Vaishnavisme

Vaishnavism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism that centers on Vishnu and his avatars as the supreme deity or as manifestations of the divine. Vaishnava devotion typically emphasizes bhakti, or loving devotion, as a means to attain liberation and to sustain cosmic order (dharma). Key avatars include Rama and Krishna, seen as benevolent saviors who descend to restore righteousness.

Vaishnavism is highly diverse, with several major theological streams. Sri Vaishnavism (Ramanuja) teaches that Vishnu is the supreme god and that individual souls and matter are real but exist in a dependent relationship to Vishnu. Dvaita (Madhva) argues for the eternal distinction between God, souls, and matter. Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) emphasizes Krishna as the original Supreme Being and places central importance on congregational chanting of his names. Other traditions include Vallabha’s Pushti Marg and Nimbarka’s Dvaitadvaita, each presenting different emphases on grace, devotion, and the nature of the soul’s relationship to God.

Scriptural authority in Vaishnavism includes the Vedas and Upanishads along with the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam), and other Vaishnava texts such as the Vishnu Purana and Pancharatra literature. Practices commonly include temple worship, puja, japa of mantras (for example, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in Gaudiya circles), and kirtan or singing of devotional hymns. Festivals such as Janmashtami, Rama Navami, and Ratha Yatra are widely observed in Vaishnava communities.

Historically, Vaishnavism developed in ancient and medieval India and was shaped by the Bhakti movements, which spread devotion to Vishnu and his avatars across regions. In the modern era, Vaishnavism has spread globally, sustaining diverse communities via temples, monasteries, and missionary organizations.