''Sampradaya'' (/
səmpɾəd̪ɑjə/,; ), in
Indian-origin religions, namely
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
,
Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
,
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
, and
Sikhism
Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...
, can be translated as 'tradition', 'spiritual lineage', 'sect', or 'religious system'. To ensure continuity and
transmission of dharma, various ''sampradayas'' have the
Guru-shishya parampara in which a
parampara or lineage of successive ''
guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
s'' (masters) and ''
shishyas'' (disciples) serves as a spiritual channel and provides a reliable network of relationships that lends stability to a religious identity.
Shramana is vedic term for seeker or shishya. Identification with and followership of ''sampradayas'' is not static, as ''sampradayas'' allows flexibility where one can leave one ''sampradaya'' and enter another or practice
religious syncretism
Religious syncretism is the blending of religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation of other beliefs into an existing religious tradition.
This can occur for many reasons, where religious traditions exist in proximity to each ...
by simultaneously following more than one ''sampradaya''. ''
Samparda'' is a
Punjabi language
Punjabi, sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It is one of the most widely spoken native languages in the world, with approximately 150 million native sp ...
term, used in Sikhism, for ''sampradayas''.
Guru-shishya parampara
Sampradayas are living traditions of both teaching and practice within a specific religious-spiritual tradition. They are generally composed of a monastic order within a specific
guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
lineage, with ideas developed and transmitted, redefined and reviewed by each successive generation of followers. A particular
guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
lineage is called ''
parampara''. By receiving
diksha (initiation) into the ''parampara'' of a living guru, one belongs to its proper ''sampradaya''.
To ensure continuity through
dharma transmission
In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' ('' kechimyaku'') theoretically traced back to the Buddha him ...
, various sampradayas ensure continuity through Guru-shishya parampara where Guru teaches shishyas in
gurukula
A () is a traditional system of religious education in India with ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with the guru in the same house for a period of time where they learn and get educated by their guruji.
Etymology
The word is a com ...
,
matha
A ''matha'' (; , ), also written as ''math'', ''muth'', ''mutth'', ''mutt'', or ''mut'', is a Sanskrit word that means 'institute or college', and it also refers to a monastery in Hinduism. ,
akhara
Akhara or Akhada (Hindi: अखाड़ा, romanised: ''Akhāṛā'') is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artists or a ''sampradaya'' monastery fo ...
, and
viharas. Buddhism also has
lineage of gurus.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...
has lineage of
Lama
Lama () is a title bestowed to a realized practitioner of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. Not all monks are lamas, while nuns and female practitioners can be recognized and entitled as lamas. The Tibetan word ''la-ma'' means "high mother", ...
s who teach in
gompa
A Gompa or Gönpa or Gumba ("Five Breathtaking Gumbas Around Kathmandu", ''OMG Nepal'', https://omgnepal.com/five-breathtaking-gumbas-around-kathmandu/ "remote place", Sanskrit ''araṇya''), also known as ling (, "island"), is a sacred Buddhist ...
s and
stupa
In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...
s.
Titles such as
Guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
,
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings i ...
, or
Mahacharya
Mahāchārya (Sanskrit: महाचार्य, *mahācārya*) is an honorific spiritual title used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It means "great teacher" or "senior preceptor" and is conferred upon individuals recognized for their philo ...
may be used to denote the level of authority within a lineage (sampradaya).
Continuity of sampradaya
''Sampradaya'' is a body of practice, views and attitudes, which are transmitted, redefined and reviewed by each successive generation of followers. Participation in ''sampradaya'' forces continuity with the past, or
tradition
A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common e ...
, but at the same time provides a platform for change from within the community of practitioners of this particular traditional group.
Diksha: Initiation into sampradaya
A particular
guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
lineage in guru-shishya tradition is called ''
parampara'', and may have its own
akhara
Akhara or Akhada (Hindi: अखाड़ा, romanised: ''Akhāṛā'') is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artists or a ''sampradaya'' monastery fo ...
s and
gurukula
A () is a traditional system of religious education in India with ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with the guru in the same house for a period of time where they learn and get educated by their guruji.
Etymology
The word is a com ...
s. By receiving
diksha (initiation) into the ''parampara'' of a living guru, one belongs to its proper ''sampradaya''. One cannot become a member by
birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...
, as is the case with ''
gotra
In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotr ...
'', a seminal, or hereditary,
dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchy, monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others.
