Hinduism

🛕 Major Traditions (Sampradayas)

• 🔱 Shaivism: Shiva as supreme reality; includes Kashmir Shaivism, Shaiva Siddhanta, Lingayat/Veerashaiva, and Nath streams.
• 🕉️ Vaishnavism: Vishnu and avatars (Krishna, Rama); includes Sri Vaishnavism, Madhva, Gaudiya, Ramanandi, and Vallabha (Pushtimarg).
• 🔺 Shaktism: Devi/Shakti devotion (Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati), including tantric and regional goddess traditions.
• 🌞 Smartism: Inclusive worship of multiple deities as one reality, rooted in Advaita Vedanta and linked to Adi Shankaracharya.

📚 Philosophical Schools (Darshanas)

Orthodox schools accepting the Vedas include Vedanta (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita), Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and Mimamsa.

🔥 Reform & Modern Movements

• Arya Samaj (Vedic reform and anti-idolatry emphasis)
• Brahmo Samaj (monotheistic reform influence)
• Ramakrishna Movement (universalist spirituality)
• ISKCON / Hare Krishna (global Gaudiya Vaishnava movement)
• Swaminarayan Sampradaya (devotional movement with strong institutional structure)

🧭 Folk and Regional Traditions

Hindu practice also includes village deity worship, tribal traditions, and syncretic local forms that vary significantly across regions in India and beyond.

🧘 Spiritual Paths

Core approaches to practice include Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Jnana Yoga (knowledge), Karma Yoga (action/service), and Raja Yoga (meditation).

🌱 Related Traditions

Traditions often discussed within or alongside Hinduism include Tantra lineages, Aghori ascetic streams, and the Sant tradition of poet-saints such as Kabir.