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HINDUISM
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PUSHTIMARG
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HINDUISM
Hinduism is also referred to as Sanātana Dharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law". Hinduism is the world's third largest religion, with nearly 900 million followers. The religion of Hinduism originated in Northern India, near the river Indus {sindhu} , about 4000 years ago and is the world's oldest existing religion. Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of India's population.
Who founded Hinduism?
Hinduism has no founder, it developed out of Brahminism. Hinduism is the oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times.
Where does the name Hindu come from?The word "Hindu" probably comes from the name of the river Indus (S, which flows 1800 miles from Tibet through Kashmir and Pakistan to the sea.
How does Hinduism differ from other religions?Hinduism is made up of a variety of different religious beliefs and practices.
Do Hindus have a Holy Book?
Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but plethora of religious texts and scriptures, most notably The Rig Vedas and the Bhagavat Gita.
These books exemplify a guideline to life and morality. There are also many books such as Ramayana that tell the story of past rulers and kingdoms, most of which provide a moral note through its teaching.
There are four major denominations of Hinduism.
SAIVISM
Saivite Hindus worship the Supreme God as Siva, the Compassionate One. Saivites esteem self discipline and philosophy and follow a satguru. They worship in the temple and practice yoga, striving to be one with Siva within.
SAKTISM
Shaktas worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother, Shakti or Devi. She has many forms. Some are gentle, some are fierce. Shaktas use chants, real magic, holy diagrams, yoga and rituals to call forth cosmic forces and awaken the great kundalini power within the spine.
SMARTISM
Smartas worship the Supreme in one of six forms: Ganesha, Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. Because they accept all the major Hindu Gods, they are known as liberal or nonsectarian. They follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man's oneness with God through understanding.
VAISHNAVISM
Vaishnavites worship the Supreme as Lord Vishnu and His incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. Majority of the Bhatia's are Vaishanavites.
Subdivisions of Vaishnavism
Sri Sampradayins
The most ancient Vaishnava sect is the Sri Sampradaya, founded by Ramanuja Acharya. The followers of Ramanuja adore Vishnu and Lakshmi, and their incarnations. They are called Ramanujas or Sri Sampradayins or Sri Vaishnavas. They all repeat the Ashtakshara Mantra: ‘Om Namo Narayanaya.’ They put on two white vertical lines and a central red line on the forehead.
Ramanandis
The followers of Ramananda are the Ramanandis. They are well-known in upper Hindusthan. They are a branch of the Ramanuja sect. They offer their worship to Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Ramananda was a disciple of Ramanuja.
The ChaitanyasThis sect is prominent in Bengal and Orissa. The founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Gouranga, was born in 1485. He was regarded as an incarnation of Lord Krishna. He took Sannyasa at the age of twenty-four. He went to Jagannath where he taught Vaishnava doctrines.The Chaitanyas worship Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. All castes are admissible into the sect. The devotees constantly repeat the Name of Lord Krishna.
The Nimbarkas The founder of this sect is Nimbarka or Nimbaditya. He was originally named Bhaskara Acharya. He is regarded as an incarnation of the Sun-God (Surya). The followers worship Krishna and Radha conjointly. Their chief scripture is the Srimad-Bhagavata Purana.
The MadhvasThe Madhvas are Vaishnavas. They are known as Brahma Sampradayins. The founder of the sect is Madhvacharya, otherwise called Ananda Tirtha and Purna-Prajna. He was born in 1200. He was a great opponent of Sankaracharya’s Advaita system of philosophy. He is regarded as an incarnation of Vayu or the Wind-God. He erected and consecrated at Udipi the image of the Lord Krishna.
Radha VallabhisRadha Vallabhis worship Krishna as Radha-Vallabha, the Lord or Lover of Radha. Harivans was the founder of this sect. Seva Sakhi Vani gives a detailed description of the notion of this sect and more of their traditions and observances
Vallabhacharins Or Krishna Sampradayins
The Vallabhacharins form a very important sect in Bombay, Gujarat and the Central India. Their founder was born in the forest Champaranya in 1479. He is regarded as an incarnation of Krishna. The Vallabhacharins worship Krishna, as Bala-Gopala. Their idol is one representing Krishna in his childhood till his twelfth year. The Gosains or teachers are family men. The eight daily ceremonials for God in the temples are Mangala, Sringara, Gvala, Raja Bhoga, Utthapana, Bhoga, Sandhya and Sayana. All these represent various forms of adoration of God.
The mark on the forehead consists of two red perpendicular lines meeting in a semicircle at the root of the nose and having a round spot of red between them. The necklace and rosary are made of the stalk of the Tulasi (holy Basil).
The great authority of the sect is the Srimad-Bhagavata as explained in the Subodhini, the commentary thereon of Vallabhacharya. The members of the sect should visit Sri Nathdvara, a holy shrine, at least once in their lives.