H ...
.
Authority on knowledge of truth
Membership in a ''sampradaya'' not only lends a level of authority to one's claims on truth in
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
traditional context, but also allows one to make those claims in the first place. An often quoted verse from the
Padma Purana
The ''Padma Purana'' (, or ) is one of the eighteen Puranas#Mahapuranas, Major Puranas, a genre of texts in Hinduism. It is an encyclopedic text, named after the lotus in which creator god Brahma appeared, and includes large sections dedic ...
states:
And another verse states:
As Wright and Wright put it,
Nevertheless, there are also examples of teachers who were not initiated into a sampradaya,
Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi (; ; 30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) was an Indian Hindu Sage (philosophy), sage and ''jivanmukta'' (liberated being). He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
He was b ...
being a well-known example.
[Sri Ramanasramam, "A lineage of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi?"](_blank)
A sannyasin belonging to the
Sringeri Sharada Peetham
Dakṣiṇāmnāya Śrī Śāradā Pīṭham () or Śri Śṛṅgagiri Maṭha (); , ) is one amongst the four cardinal Matha, pīthams following the Daśanāmi Sampradaya - the ''peetham'' or ''matha'' is said to have been established by ach ...
once tried to persuade Ramana to be initiated into sannyasa, but Ramana refused.
Types of sampradayas
Āstika and nāstika sampradayas
Since ancient times, Indian philosophy has been categorized into ''āstika'' and ''nāstika'' schools of thought.
Āstika and nāstika
Āstika (Sanskrit: आस्तिक; �st̪ɪkᵊ IAST: ''Āstika'') and Nāstika (Sanskrit: नास्तिक; ̪ɑst̪ɪkᵊ IAST: ''Nāstika)'' are mutually exclusive terms that modern scholars use to classify the schools of Indi ...
concept in
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
,
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and
Jain scriptures define ''Astika'' as those sampradayas which believe in the existence of Atman (Self) and those who accept supremacy of
vedas
FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...
, ''Nastika'' being those who deny there is any "Self" in human beings or do not hold vedas as supreme. In modern context, ''Astika'' are also defined as ''
theists
Theism is broadly defined as the belief in the existence of at least one deity. In common parlance, or when contrasted with ''deism'', the term often describes the philosophical conception of God that is found in classical theism—or the conc ...
'' and ''Nastika'' as ''
atheist
Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no ...
''. In Indian origin religions, even atheism is considered acceptable, especially under the concept of
Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava
''Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava'' is a concept coined by Mahatma Gandhi that embodies the equality of the destination of the paths followed by all religions.
The phrase is attributed to Mahātmā Gāndhi, who first used it in September 1930 in his comm ...
. The concept of acceptable or valid
Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
excludes the
Mleccha
Mleccha () is a Sanskrit term referring to those of an incomprehensible speech, foreigners or invaders deemed distinct and separate from the Vedic tribes. In Vedic Brahmanical discourse, the term is used to refer to foreigners (anāryans) who ...
(impure) who are considered without the purity of ethics and code of conduct called
yamas
The (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word means "reining in" or "control". They are restraints for proper conduct given in the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras ...
and
niyama
Niyamas () are positive duties or observances. In Dharma, particularly Yoga, ''niyamas'' and their complement, yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment, and a liberated state of existence. It has ...
.
Sampradayas of Indian-origin religions have their own ''
Darshana
In Indian religions, a ''darshan'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन, ; 'showing, appearance, view, sight') or ''darshanam'' is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person.
The term also refers to any one of the six traditional schools of Hind ...
'' or philosophy, encompassing world views and teachings. Six Astika or orthodox sampradayas which believe in supremacy of veda are called ''
shad-darśana'' (lit. six system), namely
Sankhya
Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and ''Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind an ...
,
Yoga
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
,
Nyaya
Nyāya (Sanskrit: न्यायः, IAST: nyāyaḥ), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment", is one of the six orthodox (Āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Nyāya's most significant contributions to Indian philosophy ...
,
Vaisheshika
Vaisheshika (IAST: Vaiśeṣika; ; ) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy from ancient India. In its early stages, Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology. Over t ...
,
Mimamsa and
Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
.
[Andrew Nicholson (2013), Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual History, Columbia University Press, , pages 2–5]
Āstika or orthodox sampradayas
Astika or orthodox sampradayas or schools of Indian philosophy have been called ṣaḍdarśana ("six systems"). This scheme was created between the 12th and 16th centuries by
Vedantins.
