| r Hindu denominations or divisions are the Saivism, | | | | whatever one chooses to call the ultimate truth. As the |
| Shaktism, Smartism, and Vaishnavism. Hinduism is a | | | | Vedas, which are the most important Hindu scriptures, |
| very rich and complex religion. | | | | state that truth is one, the wise call it by various |
| Each of its four denominations shares rituals, beliefs, | | | | names. |
| traditions, and personal gods with one another, but | | | | Smartism, is monist as well as a monotheist and |
| each sect has a unique philosophy on how to achieve | | | | understands different deities as representing the |
| life's ultimate goal, which is liberation and is also known | | | | various aspects and principles of one supreme entity, |
| as moksa. For example, a person can be a devotee | | | | Brahman or parabrahman. Teachers such as Swami |
| to Shiva and a Vishnu devotee, but one can practice | | | | Vivekananda, who brought Hinduism to the west, held |
| the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which believes there | | | | beliefs like those found in Smartism, although he usually |
| is no difference between Brahman and a person's | | | | referred to his religion as Vedanta. Other |
| individual soul. | | | | denominations of Hinduism do not strictly hold this belief. |
| Conversely, a Hindu may follow the Dvaita philosophy, | | | | A Smartist would have no problem worshiping Shiva |
| which stresses that Brahman and the soul are not the | | | | or Vishnu together as he views the different aspects |
| same. However, each denomination fundamentally | | | | of God as leading to the same One God. It is the |
| believes in different methods of self realization and in | | | | Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in |
| different aspects of the one supreme being. However, | | | | the west, but in contrast, a Vaishnavite considers |
| each denomination respects and accepts all others, | | | | Vishnu as the one true God, worthy of worship and |
| and conflict of any kind is rare. | | | | other forms as subordinate. Accordingly, many |
| Vaishnavism, Saivism, and Shaktism, respectively | | | | Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only Vishnu can |
| believe in a monotheistic ideal of Vishnu, which is often | | | | grant moksha. Similarly, many Shaivites also hold similar |
| as Krishna, Shiva, or Devi. This view does not exclude | | | | beliefs for Shiva. |
| other personal gods, as they are understood to be | | | | There are some Hindus who consider the various |
| aspects of the chosen ideal. For instance, to many | | | | deities not as forms of the one Ishvara, but as |
| devotees of Krishna, Shiva is seen as having sprung | | | | independently existing entities, and may thus be |
| from Krishna's creative force. Ganesha worshipers | | | | properly considered polytheists. Although, the |
| would connect themselves with Shiva as Shiva is the | | | | pantheistic tendency in Hinduism allowed only a |
| father of Ganesha, making him a Shaiv deity. | | | | subordinate rank to the old polytheistic gods, they |
| Often times, the monad Brahman is seen as the one | | | | continued to occupy an important place in the |
| source, with all other gods emanating from there. As a | | | | affections of individual Hindus and were still |
| result, with all Hindus, there is a strong belief in all paths | | | | represented as exercising considerable influence on |
| being true religions that lead to one God or source, | | | | the destinies of man. |