Denominations

Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many practicing Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination.   However, academics categorize contemporary Hinduism into four major denominations: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism . The denominations differ primarily in the God worshipped as the Supreme One and in the traditions that accompany worship of that God.

Vaishnavas worship Vishnu as the supreme God; Shaivites worship Shiva as the supreme; Shaktas worship Shakti (power) personified through a female divinity or Mother Goddess, Devi ; while Smartists believe in the essential oneness of five deities Shanmata as personifications of the Supreme.

Other denominations like Ganapatya (the cult of Ganesha) and Saura (Sun worship) are not so widespread.

There are movements that are not easily placed in any of the above categories, such as Swami Dayananda Saraswati's Arya Samaj, which rejects image worship and veneration of multiple deities . It focuses on the Vedas and the Vedic fire sacrifices ( yajña) . The Tantric traditions have various sects, as Banerji observes:

“Tantras are ... also divided as āstika or Vedic and nāstika or non-Vedic . In accordance with the predominance of the deity the āstika works are again divided as Śākta ( Shakta), Śaiva ( Shaiva), Saura, Gā ṇapatya and Vai ṣṇava ( Vaishnava).     ”

As in every religion, some view their own denomination as superior to others . However, many Hindus consider other denominations to be legitimate alternatives to their own.   Heresy is therefore generally not an issue for Hindus.

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