It was then adopted by the early Western
Indologists
Indology, also known as South Asian studies, is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent, and as such is a subset of Asian studies.
The term ''Indology'' (in German, ''Indologie'') is o ...
, and pervades modern understandings of Indian philosophy.
[ Each of six āstika (orthodox) schools of thought is called a ]darśana
In Indian religions, a ''darshan'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन, ; 'showing, appearance, view, sight') or ''darshanam'' is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person.
The term also refers to any one of the six traditional schools of Hind ...
, and each darśana accepts the Vedas as authority. Each astika darsana also accepts the premise that ''Atman
Atman or Ātman may refer to:
Religion
* ''Ātman'' (Hinduism), meaning "Self", a philosophical concept common to all schools of Hindu philosophy
* ''Ātman'' (Buddhism), ''attā'' or ''attan'', a reference to the essential self
** ''Anattā'' ...
'' (soul, eternal self) exists.Klaus Klostermaier
Klaus K. Klostermaier (born 1933) is a Catholic priest and scholar of Hinduism, Indian history and culture.
Life and career
Klostermaier obtained a PhD in philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1961, and another in "Ancient India ...
(2007), Hinduism: A Beginner's Guide, , Chapter 2, page 26 The schools of philosophy are:
# Samkhya
Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
– An strongly dualist theoretical exposition of consciousness
Consciousness, at its simplest, is awareness of a state or object, either internal to oneself or in one's external environment. However, its nature has led to millennia of analyses, explanations, and debate among philosophers, scientists, an ...
and matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic pa ...
. Agnostic with respect to God or the gods.
# Yoga
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
– A monotheistic school which emerged from Sankhya and emphasizes practical use of Sankhya theory: meditation
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...
, contemplation
In a religious context, the practice of contemplation seeks a direct awareness of the Divinity, divine which Transcendence (religion), transcends the intellect, often in accordance with religious practices such as meditation or contemplative pr ...
and liberation
Liberation or liberate may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War
* "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode
* "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode
Gaming
* '' Liberati ...
.
# Nyāya
Nyāya (Sanskrit: न्यायः, IAST: nyāyaḥ), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment", is one of the six orthodox ( Āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Nyāya's most significant contributions to Indian philosoph ...
or logic
Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic is the study of deductively valid inferences or logical truths. It examines how conclusions follow from premises based on the structure o ...
– The school of epistemology which explores sources of knowledge
Knowledge is an Declarative knowledge, awareness of facts, a Knowledge by acquaintance, familiarity with individuals and situations, or a Procedural knowledge, practical skill. Knowledge of facts, also called propositional knowledge, is oft ...
.
# Vaiśeṣika
Vaisheshika (IAST: Vaiśeṣika; ; ) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy from ancient India. In its early stages, Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology. Over t ...
– An empiricist
In philosophy, empiricism is an epistemological view which holds that true knowledge or justification comes only or primarily from sensory experience and empirical evidence. It is one of several competing views within epistemology, along ...
school of atomism
Atomism () is a natural philosophy proposing that the physical universe is composed of fundamental indivisible components known as atoms.
References to the concept of atomism and its Atom, atoms appeared in both Ancient Greek philosophy, ancien ...
.
# Mīmāṃsā
''Mīmāṁsā'' (Sanskrit: मीमांसा; IAST: Mīmāṃsā) is a Sanskrit word that means "reflection" or "critical investigation" and thus refers to a tradition of contemplation which reflected on the meanings of certain Vedic tex ...
– An anti-ascetic and anti-mysticist school of orthopraxy
In the study of religion, orthopraxy is correct conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace. Orthopraxy is in contrast with orthodoxy, which emphasizes correct belief. The word is a neoclassical compound— () meaning ...
. This school deals with the correct interpretation of the verses in Vedas
FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...
.
# Vedānta
''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox ( ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompasses the ideas that e ...
– The last segment of knowledge in the Vedas, or ''jñānakāṇḍa'' (section of knowledge). Vedanta is also referred as Uttara-Mimamsa. Vedānta came to be the dominant current of Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
in the post-medieval period.
