Historical Vishnuism

Historical Vishnuism as early worship of the deity Vishnu is one of the historical components, branches or origins of the contemporary and early Vaishnavism, which was subject of considerable study, and often showing that Vishnuism is a distinctive worship — a sect. The tradition was forming in the context of Puranic Vaisnavism evolving in the process of revitalizing religion of Brahmanism, of which Vishnuism is believed to be a part, through assimilating a number of orthodox, non-conformist and tribal elements; the absorption of mother goddess worship, into what now known a Vaishnava sampradayas. It is a tradition of the historical Vedic religion and is distinguished from other historic schools later forming the Vaishnavism by its primary worship of Vishnu, later identified as the source of all Avatars. A number of separate sects or traditions merged with each representing the names of god of Vaishnavism. In contemporary Vaishnavism God is also known as Narayana, Vasudeva and Krishna and behind each of those names is a divine figure with attributed supremacy in Vaishnavism, that relates to historic traditions that some scholars theorize to be separate and distinct historically.

p. 4 It is distinct from Krishnaism, as in the revival of Bhakti, found in the Bhagavata it is referred as Vishnuism.

The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as ''Vaishnava(s)'' or ''Vaishnavites''. According to recent statistics, a majority of Hindus are Vaishnavas, with the vast majority living in India. The name Vaishnavite is a direct translation of Vishnite and often lead to confusion. Some sources identify Visnuism with Vaishnavism, while others prefer to distinguish Vishnuism from Krishnaism and Ramaism.

In his ''The Religions of India'', Edward Washburn Hopkins presents an accepted distinction as to the assumption that Vishnuism is associated with Vedic brahmanism, and was part of brahmanism. Krishnaism was adopted much later, and it is for this reason, amongst others, that despite its modern iniquities Siva has appealed more to the brahmanas than Krishna. Its only later that Vishnuism merged with Krishnaism.

Etymology

The term ''Vaishnavism'' and ''Vishnuism'', entered the English language in the 19th century, and was formed by attaching the suffix ''-ism'' to Sanskrit ''Vaishnava'' or ''Vishnu'' ( IAST: or ), where first is the '' vriddhi'' form of the second meaning "relating, belonging, or sacred to Vishnu" or "a worshiper or follower of Vishnu". However ''Vaishnava'' may also refer to worshiper of Rama, Nrisimha or Krishna, whereas ''Vishnuite'' more often refers to one who primarily worships Vishnu.

Principal beliefs

Vishnu: The Supreme

The principal belief of Vishnuism is the identification of Vishnu as supreme or principal worship of him as was the case in the Historical Vedic times. Hopkins writes: there is a passage like the great Ka hymn of the Rig Veda, 'whom as god shall one worship?' The sages say to Vishnu: "All men worship thee;" In the Rig Veda he is referred by his name of ''trivikrama'' (who took three strides) and is believed by some scholars as the starting point of the evidence of such worship.

History of Vishnu-centered Vaishnavism

Number of stages to the history of Vaishnavism place worship of Vishnu in different perspective according to the different theories by different authors. On the first stage, in its twofold aspect - historic and philosophical, is referred as by some as Bhagavata and is believed to be founded by Krishna-Vasudeva, of Yadava tribe. The philosophical basis of this stage was that supreme being is eternal, infinite and full of grace, and that liberation consisted in a life of perpetual bliss near the Lord.Encyclopaedia of Hinduism
(ed) N.K. Singh, p.1076 During this stage some believe that Pancaratra

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