"Very many Bhatia's are Vaishanavas and now worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh and his descendants, who are known by various names, Acharyas, Gosamis and Maharajas. In Samvat 1797(A.D.1741) the Bhatia's of Cutch Mandvi appointed for the first time Diksitji of Vallabh descent as the first religious head. Vallabhacharya, by which name the sect who worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh, son of Laxman Bhat, known also as Vallabhacharji, Shri Acharayaji, Shri Maha Prabhuji (Vallabh was born in Samvat 1535) is known, is a new sree. It is a new sect inasmuch as it has selected the god Shri Krishna in one of his aspects, that of his adolscence (Bal Gopal Lila), and raised him to superamacy in that respect. It is also a new sect in so far it established the pushtimarg....."
The Tribes and Castes of Bombay......R.E.Enthoven 1922
zanzibar
Who founded Hinduism?
Hinduism has no founder, it developed out of Brahminism. Hinduism is the oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times.
Where does the name Hindu come from?The word "Hindu" probably comes from the name of the river Indus (S, which flows 1800 miles from Tibet through Kashmir and Pakistan to the sea.
How does Hinduism differ from other religions?Hinduism is made up of a variety of different religious beliefs and practices.
Do Hindus have a Holy Book?
Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but plethora of religious texts and scriptures, most notably The Rig Vedas and the Bhagavat Gita.
These books exemplify a guideline to life and morality. There are also many books such as Ramayana that tell the story of past rulers and kingdoms, most of which provide a moral note through its teaching.
There are four major denominations of Hinduism.
SAIVISM
Saivite Hindus worship the Supreme God as Siva, the Compassionate One. Saivites esteem self discipline and philosophy and follow a satguru. They worship in the temple and practice yoga, striving to be one with Siva within.
SAKTISM
Shaktas worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother, Shakti or Devi. She has many forms. Some are gentle, some are fierce. Shaktas use chants, real magic, holy diagrams, yoga and rituals to call forth cosmic forces and awaken the great kundalini power within the spine.
SMARTISM
Smartas worship the Supreme in one of six forms: Ganesha, Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. Because they accept all the major Hindu Gods, they are known as liberal or nonsectarian. They follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man's oneness with God through understanding.
VAISHNAVISM
Vaishnavites worship the Supreme as Lord Vishnu and His incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. Majority of the Bhatia's are Vaishanavites.
Subdivisions of Vaishnavism
Sri Sampradayins
The most ancient Vaishnava sect is the Sri Sampradaya, founded by Ramanuja Acharya. The followers of Ramanuja adore Vishnu and Lakshmi, and their incarnations. They are called Ramanujas or Sri Sampradayins or Sri Vaishnavas. They all repeat the Ashtakshara Mantra: ‘Om Namo Narayanaya.’ They put on two white vertical lines and a central red line on the forehead.
Ramanandis
The followers of Ramananda are the Ramanandis. They are well-known in upper Hindusthan. They are a branch of the Ramanuja sect. They offer their worship to Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Ramananda was a disciple of Ramanuja.
The ChaitanyasThis sect is prominent in Bengal and Orissa. The founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Gouranga, was born in 1485. He was regarded as an incarnation of Lord Krishna. He took Sannyasa at the age of twenty-four. He went to Jagannath where he taught Vaishnava doctrines.The Chaitanyas worship Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. All castes are admissible into the sect. The devotees constantly repeat the Name of Lord Krishna.
The Nimbarkas The founder of this sect is Nimbarka or Nimbaditya. He was originally named Bhaskara Acharya. He is regarded as an incarnation of the Sun-God (Surya). The followers worship Krishna and Radha conjointly. Their chief scripture is the Srimad-Bhagavata Purana.
The MadhvasThe Madhvas are Vaishnavas. They are known as Brahma Sampradayins. The founder of the sect is Madhvacharya, otherwise called Ananda Tirtha and Purna-Prajna. He was born in 1200. He was a great opponent of Sankaracharya’s Advaita system of philosophy. He is regarded as an incarnation of Vayu or the Wind-God. He erected and consecrated at Udipi the image of the Lord Krishna.
Radha VallabhisRadha Vallabhis worship Krishna as Radha-Vallabha, the Lord or Lover of Radha. Harivans was the founder of this sect. Seva Sakhi Vani gives a detailed description of the notion of this sect and more of their traditions and observances
Vallabhacharins Or Krishna Sampradayins
The Vallabhacharins form a very important sect in Bombay, Gujarat and the Central India. Their founder was born in the forest Champaranya in 1479. He is regarded as an incarnation of Krishna. The Vallabhacharins worship Krishna, as Bala-Gopala. Their idol is one representing Krishna in his childhood till his twelfth year. The Gosains or teachers are family men. The eight daily ceremonials for God in the temples are Mangala, Sringara, Gvala, Raja Bhoga, Utthapana, Bhoga, Sandhya and Sayana. All these represent various forms of adoration of God.
The mark on the forehead consists of two red perpendicular lines meeting in a semicircle at the root of the nose and having a round spot of red between them. The necklace and rosary are made of the stalk of the Tulasi (holy Basil).
The great authority of the sect is the Srimad-Bhagavata as explained in the Subodhini, the commentary thereon of Vallabhacharya. The members of the sect should visit Sri Nathdvara, a holy shrine, at least once in their lives.