Nastika sampradayas
Nastika or hetrodox sampradayas do not accept the authority of the Vedas are nāstika philosophies, of which four (heterodox) schools are prominent:[P Bilimoria (2000), Indian Philosophy (Editor: Roy Perrett), Routledge, , page 88]
# Ājīvika
''Ajivika'' (, IAST: ) is one of the Āstika and nāstika, ''nāstika'' or "heterodox" schools of Indian philosophy.Natalia Isaeva (1993), Shankara and Indian Philosophy, State University of New York Press, , pages 20-23James Lochtefeld, "Ajiv ...
, a materialism school that denied the existence of free will.
# Cārvāka
Charvaka (; IAST: ''Cārvāka''), also known as ''Lokāyata'', is an ancient school of Indian materialism. It's an example of the atheistic schools in the Ancient Indian philosophies. Charvaka holds direct perception, empiricism, and condit ...
, a materialism school that accepted the existence of free will.[R Bhattacharya (2011), Studies on the Carvaka/Lokayata, Anthem, , pages 53, 94, 141–142]Johannes Bronkhorst
Johannes Bronkhorst (born 17 July 1946, in Schiedam, d. 14 May 2025) was a Dutch Orientalist and Indologist, specializing in Sanskrit grammar, Buddhist studies and early Buddhism. He was Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the ...
(2012), Free will and Indian philosophy, Antiqvorvm Philosophia: An International Journal, Roma Italy, Volume 6, pages 19–30
# Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, a philosophy that denies existence of ātman (soul, self) and is based on the teachings and enlightenment of Gautama Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
.
# Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
, a philosophy that accepts the existence of the ātman (soul, self), and is based on the teachings and enlightenment of twenty-four teachers known as tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...
s, with Rishabha
Rishabhanatha (Devanagari: ऋषभनाथ), also Rishabhadeva (Devanagari: ऋषभदेव, ), Rishabha (Devanagari: ऋषभ, ) or Ikshvaku (Devanagari: इक्ष्वाकु, ''Ikṣvāku''), is the first (Supreme preacher) ...
as the first and Mahavira
Mahavira (Devanagari: महावीर, ), also known as Vardhamana (Devanagari: वर्धमान, ), was the 24th ''Tirthankara'' (Supreme Preacher and Ford Maker) of Jainism. Although the dates and most historical details of his lif ...
as the twenty-fourth.
Polycentric or syncretic sampradayas
Some are syncretic in nature which might adopt mixture of concepts from orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy such as realism of the Nyāya, naturalism of Vaiśeṣika, monism and knowledge of Self (Atman) as essential to liberation of Advaita, self-discipline of Yoga, asceticism and elements of theistic ideas. Some sub-schools share Tantric ideas with those found in some Buddhist traditions.
Hindu sampradayas
Hindus subscribe to a diversity of ideas on spirituality
The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...
and traditions, but have no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic
Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one Deity, god. According to Oxford Reference, it is not easy to count gods, and so not always obvious whether an apparently polytheistic religion, such as Chinese folk religions, is really so, ...
, pantheistic
Pantheism can refer to a number of Philosophy, philosophical and Religion, religious beliefs, such as the belief that the universe is God, or panentheism, the belief in a non-corporeal divine intelligence or God out of which the universe arise ...
, monotheistic
Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only, or at least the dominant deity.F. L. Cross, Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. A ...
, monistic
Monism attributes oneness or singleness () to a concept, such as to existence. Various kinds of monism can be distinguished:
* Priority monism states that all existing things go back to a source that is distinct from them; e.g., in Neoplatonis ...
, agnostic
Agnosticism is the view or belief that the existence of God, the divine, or the supernatural is either unknowable in principle or unknown in fact. (page 56 in 1967 edition) It can also mean an apathy towards such religious belief and refer to ...
, atheistic
Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no ...
or humanist
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.
The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...
.[ Julius J. Lipner (2009), Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition, Routledge, , page 8; Quote: "(...) one need not be religious in the minimal sense described to be accepted as a Hindu by Hindus, or describe oneself perfectly validly as Hindu. One may be polytheistic or monotheistic, monistic or pantheistic, even an agnostic, humanist or atheist, and still be considered a Hindu."][Lester Kurtz (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, , Academic Press, 2008][MK Gandhi]
The Essence of Hinduism
Editor: VB Kher, Navajivan Publishing, see page 3; According to Gandhi, "a man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu."
Hinduism is subdivided into a number of major sampradayas. Of the historical division into six darsanas (philosophies), two schools, Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
and Yoga
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
, are currently the most prominent. Classified by primary deity or deities, four major Hinduism modern currents are Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole Para Brahman, supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, ''Mahavishnu''. It is one of the majo ...
