Origins
Northern India
The ancient emergence of Vaishnavism is unclear, the evidence inconsistent and scanty. Syncretism of … See more

Bhakti
The Bhakti movement originated among Vaishnavas of South India during the 7th-century CE, spread … See more

Four sampradayas and other traditions
The Vaishnavism traditions may be grouped within four sampradayas, each exemplified by a specific Vedic personality. They have been … See more

Vaishnava theology has been a subject of study and debate for many devotees, philosophers and scholars within India for centuries. Vaishnavism has its own academic wing in University of Madras - Department of Vaishnavism. In recent decades this study … See more

Theism with many varieties
Vaishnavism is centred on the devotion of Vishnu and his avatars. According to Schweig, it is a "polymorphic monotheism, i.e. a theology that … See more

The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Agamas are the scriptural sources of Vaishnavism. The Bhagavata Purana is a revered and widely celebrated text, parts of which, a few scholars such as Dominic Goodall, include as a scripture. … See more

There is no data available on demographic history or trends for Vaishnavism or other traditions within Hinduism.
Estimates vary on the relative number of adherents in … See more