Knowra Vaishnavism Vaishnavism Vaishnavism is a major Hindu tradition centered on devotion to Vishnu and his incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. Its communities express this devotion through worship, scripture, ritual, and philosophical schools.
Vishnu : A Hindu deity associated with preservation and the supreme object of devotion in Vaishnavism. Vaishnavism takes Vishnu as its central deity and understands his incarnations through him.
Japa : The repeated recitation of a sacred name, mantra, or phrase, often using prayer beads. Repeating Vishnu's or Krishna's names makes remembrance a daily devotional discipline.
Alvars : Tamil poet-saints whose hymns praised Vishnu and his manifestations between roughly the sixth and ninth centuries. Their devotional poetry helped establish an influential South Indian Vaishnava tradition.
Shaivism : A major Hindu tradition centered on devotion to Shiva as the supreme deity. It offers a parallel devotional tradition with Shiva, rather than Vishnu, at its center.
ISKCON : The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a global movement founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966. ISKCON is a prominent modern movement that promotes Krishna-centered Vaishnava practice worldwide.
Bhakti : A Hindu religious path centered on loving devotion to a deity. Devotional love is the defining religious practice across Vaishnava traditions.
Kirtan : A practice of singing or reciting sacred names and verses, often responsively and in groups. Communal singing gives Vaishnava devotion a shared musical form.
Ramanuja : An eleventh- and twelfth-century Indian philosopher and theologian associated with the Sri Vaishnava tradition. His teaching and institutions gave Sri Vaishnavism a durable philosophical framework.
Shaktism : A major Hindu tradition centered on the Goddess, or Shakti, as supreme. Its understanding of the supreme divine differs from Vaishnava focus on Vishnu.
Jagannath Temple, Puri : A major Hindu temple in Puri, Odisha, dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu or Krishna. Its worship and annual Rath Yatra festival make Vaishnava devotion a large public event.
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