(Vishnu), Shaivism
Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...
(Shiva), Shaktism
Shaktism () is a major Hindu denomination in which the God in Hinduism, deity or metaphysics, metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically to be a woman.
Shaktism involves a galaxy of goddesses, all regarded as different aspects, mani ...
(Shakti) and Smartism
The ''Smarta'' tradition (, ) is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Uttara Mīmāṃsā, Advaita, Yoga, and theism. The Sm ...
(five deities treated as same). These deity-centered denominations feature a synthesis of various philosophies
List of philosophies, schools of thought and philosophical movements.
A
Absurdism –
Academic skepticism – Accelerationism -
Achintya Bheda Abheda –
Action, philosophy of –
Actual idealism –
Actualism –
Advaita Vedanta ...
such as Samkhya, Yoga and Vedanta, as well as shared spiritual concepts such as moksha
''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...
, dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
, karma
Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...
, samsara, ethical precepts such as ahimsa
(, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
(also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...
, texts (Upanishad
The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...
s, , Mahabharata, Agamas), ritual grammar and rites of passage.
Vaishnava sampradayas
According to the Padma Purāṇa, one of the eighteen main Purāṇas, there are four Vaishnava ''sampradāyas'', which preserve the fruitful mantras:
During the Kali Yuga these sampradāyas appear in the holy place of Jaganatha Puri, and purify the entire earth.
Each of them were inaugurated by a deity, who appointed heads to these lineages:
Other major Vaishnav sampradaya are:
* Swaminarayan Sampradaya, founded in 1801 by Swaminarayan
* Pranami, Pranami Sampradaya
* Radha Vallabh Sampradaya
* Mahanam Sampraday
* Warkari, Warkari tradition
* Haridasi tradition
* Sadh Vaishnavism
* Manipuri Vaishnavism
* Samartha Sampradaya
* Bishnoi Panth, Bishnoi Sampradaya
* Matua Mahasangha
Shaivite sampradayas
There are three main Shaiva sampradayas known as "Kailasa Parampara" (Lineage from Kailash)- Nandinatha Sampradaya, Adinath Sampradaya and Shaiva Siddhanta, Meykanda Sampradaya.[Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (2003) "Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism" Himalayan Academy Publications]
The Nandinatha Sampradaya traces its beginning to at least 200 BCE. Its founder and first known spiritual preceptor was the Maharshi Nandinatha. Nandinatha is said to have initiated eight disciples (Sanatkumar, Sanakar, Sanadanar, Sananthanar, Shivayogamuni, Patanjali, Vyaghrapada, and Tirumular) and sent them to various places to spread the teachings of non-dualistic Shaivism
Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...
all over the world.[ Saiva Siddhanta Temple of Hawaii identifies itself as principle Matha or monestory of lineage . Spiritual lineage of the Nandinatha Sampradaya : Maharishi Nandinath→ Tirumular→→→ unknown→Kadaitswami→ Chellappaswami→ Yogaswami, Siva Yogaswami→Sivaya Subramuniyaswami → Bodhinatha Veylanswami][
Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy is known as the descendant from the teaching of Sanatkumara, one of the Four Kumaras, Kumaras.(Sanatkumara→Satyanjana Darshini→Paranjyoti rishi→Meykandar.
Aghori and Nath are shavite.
Nandinatha and Meykandar Sampradayas are associated with the Shaiva Siddhanta while Adinath Sampradaya is associated with Nath Shaivism. Other popular Saivite sampradayas are Veerashaiva, Veerashaiva Samprdaya, Lingayatism, Lingayat Sampradaya and Srouta, Srouta Sampradaya
]
Advaita Vedanta sampradaya
= Advaita Mathas
=
Adi Sankara founded four (Sanskrit: ) (monasteries) to preserve and develop his philosophies. One each in the north, south, east and west of the Indian subcontinent, each headed by one of his direct disciples.
According to Nakamura, these mathas contributed to the influence of Shankara, which was "due to institutional factors". The mathas which he built exist until today, and preserve the teachings and influence of Shankara, "while the writings of other scholars before him came to be forgotten with the passage of time".
The table below gives an overview of the four ''Amnaya Mathas'' founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.
The current heads of the mathas trace their authority back to these figures, and each of the heads of these four mathas takes the title of Shankaracharya ("the learned Shankara") after Adi Sankara.
