twelve Alvars
Broad traditions: Shri Vaishnavas (Southern India)
Modern movements in Britain: Swami Narayana Mission

Brahma
Theologian/Founder: Madhva
Other prominent leaders: Caitanya (Bengal)
Broad traditions: Gaudiya (Bengali) Vaishnavas Madhavites (S. India)
Modern movements in Britain: ISKCON

Kumara
Theologian/Founder: Nimbarka
Broad traditions: Hamsa sampradaya (mainly Vrindavana)
Modern movements in Britain: none of prominence

Rudra
Theologian/Founder: Vishnuswami
Other prominent leaders: Vallabha
Broad traditions: Pushti Marg (Gujarat)
Modern movements in Britain: Shree Vallabha Nidhi
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"Heart of Hinduism" is Copyright: ISKCON Educational Services, 2004