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sectsVaishnava

Vaishnavism is a major tradition within Hinduism that centers devotion on Vishnu and his avatars, such as Krishna and Rama. Within Vaishnavism, numerous sects or sampradayas claim distinct lineages, theological emphases, and devotional practices, yet share common commitments to bhakti (devotion) to Vishnu or Krishna and to temple worship, sacred places, and guru-parampara.

Key Vaishnava sects include:

- Sri Vaishnavism, founded by Ramanuja, emphasizes Vishnu as the supreme, with Lakshmi as his consort, and

- Dvaita Vaishnavism, associated with Madhva, maintains a strict dualism between the individual soul and Vishnu. Devotion

- Gaudiya Vaishnavism, associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, teaches Krishna as the original form of the divine and

- Vallabha Sampradaya (Pushtimarg) centers on Krishna as the merciful ideal of devotion, stressing prapatti (self-surrender) and

- Nimbarka’s Dvaitadvaita presents a philosophy of simultaneous difference and non-difference between the soul and God, guiding

- Ramanandi Sampradaya focuses on Rama devotion and is one of the largest Vaishnava monastic orders, emphasizing

- Swaminarayan movement, founded in Gujarat in the 19th century, centers on devotion to Narayana/Vishnu in the

Practices across these sects commonly include temple worship, scriptural study, festivals, pilgrimage, and communal singing, with

a
philosophy
of
qualified
non-dualism
(Vishishtadvaita).
Rituals
and
temple
worship
are
central,
with
prominent
centers
at
Srirangam
and
Tirupati.
is
expressed
through
ritual
worship,
scriptural
study,
and
guru
lineage,
with
important
sites
in
Karnataka
and
the
Udupi
Krishna
temple.
emphasizes
ecstatic
devotion
(bhakti)
and
congregational
singing
(sankirtan).
Key
texts
include
the
works
of
the
Gaudiya
sampradaya
founders
and
the
works
of
Rupa
and
Jiva
Goswami.
grace
as
the
means
to
union
with
the
divine,
with
Shreenathji
as
a
central
deity.
devotional
practice
accordingly.
ascetic
discipline
and
service.
form
of
Swaminarayan,
and
has
contemporary
branches
such
as
BAPS.
variations
in
rites,
iconography,
and
emphasis
on
guru-lineage.