According to the tradition in Kerala, after Sankara's ''samadhi'' at Vadakkunnathan Temple, his disciples founded four mathas in Thrissur, namely Naduvil Madhom, Thrissur, Naduvil Madhom, Thekke Madhom, Idayil Madhom and Vadakke Madhom.
= Dashanami sampradaya
=
Dashanami Sampradaya, "Tradition of Ten Names", is a Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
monastic tradition of ''ēkadaṇḍi sannyasins'' (wandering renunciates carrying a single staff) generally associated with the Advaita Vedanta tradition. They are distinct in their practices from the Shaivism, Saiva ''Tridaṇḍi sannyāsin''s or "trident renunciates", who continue to wear the sacred thread after renunciation, while ''ēkadaṇḍi sannyāsin''s do not.
The Ekadandi Vedāntins aim for moksha
''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...
as the existence of the self in its natural condition indicated by the destruction of all its specific qualities. Any Hindu, irrespective of class, caste, age or gender can seek sannyāsa as an Ekadandi monk under the Dasanāmi tradition.
The Ekadandis or Dasanāmis had established monasteries in India and Nepal in ancient times.[Mathas of the Dasanami-sanyasis of Lalitpur]
/ref> After the decline of Buddhism, a section of the Ekadandis were organized by Adi Shankara in the 8th century in India to be associated with four ''matha, maṭha''s to provide a base for the growth of Hinduism. However, the association of the Dasanāmis with the Sankara ''maṭha''s remained nominal. Professor Kiyokazu Okita and Indologist B. N. K. Sharma says, Sannyasis in the lineage of Advaita of Adi Shankara and the Sannyasis in the lineage of Dvaita of Madhvacharya are all Ēkadaṇḍis.
Kaumaram sampradaya
Kaumaram is a sect of Hindus, especially found in South India and Sri Lanka where Lord Muruga Karttikeya is the Supreme Godhead. Lord Muruga is considered superior to the Trimurti. The worshippers of Lord Muruga are called Kaumaras.
Indonesian Hinduism
Hinduism dominated the island of Java (island), Java and Sumatra until the late 16th century, when a vast majority of the population converted to Islam. Only the Balinese people who formed a majority on the island of Bali, retained this form of Hinduism over the centuries. Theologically, Balinese or Indonesian Hinduism is closer to Shaivism than to other major sects of Hinduism. The adherents consider Acintya the supreme god, and all other gods as his manifestations.
The term "Agama Hindu Dharma", the endonymous Indonesian language, Indonesian name for "Indonesian Hinduism" can also refer to the traditional practices in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi and other places in Indonesia, where people have started to identify and accept their Āgama (Hinduism), agamas as Hinduism or Hindu worship has been revived. The revival of Hinduism in Indonesia has given rise to a national organisation, the Parisada Hindu Dharma.
Shakta sampradaya
There are 2 Shakta Sampradayas, which revere Shakti - the feminine manifestation of Ishvara. They are as follows:
# Kalikula: Prevalent in Bengal, Assam, Nepal, and Odisha. Primary deity is Kali
# Srikula: Prevalent in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Sri Lanka. Primary deity is Lalita Devi
Smarta Sampradaya
Smarta tradition, Smarta Sampradaya (स्मार्त), developed around the beginning of the Common Era, reflects a Hindu synthesis of four philosophical strands: Mimamsa, Advaita Vedanta, Advaita, Yoga
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
, and theism. The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and it is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesha, and Shakti. The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Śrauta, Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites. There has been considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism
Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...
, Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole Para Brahman, supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, ''Mahavishnu''. It is one of the majo ...
, and Shaktism
Shaktism () is a major Hindu denomination in which the God in Hinduism, deity or metaphysics, metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically to be a woman.
Shaktism involves a galaxy of goddesses, all regarded as different aspects, mani ...
.[Sanderson, Alexis. "The Saiva Age: The Rise and Dominance of Saivism during the Early Medieval Period". In ''Genesis and Development of Tantrism'', edited by Shingo Einoo. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo, 2009. Institute of Oriental Culture Special Series, 23, pp. 276–277.] Even though Smarta sampradaya regards Adi Shankara as its founder or reformer, advaita sampradaya is not a Shaiva sect, despite the historical links with Shaivism: Advaitins are non-sectarian, and they advocate worship of Shiva and Vishnu equally with that of the other deities of Hinduism, like Sakti, Ganapati and others. Shankara championed that the ultimate reality is impersonal and ''Nirguna Brahman, Nirguna'' (attributeless) and that any symbolic god serves the same equivalent purpose.[L. Williamson (2010), ''Transcendent in America: Hindu-inspired Meditation Movements as New Religion'', New York University Press, , page 89] Inspired by this belief, the Smarta tradition followers, along with the five Hindu gods include a sixth impersonal god in their practice.[ The tradition has been described by William Jackson as "advaitin, monistic in its outlook".
