Hindu system of worship
Shanmata (Sanskrit: षण्मत, romanized: Ṣaṇmata) meaning "Six Sects" in Sanskrit, is a system of worship, believed in the Smarta tradition to have been founded by the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara, whose lifetime was during circa 8th century CE.[1] It centers around the worship of six primary deities of Hinduism: Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Surya, and Skanda. It is based on the belief in the essential oneness of all deities, the unity of Godhead, and their conceptualization of the myriad deities of India as various manifestations of the one divine power, Para Brahman.
- ^ "Śaṅkara (early 8th century) - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy". www.rep.routledge.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.