Culture

Hindu Traditions and Sects

Name: Hindu Traditions and Sects
Creator: Community curated
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Smartism - which path within Hinduism holds the deepest truth?

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Updated:4/9/2026

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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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