]
Other classic vedic sampradayas
Shrautism
Shrauta communities are very rare in India, the most well known being the ultra-orthodox Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala. They follow the "Purva-Mimamsa" (earlier portion of Vedas) in contrast to Vedanta followed by other Brahmins. They place importance on the performance of Vedic Sacrifice (Yajna). The Nambudiri Brahmins are famous for their preservation of the ancient Soma (drink), Somayaagam, Agnicayana rituals which have vanished in other parts of India.
Suryaism / Saurism
The Suryaites or Sauras are followers of a Hindu denomination that started in Vedic tradition, and worship Surya as the main visible form of the Saguna Brahman. The Saura tradition was influential in South Asia, particularly in the west, north and other regions, with numerous Surya idols and temples built between 800 and 1000 CE. The Konark Sun Temple was built in mid 13th century. During the iconoclasm of Islamic invasions and Hindu–Muslim wars, the temples dedicated to Sun-god were among those desecrated, images smashed and the resident priests of Saura tradition were killed, states André Wink. The Surya tradition of Hinduism declined in the 12th and 13th century CE and today remains as a very small movement except in Bihar / Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Sun worship has continued to be a dominant practice in Bihar / Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh in the form of Chhath Puja which is considered the primary festival of importance in these regions.
Later sampradayas
Ganapatism
Ganapatism is a Hindu denomination in which Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the main form of the Saguna Brahman. This sect was widespread and influential in the past and has remained important in Maharashtra.
Newer sampradayas
The new movements that arose in the 19th to 20th century include:
* New groups
** Ananda Marga
** Arya Samaj
** Ayyavazhi
** Brahma Kumaris
** Chinmaya Mission
** Divine Life Society
** Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math
** Ravidas Panth
*** Satnampanth
** Shri Ram Chandra Mission
** Sri Aurobindo Ashram
* Satpanth, Sat Panth
** Dadu Dayal, Dadu Panth (Part of the Sant Mat)
** Kabir Panth (Part of the Sant Mat)
** Pranami Sampraday
** Sathya Sai Organization, Sathya Sai sampradaya
* Yoga and meditation based
** Art of Living Foundation, Art of Living
** Isha Foundation
** Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, Himalayan Yoga and Philosophy
** Prarthana Samaj
** Sahaja, Sahaj Panth (Buddhist and Hindu)
*** Sahaja Yoga
** Self-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Yogoda Satsanga
** Swadhyay Parivar
** Transcendental Meditation movement, Transcendental Meditation
* Others
** Hanuman Foundation
** Hindutva
** Inchegeri Sampradaya
** Kapadi Sampradaya
** Mahima Dharma
** Matua Mahasangha
** Nath, Nath Panth
** Ramsnehi Sampradaya
** Varkari, Varkari Panth (Hindu)
Buddhist sampradaya
Buda sampradaya or Buddha sampradāya is a classification based on the observance of Dutch ethnographers of Brahmana caste of Balinese Hinduism into two: Siwa (Shiva) and Buda (Buddha). The other castes were similarly further sub-classified by these 19th-century and early-20th-century ethnographers based on numerous criteria ranging from profession, endogamy or exogamy or polygamy, and a host of other factors in a manner similar to ''castas'' in Spanish colonies such as Mexico, and caste system studies in British colonies such as India. This concept of Buddha Sampradāya could be applied to all Buddhist communities.
Jain sampradaya
The Jain sampardaya has various sects or schools of thoughts:
* Terapanth (disambiguation), Tera Panth (Jain)
** Digambara Terapanth
** Śvetāmbara Terapanth
* Taran Panth (Jain)
Sikh Samprada
Khalsa, Khalsa Panth i.e. Sikhism
Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...
has various sects.
