vaishnava

Vaishnava refers to a follower of Vaishnavism, a major tradition within Hinduism devoted to Vishnu and his avatars, especially Krishna and Rama. Vaishnavism teaches that Vishnu or Narayana is the supreme God and that loving devotion to him leads to liberation. The tradition emphasizes bhakti, or personal devotion, as the primary spiritual path and often includes temple worship, ritual pulsing of names, and sangat (community) practice.

The Vaishnava field includes several philosophical schools and lineages. Sri Vaishnavism, founded by Ramanuja, emphasizes Vishishtadvaita or qualified non-dualism. Gaudiya Vaishnavism, associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, teaches achintya bheda abheda (inconceivable oneness and difference) between the divine and the soul. Madhva’s Dvaita posits a strict dualism between God and individual souls. Other notable Vaishnava traditions include Nimbarka’s Dvaitadvaita, Vallabha’s Pushtimarga, Ramanandi, and Swaminarayan traditions.

Historically, Vaishnavism has roots in ancient Vedic literature and the Puranas, with devotion to Vishnu appearing in scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita. The medieval bhakti movement helped spread Vaishnavism across the Indian subcontinent, often around temple centers, saints, and poetry. In the modern era, Vaishnavism has grown into a global movement with diverse communities and practices.

Practices commonly associated with Vaishnavas include congregational chanting (kirtan or sankirtan), personal bhakti, ritual puja, scriptural study, and pilgrimages to sacred sites such as Tirupati, Vrindavan, Puri, and Dwarka. Festivals like Krishna Janmashtami and Ram Navami are widely observed. Today, Vaishnavism remains a major religious current in India, Nepal, and diaspora communities worldwide.