Four Main Schools of Thought and Markings of
Different Sects
1.Vaishnavas, who worship Lord Vishnu and
Krishna.
2. Shaivites, who worship Lord Siva.
3. Shaktas, who worship the goddess Durga or Kali.
4. Smartas, who worship five major deities: Vishnu, Siva, Shakti, Ganesh, and
Surya, the sun-god.
Worshipers of Siva may also worship Ganesh and Karttikeya (Skanda), Siva’s sons.
Shaktas may worship the many forms of Durga, such as Parvati or Kali. Durga is
the most commonly worshiped form and has many temples of her own throughout
India.
The
different sects wear different markings on their foreheads, chests, and arms to
identify to which sect they belong (the markings are applied also to sanctify
the body). You can tell the difference between the sects by the forehead marks.
Vertical marks mean devotees of Vishnu; horizontal marks indicate devotees of
Siva. Siva’s devotees usually wear rudraksha beads around their necks,
while devotees of Vishnu or Krishna wear tulasi beads.
Worshipers of Siva have two or more horizontal lines, with or without a dot
above or below them. Also a crescent moon or a trident, Siva’s own markings,
indicate a Shaivite. There may also be an oval or half-oval, said to symbolize
Siva’s third eye.
Vaishnavas are divided into worshipers of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha,
worshipers of Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi, and worshipers of Lord Rama
and his consort Sita. Lord Krishna is often worshiped by himself or with Rukmini,
his chief wife. Often Krishna and Vishnu are worshiped in temples alone, without
their consorts. Often each type of worshiper has their own sectarian markings.
Deities
of Ganesh or Karttikeya wear the marks of Siva on them. Krishna, Rama, Hanuman,
and Indra have the marks of Vishnu on them. Brahma has the markings of both
Vishnu and Siva on him.
These
markings are made of tilaka (sacred clay), ashes from a sacred fire, cow
dung, sandalwood, turmeric, or lime. They may be yellow, red, black, or ashen
white.
Vaishnava Philosophy
Vaishnava philosophy accepts that there is only one God. He takes many names and
forms in different religions. Christians call him Jehovah, Muslims, Allah, and
Hindus, Vishnu or
Krishna. According to Vaishnavas,
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and all other gods and living entities are his servants. This is the essential
difference between material life and spiritual life. Spiritual life means that
God is the object of our service, and material life means our service is devoid
of relationship with God.
A
common misconception is that Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu. Actually,
Krishna is supreme. Even though Vishnu and Krishna are nondifferent, still, one
expanded from the other. According to scripture, Vishnu is an expansion of
Krishna. The analogy is that when one candle lights another, they both have the
same potency, but one is always the original flame. Vishnu is the administrative
form of Lord Krishna, who is always engaged in enjoying with his devotees.
Another
common misconception is that God is ultimately formless. If one accepts that God
is all-powerful, then why is he not powerful enough to be a person? Rather, it
is seen that behind all energy a person is working. A common idea is that Lord
Siva is supreme, but according to Vaishnava philosophy even Lord Siva, who is
very powerful, is Vishnu’s servant. Also there is the misconception that there
are many gods in Hinduism, but according to Vaishnava philosophy there is only
one God, which is commonly accepted by most religions.
Karma
Karma refers to the scientific law of cause and effect. Whatever we do
will come back to us at a later date, if not in this lifetime, in a future
birth. From time immemorial, the individual soul has been acting in the material
world and enjoying or suffering the reactions. His actions bring about his
transmigration from one material body to another. Both pious and impious actions
bind a person to this wheel of transmigration, because both piety and impiety
create a reaction. Everyone creates their own karma out of their
particular desires to enjoy this world in different ways. Neither God nor anyone
else can be held responsible for our karma; we create our own destiny.
In one
sense, all karma is bondage. Even pious activities bind a person to the
material world. The goal of life is to be free from karma, and to
therefore become free from the wheel of repeated birth and death. A person
cannot become free from karma simply by renouncing activity. He or she
must engage in transcendental activities—that is, by serving the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who will then intervene and free us from previous
karmic reactions.
Bhakti
Bhakti refers to the expression of love, service, and devotion to a
personal God. The Bhagavad-gita presents bhakti-yoga as the
highest process, and Arjuna is asked to serve the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Sri Krishna, without a motive other than love and without material
consideration. Bhakti-yoga is opposed to the concept of becoming one with
the Supreme. It is believed that service to God is eternal and that the
individual soul is never equal to or becomes God. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,
Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacarya all taught the bhakti path as the most
efficient means to reach God realization.
Mantra
A mantra is a Vedic hymn that causes the mind to meditate on a particular
deity. A mantra is meant to be received by a bone fide guru if it
is to have complete effect. The mantra can consist of only one word, such
as OM (aum), or it can consist of multiple syllables or words. A mantra
is usually repeated many times. Often one keeps track of the repetitions on
beads. This practice is called japa. Japa is performed when a
person constantly repeats a mantra so that only he or she can hear it.
Sadhus may chant over a 100,000 names of God in a day. Great care much be
taken to chant the mantra correctly and with attention if the
practitioner wishes to receive the ultimate benefit the mantra offers.
Gaudiya
Vaishnavas consider that by chanting the Lord’s holy names, specifically the
mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare,
one will attain transcendental devotion to God. It is considered that Krishna
and his name are nondifferent.
Shaivites chant the mantra Om Namah
Shivaya. Another famous mantra is Sree Ram
Jaya Ram, Jaya Jaya Ram/ Sree Ram Jaya Ram, Jaya Jaya Ram.
The
most famous mantras are the gayatri-mantra and OM (aum). There are
many other mantras in Hinduism.
Shalagram-shilas
Shalagram-shilas are self-manifested Deities of Lord Vishnu or Krishna
appearing as small stones. These stones are sold on the streets in Kathmandu and
look like fossils. Shalagram-shilas are usually collected from the Gandhaki
River in Nepal, near Muktinatha. They are often black or a dark color, and are
round or oval. Brahmins usually worship Shalagram-shilas in their homes.
