Hindu denominations, sampradayas, traditions, movements, and sects are traditions and sub-traditions within Hinduism centered on one or more gods or goddesses, such as Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, and so on. The term sampradaya (Sanskrit: सम्प्रदाय, IAST: ) is used for branches with a particular founder-guru with a particular philosophy.
Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority, and many practising Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination or tradition. Four major traditions are, however, used in scholarly studies: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism.Lance Nelson (2007), An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies (Editors: Orlando O. Espín, James B. Nickoloff), Liturgical Press, , pages 562–563 These are sometimes referred to as the denominations of Hinduism, and they differ in the primary deity at the centre of each tradition.SS Kumar (2010), Bhakti — the Yoga of Love, LIT Verlag Münster, , pp. 35–36.
A notable feature of Hindu denominations is that they do not deny other concepts of the divine or deity, and often celebrate the other as henotheistic equivalents. The denominations of Hinduism, states Julius Lipner, are unlike those found in major religions of the world, because Hindu denominations are fuzzy, with individuals practising more than one, and he suggests the term "Hindu polycentrism".
Although Hinduism contains many denominations and philosophies, it is linked by shared concepts, recognisable rituals, cosmology, shared textual resources, pilgrimage to sacred sites and the questioning of authority.
Etymology The word Hindu is an exonym. This word Hindu is derived from the Indo-Aryan and Sanskrit word Sindhu, which means "a large body of water", covering "river, ocean". It was used as the name of the Indus River and also referred to its tributaries. The actual term 'Hindu' first occurs, states Gavin Flood, as "a Persian geographical term for the people who lived beyond the river Indus (Sanskrit: Sindhu)". Hindus are persons who regard themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously adhering to aspects of Hinduism. Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for people living in the Indian subcontinent. In the 18th century, European merchants and colonists began to refer to the followers of Indian religions collectively as Hindus until about the mid-20th century. Hindus subscribe to a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but have no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s), nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic or humanist.Lester Kurtz (ed.), Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, , Academic Press, 2008.MK Gandhi, The Essence of Hinduism, Editor: VB Kher, Navajivan Publishing, see page 3; According to Gandhi, "a man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu."
Overview of Denominations Hinduism, as it is commonly known, can be subdivided into a number of major currents. Of the historical division into six darsanas (philosophies), two schools, Vedanta and Yoga, are currently the most prominent. Classified by primary deity or deities, four major modern Hindu currents are Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaivism (Shiva), Shaktism (Shakti) and Smartism (five deities treated as the same). These deity-centered denominations feature a synthesis of various philosophies such as Samkhya, Yoga and Vedanta, as well as shared spiritual concepts such as moksha, dharma, karma, samsara, ethical precepts such as ahimsa, texts (Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Agamas), ritual grammar, and rites of passage.
Six generic types (McDaniel) June McDaniel's analysis of emotion (2007) distinguishes six generic types of Hinduism, among many minor ones, in an attempt to accommodate a variety of views on a rather complex subject:J. McDaniel Hinduism, in John Corrigan, The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Emotion, (2007) Oxford University Press, 544 pages, pp. 52–53 Folk Hinduism, based on local traditions and cults of local deities and extending back to prehistoric times, or at least prior to written Vedas. Shrauta or "Vedic" Hinduism as practised by traditionalist brahmins (Shrautins). Vedantic Hinduism, including Advaita Vedanta (Smartism), based on the philosophical approach of the Upanishads. Yogic Hinduism, especially the sect based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. "Dharmic" Hinduism or "daily morality", based on karma and upon societal norms such as vivāha (Hindu marriage customs). Bhakti or devotional Hinduism, which involves worship of deities.
Sampradaya
In Hinduism, a sampradaya (Sanskrit: सम्प्रदाय, IAST: ) is a denomination. These are teaching traditions with autonomous practices and monastic centers, with a guru lineage, with ideas developed and transmitted, redefined and reviewed by each successive generation of followers. A particular guru lineage is called parampara. By receiving diksha (initiation) into the parampara of a living guru, one belongs to its proper sampradaya.
Number of adherents + Demographics of major traditions within Hinduism (World Religion Database, ) Tradition Followers Vaishnavism 399,526,000 Shaivism 385,423,000Shaktism 305,643,000Neo-Hinduism 20,300,000Reform Hinduism 5,200,000 Cumulative 1,116,092,000 There are no census data available on demographic history or trends for the traditions within Hinduism.The global religious landscape: Hindus , Pew Research (2012)
Estimates vary on the relative number of adherents in the different traditions of Hinduism. According to a 2020 estimate by The World Religion Database (WRD), hosted at Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA), the Vaishnavism tradition is the largest group with about 399 million Hindus, followed by Shaivism with 385 million Hindus, Shaktism with 305 million Hindus and other traditions including Neo-Hinduism and Reform Hinduism with 25 million Hindus. In contrast, according to Jones and Ryan, Shaivism is the largest tradition of Hinduism.