Early Sampardayas (Sampardai)
Nihang, Akaali Nihangs – Typically viewed as the armed forces of the Sikh Panth. As institutionalised by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru. Within this order there are the two main ones: Buddha Dal - army of elders, and Tarna Dal - army of youth. Connected to these two are several smaller sub-orders. Buddha Dal holds authority in all matters concerning the Nihang, Akaali Nihang order - the president of Buddha Dal was previously always also the president of the Akal Takht, Akaal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikh Panth. Technically the sect belongs to the Sahibzada (son) of the 10th Guru, Fateh Singh (Sikhism), Baba Fateh Singh.
Nirmala (sect), Nirmalas – Indic scholars within the Sikh Panth. Traditionally studying a vast array of Indian religions, Indic and some non-Indic literature, as well as producing texts. They also engage in dialogue and discourse with other Dharma, Dharmik paths. Claim institutionalization by the 10th Guru also. According to their traditional beliefs, the Nirmala Sikh tradition was founded by Guru Gobind Singh in the late 17th century when he sent five Sikhs to Varanasi (Kansi) to learn Sanskrit and Hindu religious texts. Notable Nirmalas include Kavi Santokh Singh (who was also a student of Giaani Samparda), and Tara Singh Narotam, Pundit Tara Singh. This Samparda still exist today.
Sant Samparda - A traditional ''Khalsai'' order, tracing back to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, also known as Bhai Daya Singh Samparda. This ''Taksal'' (school) was founded by Daya Singh, Bhai Daya Singh, the ''Mukhi'' of the original Panj Pyare, Panj Pyaare, under the ''hukam''(command) of Guru Gobind Singh in the early 1700s, aiming to pass down the divine knowledge of ''Naam'' and ''Gurbani'' to the community. The word 'Sant' translates to 'saint', an enlightened being who has attained spiritual enlightenment and divine knowledge through union with God in Sikhism, God. Many prominent saints have emerged from this Samparda, including Sahib Singh Bedi, Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, Bhai Maharaj Singh, Baba Maharaj Singh, Sant Karam Singh, Sant Isher Singh and Sant Ranjit Singh Virakkat.
Udasi – An ascetic order who were traditionally caretakers of Gurdwaras and involved in missionary work. Certain practises of theirs diverge from mainstream Sikh belief although they do not promote this to others. The order was started by Sri Chand, Baba Sri Chand, the eldest Sahibzada (son) of the 1st Guru, Guru Nanak. Baba Sri Chand is their Ustad, Gurdev/Ustadh. Still exist today.
Sevapanthis – Philanthropists, involved in helping others or doing seva - free service without expectation of reward. They are also engaged in scholarly work. The order was first headed by Bhai Kanhaiya, Bhai Kahnaiya, a Sikh of the 10th Guru - who famously helped wounded enemy soldiers during war time by providing medical care. Hardly exist today.
Damdami Taksal, Gyaaniyan Samparda – the university of Sikhism, Sikhi, whilst technically not an order, it essentially serves as one.[Singh, Nirbhai. ''Philosophy of Sikhism: Reality and its manifestations''. Atlantic Publishers & Distri, 1990.] Made up from individuals belonging to all of the above sects. Many branches within this order.
The Damdami Taksal claims direct lineage from the Giani Samparda, although this is a topic of contention.
Later sampardayas
Later sects which emerged in Sikhism are Namdhari, Nirankari, and Radha Soami.
Syncretic sects
The Ravidas Panth, Ravidasiya sect combines practices of Sikhism and Hinduism.
See also
; Hindu
* Hindu denominations
* Hindu philosophy
* Hindu texts
* Hindu reform movements
* List of Hindu gurus
; Buddhist
* Buddhist philosophy
* Schools of Buddhism, Buddhist denominations
* Lineage (Buddhism), Buddhism parampara
; Jain
* Jain schools and branches, Jain denominations
* Jain philosophy
* Tirthankara
; Sikh
* Sects of Sikhism, Sikhism denominations
* Sikhism#Philosophy and teachings, Sikhism philosophy
* Sikh gurus
Notes
References
Written citations
Web citations
Sources
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Further reading
* Federico Squarcini, 2011
Boundaries, Dynamics and Construction of Traditions in South Asia
* Leela Prasad, 2012
Poetics of Conduct: Oral Narrative and Moral Being in a South Indian Town
* Monika Boehm-Tettelbach, Monika Horstmann, Heidi Rika Maria Pauwels, 2009
''Patronage and Popularisation, Pilgrimage and Procession''
{{Portal bar, Hinduism, Religion
Hindu philosophical concepts