"Very many Bhatia's are Vaishanavas and now worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh and his descendants, who are known by various names, Acharyas, Gosamis and Maharajas. In Samvat 1797(A.D.1741) the Bhatia's of Cutch Mandvi appointed for the first time Diksitji of Vallabh descent as the first religious head. Vallabhacharya, by which name the sect who worship Shri Krishna as laid down by Vallabh, son of Laxman Bhat, known also as Vallabhacharji, Shri Acharayaji, Shri Maha Prabhuji (Vallabh was born in Samvat 1535) is known, is a new sree. It is a new sect inasmuch as it has selected the god Shri Krishna in one of his aspects, that of his adolscence (Bal Gopal Lila), and raised him to superamacy in that respect. It is also a new sect in so far it established the pushtimarg....."
The Tribes and Castes of Bombay......R.E.Enthoven 1922
zanzibar
Pushtimarg
Pushtimarg (The Path Of Grace) is a sect of the Hindu religion, founded by Shrimad Vallabhacharya (known as Mahaprabhuji) around 1500 AD.
Shri Vallabhacharya is one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion. (The other four being Shankaracharya, Shri Ramanujacharya, Shri Madhavacharya and Shri Nimbarkacharya.) He propagated the philosophy of Shuddhadvaita which forms the basis of Pushtimarg devotional practice.
These acharyas have made significant contribution to the bhakti movement and led to the medieval rise in popularity of the Hindu Religion. The devotional movement is based on the idea that love of God should be seen as an end in itself, not as a means to something else.
Shri Vallabhacharya is one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion. (The other four being Shankaracharya, Shri Ramanujacharya, Shri Madhavacharya and Shri Nimbarkacharya.) He propagated the philosophy of Shuddhadvaita which forms the basis of Pushtimarg devotional practice.
These acharyas have made significant contribution to the bhakti movement and led to the medieval rise in popularity of the Hindu Religion. The devotional movement is based on the idea that love of God should be seen as an end in itself, not as a means to something else.
Shri Vallabhacharya
Shri Vallabhacharya was born into a very noble and learned Brahmin family in South India in what is today called Andhra Pradesh. His ancestors had a very staunch religious background and included learned Brahmins like Shri Yagnanarayan Bhatt and Shri Ganapati Bhatt. They wrote several books on religion and devotion. Shri Vallabhacharya was the second son of Lakshman Bhatt and Yallammagaru. Their ancestors had performed several Soma-yagnas and Shri Lakshman Bhatt completed 100 Somyagnas. Shri Yagnanarayan was blessed by Lord Vishnu, that on completion of 100 Soma-yagnas, God himself would incarnate in his family.
Thus when 100 Soma-yagnas were complete, Lakshman Bhatt went to Kashi to accomplish his vow of feeding 125,000 Brahmins. He could not complete this task as there were political disturbances in Kashi. He took his pregnant wife Yallammagaru and on his way southwards he halted at a place called Champaranya. There, his wife gave birth to a still baby which they kept under a tree and proceeded ahead. On the same night Lakshman Bhatt heard a celestial voice ordering him to go back to the baby and pick it up as it was misunderstood to be a still born. That baby was no ordinary one, but by the grace of God, Shri Vallabh had taken birth through Yallammagaru's womb. On reaching the spot where they had kept the baby, they found the baby encircled by a divine fire as a protecting spirit.
Shri Vallabh was a brilliant and extraordinary child. He finished studying all the Vedas and all the prominent scriptures at a very early age. At the age of 11 he started his all India pilgrimage. During this tour he came to Vijaynagar where he came to know about a sensational debate that was being conducted in the court of King Krishnadevraya. The debate was between the different Acharyas over the question whether the relationship between the world and God is dualistic or non-dualistic. Shri Vallabh entered the court and with his unopposed arguments proved that God is pure and non-dualistic i.e. Shuddhadwait. His philosophy thenceforth came to be known as Shuddhadwait Brahmvaad. The details of which can be found in a book named "Vallabh Digvijay"
During the second pilgrimage, Lord Krishna appeared in the form of Lord Shrinathji in front of him and ordered him to reestablish Pushti Marg and propagate the pushti kind of devotion among the chosen ones and bring them back to their original state in God's own domain. i.e. Vaikuntha or Golok-dham . But the question in Shri Vallabh's mind was that the divine souls in this world too are highly influenced by the materialistic world and their souls and body have lost the kind of purity that is needed for their reunion with the Supreme entity i.e.. Lord Krishna.
Lord Shrinathji assured him that with "brahamasambandha", (relationship with God) whichever soul is admitted into the Pushti marg, all its impurities will refrain from obstructing the soul's relation with Himself and the soul will be eligible to pursue His bhakti. That was the night of Pavitra Ekadashi (Four days before the new moon day) of the auspicious month of Shravana. Lord Shrinathji taught him the Brahamasambandha mantra and asked him to bring back the divine souls back to him.
On the following day Shri Vallabhacharya initiated his first disciple Shri Damodardas Harsani with this mantra along with the principles of Pushtimarga. This was how Pushtimarga was established.