Hindu Traditions and Sects
Hindu Traditions And Sects is a structured culture dataset with 6 entries. Its fields include Tradition, Main Deity, Approx Followers. The source values are preserved as a structured reference table.
Every row is shown below and is also available as CSV, JSON, or Excel.
Dataset details
- Table scope
- All 6 rows
- Fields
- 5 columns
- Source
- Community curated
- Data updated
- Apr 9, 2026
Included fields: Tradition, Main Deity, Approx Followers, Key Text, Known For.
The table contains every record in this dataset; the same records are available in each download format.
Preview observations
No reliable range or grouping can be calculated from the loaded rows without interpreting the source data.
Useful for
- Comparing Tradition, Main Deity, and Approx Followers across culture entries
- Building reference tables, charts, or analyses from 6 downloadable records
Tradition↕ | Main Deity↕ | Approx Followers↕ | Key Text↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vaishnavism | Vishnu (and avatars Rama, Krishna) | ~640 million (largest sect) | Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Purana, Ramayana | Devotional bhakti, ISKCON Hare Krishna movement, Vaikuntha heaven |
Shaivism | Shiva | ~250 million | Shiva Purana, Tirumurai | Ascetic tradition, Nataraja dancing Shiva, Kashmir Shaivism philosophy |
Shaktism | Devi (Durga, Kali, Parvati) | ~30 million | Devi Mahatmya, Tantras | Worship of the Divine Mother, Tantric practices, Durga Puja in Bengal |
Smartism | Five deities equally (Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, Surya) | Millions (esp. Brahmins) | Vedas, Upanishads, Adi Shankara's commentaries | Advaita Vedanta non-dualism, synthesis tradition, philosophical approach |
Ganapatya | Ganesha | Small but widespread | Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana | Worship of the elephant-headed remover of obstacles, Mumbai festival |
Saura | Surya (Sun) | Nearly extinct as distinct sect | Saura Purana | Sun worship, Konark Sun Temple, Gayatri mantra origins |
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