Understanding Vaishnavism and its History, Principles, and Practices

Hinduism comprises many sects, and one of them is Vaishnavism, along with others such as Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Vaishnavism states that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Power. Vaishnavas are the followers of Vaishnavism. They devote themselves to Lord Vishnu and his avatars like Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Narayana, and Lord Venkateswara. Vaishnavism principles state that Lord Vishnu is the only true manifestation of the divine i.e., God. Sacred texts of Hinduism - Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vishnu Purana, and the Bhagavata Purana are revered, and their teachings are followed in Vaishnavism. Some important Vaishnava pilgrimage sites include Vrindavan, Badrinath, Dwaraka, Nathdwara, Udupi, Mathura, Ayodhya, Tirupati, Mayapur, Pandharpur, Puri, Srirangam, Kancheepuram among many others,

History -

The earliest mention of Vaishnavism was in the Vedas, which were compiled around 1500 BCE. The writing of epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana around 500 BCE gave a push to the faith later. After that, many dynasties in India, like the Gupta dynasty in the north and the Chalukya dynasty in the south, supported the sect's growth by constructing temples in honor of Lord Vishnu. The teachings of Vaishnavism then found a voice in the preachings of poets and religious leaders. Around the 7th century CE, 12 poet saints called the Alvars composed devotional poems and hymns in honor of Lord Vishnu and traveled from one place to another singing them. Religious leader Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also contributed to the growing popularity of Vaishnavism by spreading the worship of Lord Krishna through singing devotional hymns.

Gradually, more and more people joined in singing praises of Lord Vishnu and his many avatars visiting pilgrimage sites. By the 11th century CE, Vaishnavism had made a home in people's hearts in India and many parts of the world like Cambodia, Japan, etc.

Teachings and Practices -

Vaishnavism stands on the central principle that Lord Vishnu is the ultimate reality. Devoting and surrendering oneself entirely to him is the only way to escape the never-ending cycle of birth and death, bringing moksha for the soul and uniting it with Lord Vishnu in his abode, Vaikuntha.

Vaishnavas also believe that Lord Vishnu reincarnates himself to restore the balance between dharma and adharma on earth. They revere many of his avatars, but there are 10 main incarnations that they worship the most - Matsya Avatar, Kurma Avatar, Varaha Avatar, Narasimha Avatar, Vamana Avatar, Lord Parsurama, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha, and the Kalki Avatar.

Vaishnavism involves immersing oneself in the service of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations through various practices like -

Bhakti yoga, which involves performing rituals, prayers, and chanting the name of the Lord,

Temple worship by visiting temples housing idols of Lord Vishnu and his many avatars,

Satsang involves singing bhajans, listening to spiritual discourses, and discussing the teachings of holy scriptures. Music and dance are some of the means through which they express their adoration for Lord Vishnu.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism and Sri Vaishnavism -

Vaishnavism is further bifurcated into many subsects, two of them being Gaudiya Vaishnavism and Sri Vaishnavism.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism is based on Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhui’s teachings. He was a saint from the 16th century and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. It believes in the union of the aatma with Parmatma and stands on the principle of devotional love towards the deity. The devotees recite the holy name and chant “Hare Krishna, Hare Rama’ to remember and praise Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana, in 1966, Srila Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to preach Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Sri Vaishnavism worships the consort of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi as Shri. It considers the Vedas to be dedicated to Lord Vishnu, with all the deities mentioned in them being incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Performing rituals and temple visits are an important part of Sri Vaishnavism as an expression of their emotional devotion to Lord Vishnu. The Sri Vaishnavas believe in attaining salvation through devotion to Lord Vishnu and finally breaking free from the cycle of birth and death.

Wrapping Up

Vaishnavism has been credited to a great extent with shaping the Hindu religion. Within the sect, Lord Vishnu, along with his incarnations like Lord Krishna, is worshiped. It is believed that He is the Supreme Power in control of everything in the universe, and devoting oneself to him, i.e., God and his service, can give salvation to human beings. Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, is also worshiped by Vaishnavas, who base their lives on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

Vaishnavism is one of the biggest and most followed sects of Hinduism. Vaishnavas have been spreading the message of spiritual enlightenment for many years now in different parts of the world.

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