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Hinduism (Sanskrit Hindū Dharma—हिन्दू धर्म, also known as Sanātana Dharma सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika Dharma वैदिक धर्म) is a dharma (the word “Dharma” does not match any other word in English) originating in the Indian subcontinent, based on the Vedas, which is thought to be the oldest religious tradition still practiced today[citation needed]. The term “Hinduism” is heterogeneous, as Hinduism consists of several schools of thought. It encompasses many religious rituals that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse philosophies. Most Hindus believe in a supreme cosmic Spirit, which may be understood in abstract terms as Brahma or which may be worshipped in personal forms such as Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with approximately 1.5 billion adherents, (2010), approximately 1.25 billion of whom are in India. Template:/box-footer
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Vaishnavism is one of the principal traditions of
Hinduism, and is identified by its primary worship of
Vishnu (and his associated
avatars) as the Supreme
God. It is principally
monotheistic in its philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements which could be described as being
panentheistic. Its beliefs and practices, (known as
Bhakti Yoga, or
Bhakti) are based largely on
Vedic, the
Bhagavad Gita,
Isha Upanishad and
Puranic texts. The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as 'Vaishnavas', which is the
Vriddhi form of
Vishnu in
Sanskrit. The principal belief of Vaishnavism is the belief of Vishnu or
Narayana as the one Supreme God.
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Adi Shankara was a
Hindu philosopher and theologian from
India. He is the most renowned exponent of the
Advaita Vedanta school of
philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived. His works in
Sanskrit discuss the unity of the
Ātman and
Brahman, the idea that there is interconnected oneness in all of existence, that eternal Truth is Ātman that is within every human being and all living beings. He wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (
Brahma Sutras, Principal
Upanishads and
Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis. Shankara also authored
Upadesasahasri, his most important original philosophical work. His works elaborate on ideas found in the Upanishads. He also explained the key difference between Hinduism and Buddhism, stating that Hinduism asserts "Atman (Soul, Self) exists", while Buddhism asserts that there is "no Soul, no Self".
Adi Shankara died in the thirty third year of his life, and reliable information on his actual life is scanty. Various texts state that Shankara travelled extensively across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers of competing Indian philosophies. He established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mīmāṃsā school established ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and the spread of Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism. He is also credited with initiating the Kumbh Mela – one of the world's largest periodic religious pilgrimages.
Adi Shankara is believed to be the organiser of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship. He is also known as Adi Shankaracharya.
Religion
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