Hindu sects

[hindupridemn]

What are these sects like and how do they differ:

Shrauta
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantra
Vaishnavism
Indonesian Hinduism

 

[DreadFish]

What are these sects like and how do they differ:

Shrauta
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantra
Vaishnavism
Indonesian Hinduism

Well, to start with the basics: Shaivism consists of those who see Shiva as the supreme, Vaishnavism consists of those who see Vishnu as the supreme, and Shaktism, consists of those who see the Divine Feminine, Shakti, as the Supreme. Shaivism and Vaishnavism are the two most common sects in the areas that follow "Hinduism." Shaktism is a little less common. The practices of Vaishnavism are mainly bhakti oriented, or devotional towards Vishnu, and though Shaivism has had sects that were bhakti oriented, it is not very common. The more predominant versions of Shaivism are usually monistic and say that all things are ultimately Shiva and any separation is illusory. That means that you and I are also Shiva, we just dont realize it.

I am not familiar with the views of Shaktism.

As for Tantra, Wikipedia explains it better than I can:

Tantra (Sanskrit: तन्त्र , "loom, warp"; hence "principle, system, doctrine", from the two root words tanoti "stretch, extend, expand", and trayati "liberation"), anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures (called "Tantras").
An important characteristic of this movement was that it is a radically positive, world-embracing vision of the whole of reality as an expression of a joyous Divine Consciousness (for example, as the divine play of Shakti and Shiva.[1]). Tantric spiritual practices and rituals aim to bring about an inner realization of this truth, bringing freedom from ignorance and rebirth in the process.[1] Though not the case with most Tantric practices, in some schools of "left-handed" Tantra (Vamachara), ritual sexual practice is employed as a way of entering into the underlying processes and structure of the universe.[2]

Thats the basics. Tantra is found in Hinduism and Buddhism, and apparently also Himalayan animistic practices and Islam. Basically, it is a wide subject that ought to have it's own thread to talk about.



I am not familiar with Shrauta or Indonesian Hinduism.

 

[Vinayaka]

What are these sects like and how do they differ:

Shrauta
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantra
Vaishnavism
Indonesian Hinduism

These are just basic divisions. Within each of these are further divisions, called sampradayas. I'm guessing there are about 1000 sampradayas. Then there are all the regional and linguistic differences.

 

[hindupridemn]

Wow Hinduism is diverse. What am I if I believe there is a Supreme above and yet also the essence of all deities both Hindu and otherwise?

 

[Vinayaka]

Wow Hinduism is diverse. What am I if I believe there is a Supreme above and yet also the essence of all deities both Hindu and otherwise?

To determine what you are would take a few years of study, reflection, or both. Many people don't actually know what they really believe. They just 'believe' what their parents told them to believe. Rarely does anyone sit still and ask themselves, "Just what is it that I believe?"
Forget scriptures, and all that - they are what someone else believes. You might agree, but any decent reflector will read between the lines of all scripture, asking, "Does this make sense? (to me?)

The fact that you said 'a Supreme above' indicated Abrahamic thinking to me, at least. In SD, the Supreme is usually within, within yourself, and within everything.

But hey I could be wrong.

 

[Chewbarker1054]

What are these sects like and how do they differ:

Shrauta
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantra
Vaishnavism
Indonesian Hinduism

Shrauta tend to focus on the Four Vedas and the Gods that are found in them

Vaishnavism focus' on the Lord Vishnu as the supreme God - different Saints in this tradtion view the soul and Lord Vishnua as the same, part the same and part different or very different

Shivism - Lord Shiva is the supreme again as in Vaishnavism there are different sects with very different views

Shaktism - The Mother alone is supreme she takes on many forms to save the world and those who trust in her power!

Tantra - Well I could write so much on this its shared in Hinduism, Buddhism lots of faiths. Tantra means to 'weave' or 'expand' it looks at the here and now and using the energy you have to transform yourself

Hinduism for Dummies and Idiots Guide to Hinduism are good starts

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

What are these sects like and how do they differ:

Shrauta
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantra
Vaishnavism
Indonesian Hinduism

Shaktism and Tantra
Shaktism regards Devi or the Goddess as the Supreme Brahman Herself the "one without a second", with all other forms of divinity, female or male is as HER diverse manifestations.

Shaktism's focus on the Divine Feminine does not imply a rejection of Masculine or Neuter divinity. However, both are deemed to be inactive in the absence of Shakti. As set out in the first line of Adi Shankara's renowned Shakta hymn, Saundaryalahari (c. 800 CE): "If Shiva is united with Shakti, he is able to create. If he is not, he is incapable even of stirring."[4] This is the fundamental tenet of Shaktism[5], as emphasized in the widely known image of the goddess Kali striding atop the seemingly lifeless body of Shiva.[6] Broadly speaking, Shakti is considered to be the cosmos itself – she is the embodiment of energy and dynamism, and the motivating force behind all action and existence in the material universe. Shiva is her transcendent masculine aspect, providing the divine ground of all being. "There is no Shiva without Shakti, or Shakti without Shiva. The two [...] in themselves are One."[7] Shaktism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



The Devi worship in Indian goes back to the paleolithic and was also an active belief system Indus Valley Civilization.

Some of the Important scriptures of the Shaktas:

-Chandi-Path (or Devi Mahatmya) from the Markandeya Purana. (Chandi is a commentary on two Vedic Hymns Devi Suktam and Ratri Suktam both composed by woman Rishis.)
-Devi Gita from the Devi-Bhagavata Purana
-Shankara's Saundaryalahari
-The many Shakti Tantras, a good example is the Mahanirvana Tantra .

A widely misunderstood aspect of Shaktism is its close association with Tantrism – an ambiguous, often provocative concept that suggests everything from orthodox temple worship in the south of India, to black magic and occult practices in North India, to ritualized sexual practices (sometimes referred to as "Neotantra") in the West.[14] In fact, not all forms of Shaktism are Tantric in nature, just as not all forms of Tantra are Shaktic in nature.[15]...When the term "Tantra" is used in relation to authentic Hindu Shaktism, it most often refers to a class of ritual manuals, and – more broadly – to an esoteric methodology of Goddess-focused spiritual practice (sadhana) involving mantra, yantra, nyasa, mudra and certain elements of traditional kundalini yoga, all practiced under the guidance of a qualified guru after due initiation (diksha) and oral instruction to supplement various written sources.[16]

Shaktism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jainarayan]

The Devi worship in Indian goes back to the paleolithic and was also an active belief system Indus Valley Civilization.

It seems that worship of a Mother Goddess is innate in humans. Almost every civilization has worhipped a Mother Goddess. Probably because of the birth-giving aspect.

Even in ancient Sparta, women were held in high regard.

When asked by a woman from Attica, "Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?", Gorgo replied, "Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men."[6]

 

[hindupridemn]

I have been reflecting on this my whole life. There is Brahman which all things are a part. Shiva, Vishnu, Mother Goddess and the rest, including Yahweh/Allah, are Manifestations of It. As is the Universe and everything in it.

 

[Gaura Priya]

Hindu sects? I thought that was what the Kama Sutra was for...??

 

[Jainarayan]

Hindu sects? I thought that was what the Kama Sutra was for...??

Hey Govinda! I was going to say the same thing.