Srimad Bhagavatam

[तत्त्वप्रह्व]

Thanks you guys. I'll definitely make sure to check this out and put my hands on more books.

That's great. You may find the interpretations of great variety, the one you are reading is based on the philosophical system called acintya-bhedābheda, and the one suggested by Hinduism♥Krishna at #16 gives largely a monistic interpretation. You might even find one contradicting the other in terms of purport, nevertheless, am sure it will only enrich and widen perspectives.

[QUOTEJust as an aside question: what is the difference between Saivism and Vaishnavism? I hear these terms quite often and only have a vague understanding of them. One, as I understand it, is centred on Siva and the other on Vishnu. (?)
Thanks.[/QUOTE]
You are right, both seem to be monotheistic, but they are not in the western sense of monotheism. Vaiṣṇavism is based on the vedic proclamation of Viṣṇu being their Supreme and have their practices based on vaiṣṇava scriptures in addition to Vedas like Mahābhārata (and the Bhagavad Gītā of course), pāñcarātra, Śrīmadbhāgavatham, and Śri Viṣṇu Purāṇa among many more; though they agree on supremacy of Viṣṇu, there are different schools within that vary in their approach. All schools are Vaidika though, meaning they accept Vedas as the highest authority.
Śaivism is based on the supremacy of Śiva, and it includes schools that accept Vedas and those that don't accept. Most of their theology is based on āgamās, often propounded by Śiva or foremost gurus of the tradition.

श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

 

[Chakra]

That's great. You may find the interpretations of great variety, the one you are reading is based on the philosophical system called acintya-bhedābheda, and the one suggested by Hinduism♥Krishna at #16 gives largely a monistic interpretation. You might even find one contradicting the other in terms of purport, nevertheless, am sure it will only enrich and widen perspectives.

[QUOTEJust as an aside question: what is the difference between Saivism and Vaishnavism? I hear these terms quite often and only have a vague understanding of them. One, as I understand it, is centred on Siva and the other on Vishnu. (?)
Thanks.

You are right, both seem to be monotheistic, but they are not in the western sense of monotheism. Vaiṣṇavism is based on the vedic proclamation of Viṣṇu being their Supreme and have their practices based on vaiṣṇava scriptures in addition to Vedas like Mahābhārata (and the Bhagavad Gītā of course), pāñcarātra, Śrīmadbhāgavatham, and Śri Viṣṇu Purāṇa among many more; though they agree on supremacy of Viṣṇu, there are different schools within that vary in their approach. All schools are Vaidika though, meaning they accept Vedas as the highest authority.
Śaivism is based on the supremacy of Śiva, and it includes schools that accept Vedas and those that don't accept. Most of their theology is based on āgamās, often propounded by Śiva or foremost gurus of the tradition.

श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

To add onto what Tattva-ji has nicely stated, the main Vaishnava and Shaiva sects are:

Vaishnava: Visishtadvaita, Shuddhadvaita, Dvaitadvaita, Tattvavada, Achintya Bheda Abheda, and possibly Advaita

Shaiva: Kashmir Shaivism, Shaiva Siddhanta, Pasupatas, Maheswaras

Like Tattva-ji stated, all the Vaishnava sects accept the Vedas as the highest authority. Most of the Shaiva sects place greater authority on their agamas and sometimes reject Vedas. So, some of the Shaiva sects are not vedantic. This is one of the main differences besides their Gods.