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| Regions with significant populations | |
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| India, Nepal | |
| Religions | |
| Vaishnavism (Hinduism) | |
| Scriptures | |
| Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutra, Pancharatra, Prabandham[2][3] | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil, Sanskrit |
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| Vaishnavism |
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Sri Vaishnavism (Sanskrit: श्रीवैष्णवसम्प्रदाय, romanized: Śrīvaiṣṇavasampradāya) is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism,[4] predominantly practiced in South India. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vishnu, who are together revered in this tradition.[5][6]
The tradition traces its roots to the ancient Vedas and Pancharatra texts, popularised by the Alvars and their canon, the Naalayira Divya Prabandham.[7][8][9] The founding of Sri Vaishnavism is traditionally attributed to Nathamuni of the 10th century CE;[10] its central philosopher has been Ramanuja of the 11th century, who developed the Vishishtadvaita ("qualified non-dualism") Vedanta sub-school of Hindu philosophy.[11][12] The tradition split into two denominations around the 16th century. The Vadakalai who follow the doctrine of Vedanta Desika, whereas the Tenkalai who follow the principles of Manavala Mamunigal.[13][14] The Telugu Brahmins of the Sri Vaishnava tradition form a single distinct sect called the Andhra Vaishnavas, and are not divided into the Vadakalai and Tenkalai denominations, unlike the Tamil Iyengars.[15]
The most striking difference between Sri Vaishnavas and other Vaishnava groups lies in their interpretation of the Vedas. While other Vaishnava groups interpret Vedic deities like Indra, Savitar, Bhaga, Rudra, etc., to be the same as their Puranic counterparts, Sri Vaishnavas consider these to be different names/roles/forms of Narayana, thus claiming that the entirety of the Vedas is dedicated to Vishnu reverence alone. Sri Vaishnavas have remodelled the Pancharatra homas (rituals) to include Vedic suktas (hymns) in them, thus integrating them with a Vedic perspective.[citation needed]
- ^ Faiths across Time [4 volumes]: 5,000 Years of Religious History [4 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. 15 January 2014. ISBN 978-1-61069-026-3.
- ^ Ranjeeta Dutta 2007, pp. 22–43.
- ^ John Carman & Vasudha Narayanan 1989, pp. 3–8.
- ^ Matchett 2000, p. 4, 200.
- ^ Matchett 2000, p. 4, 77, 200.
- ^ John Carman & Vasudha Narayanan 1989, pp. xvii, 3–4.
- ^ Lester 1966, pp. 266–269.
- ^ Francis Clooney & Tony Stewart 2004, pp. 167–168.
- ^ John Carman & Vasudha Narayanan 1989, pp. 3–4, 36–42, 181.
- ^ Flood 1996, p. 136.
- ^ Morgan 1953.
- ^ John Carman & Vasudha Narayanan 1989, pp. 3–4.
- ^ Mumme 1987, p. 257.
- ^ Bryant 2007, pp. 286–287.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu Castes and Sects. Thacker, Spink. p. 98. ISBN 1298966337.
The Sri Vaishnavas among the Telingana Brahmans form a distinct caste called Andhra Vaishnava. They are not sub-divided as Vadgala and Tengala like their co-religionists of Dravida