Shaivism and Shaktism traditions are difficult to separate, as many Shaiva Hindus revere the goddess Shakti regularly., Quote: "it is often impossible to meaningfully distinguish between Shaiva and Sakta traditions". The denominations of Hinduism, states Julius J. Lipner, are unlike those found in major religions of the world, because Hindu denominations are fuzzy with individuals revering gods and goddesses polycentrically, with many Shaiva and Vaishnava adherents recognizing Sri (Lakshmi), Parvati, Saraswati, and other aspects of the goddess Devi. Similarly, Shakta Hindus revere Shiva and goddesses such as Parvati (such as Durga, Radha, Sita, and others) and Saraswati, who are important in Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions. Main denominations
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a devotional stream of Hinduism that worships the god Vishnu as the Supreme Lord (Svayam Bhagavan). In addition to Vishnu, adherents worship Vishnu's ten incarnations (i.e., the Dashavatara). The two most-worshipped incarnations of Vishnu are Krishna—especially within Krishnaism—and Rama, whose stories are told in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, respectively. The adherents of Vaishnavism are generally non-ascetic, monastic, and devoted to meditative practice and ecstatic chanting. Vaishnavism is characterised by diverse adherence to a number of saints, temples, and scriptures. Among historical Vishnuism are the Bhagavata, Pancharatra, and Vaikhanasa traditions.
The major extant Vaishnava sampradayas include: Sri Vaishnavism, which is associated with the worship of the divine couple Lakshmi Narayana. Adherents of the tradition subscribe to the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita. Its principal acharyas are Ramanujacharya and Vedanta Desikan. Vadakalai ( "the northern school"), which is based on the teachings of Vedanta Desikan. Tenkalai ( "the southern school"), which is based on the teachings of Manavala Mamunigal. The Alvars, the Tamil poet-saints of the Bhakti movement, belonged to and are revered in this tradition. Ramanandi Sampradaya ( the Ramayat Sampradaya or the Ramavat Sampradaya), which adheres to the teachings of the Advaita scholar Ramananda. It is the largest monastic group within Hinduism and in Asia, with Vaishnava monks known as Ramanandis, Vairagis or Bairagis.Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, , pages 165–166James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N–Z, Rosen Publishing, , pages 553–554 Brahma Sampradaya, which adheres to the teachings of Dvaita Vedanta philosopher Madhvacharya. The term "Brahma" (not to be confused with Brahma, the deity) refers to the Supreme Being (i.e., Vishnu), who is revered as the Para Brahman. Its contemporary forms are Haridasa and Sadh Vaishnavism. Gaudiya Vaishnavism ( Chaitanya Sampradaya), which adheres to the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and has a number of branches: Brahmanic traditional lineages Sri Caitanya Prema Samsthana Gaudiya Math reform lineages Gaudiya Mission Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON; the Hare Krishna movement) ISKCON Revival Movement Science of Identity Foundation Sri Caitanya Sangha Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Sri Sri Radha Govindaji Trust World Vaisnava Association Manipuri Vaishnavism, a regional form of Gaudiya Vaishnavism Nimbarka Sampradaya ( Kumara Sampradaya), which adheres to the teachings of Nimbarkacharya. This tradition is associated with the Four Kumaras, Rudra Sampradaya, whose principal acharya is Vallabhacharya, the founder of the Pushtimarg tradition. Warkari Sampradaya, which adheres to the teachings of prominent bhakti saints of Maharashtra like Namadeva, Jnaneshwara, Eknath, Tukaram as well as Changadeva, Muktabai, Gora Kumbhar, Savata Mali, Narahari Sonar, Janabai, Sena Nhavi and Kanhopatra. The Warkari Sampradaya promotes the worship of god Vithoba, a manifestation of Krishna. Swaminarayan Sampradya, which adheres to the teachings of Sahajanand Swami, otherwise known as Swaminarayan. Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Minor and regional Vaishnavite schools and the principal acharyas connected with them are: Balmikism, which is linked to sage Valmiki. Bishnoi Panth Baul Ekasarana Dharma (Asomiya Vaishnavism), which adheres to the teachings of Srimanta Sankaradeva. Kapadi Sampradaya Mahanam Sampradaya, which adheres to the teachings of Prabhu Jagadbandu, who is considered to be the incarnation of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahanubhava panth, which adheres to the teachings of Sarvajna Shri Chakradhara. Odia Vaishnavism (Jagannathism), which is the regional cult of the god Jagannath as abstract form of Krishna. Pranami (Pranami Sampradaya), which adheres to the teachings of Devachandra Maharaj. Radha Vallabh Sampradaya, which adheres to the teachings of Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu, emphasizes on the devotion of Radha as the supreme being. Ramsnehi Sampradaya Vaishnava-Sahajiya (tantric) Varkari
Shaivism
Shaivas or Shaivites are those who primarily worship Shiva as the supreme god, both immanent and transcendent. Shaivism embraces at the same time monism (specifically nondualism) and dualism. To Shaivites, Shiva is both with and without form; he is the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja; and is linga, without beginning or end. Shiva is sometimes depicted as the fierce god Bhairava. Shaivites are more attracted to asceticism than devotees of other Hindu sects and may be found wandering India with ashen faces, performing self-purification rituals. They worship in the temple and practice yoga, striving to be one with Shiva within.
The major schools of Shaivism include: Aghori Kalamukha Kapalika