Smartism Faith
Commands
The following command will set your character's faith to 'Smartism.'
The following command will add the specified amount of fervor to 'Smartism.'
Overview
An Introduction to Smartism
Smartism is an ancient yet progressive sect within Hinduism that centers around the worship of five primary deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, and Surya. This sub-tradition is also occasionally referred to as 'Panchopasana' or 'five venerations'. The Smarta tradition is known for its flexibility and openness, prioritizing personal spirituality over rigid dogma.
Origins and Development
Smartism is traditionally understood to have been founded by the sage Adi Shankara, an influential figure in Hindu philosophy during the 8th century AD. Under Shankara's influence, emphasis shifted from the sacrificial rituals of the Vedic tradition to philosophical contemplation and meditation on the absolute reality or Brahman.
Theological Tenets of Smartism
Smartism incorporates doctrinal elements from several other Hindu traditions. For example, it embraces the Advaita Vedanta's concept of Brahman, viewing the ultimate reality as formless, infinite, and beyond human comprehension. This divine reality manifests itself in the form of numerous gods and goddesses, all of whom are ultimately expressions of the same absolute truth.
Practices and Traditions
In Smartism, devotees are free to choose whichever deity they wish to worship. Some may distribute their devotion equally among the five main deities, while others might focus mostly on one deity, regarding the others as alternate forms of the same divine reality. In practical terms, this makes Smartism one of the most individualistic and flexible traditions within Hinduism.
The Smarta tradition also encourages followers to perform their dharma or duties faithfully, to strive for spiritual knowledge, to meditate on the divine reality, and to strive for detachment from worldly desires.
Modern-Day Smartism
Smartism is widely practiced today, particularly in Southern India. The Smarta approach of choosing one's own deity and interpreting scriptures personally continues to appeal to many contemporary Hindus, for whom religious flexibility is a matter of both personal faith and philosophical conviction. At the same time, the teachings of Adi Shankara and the philosophical insights of the Advaita Vedanta continue to resonate with many seekers of spiritual truth.
Information
In-Game Description
The Smarta tradition rejects the worship of individual gods. Brahman is one and eternal, and Vishnu, Devi, Shiva, Ganesh and Surya are worshiped as equal avatars of the Supreme Being. Any individual worship is a step towards achieving understanding and unity with Brahman.
Smartism is a sect of Hinduism that allows its followers the freedom to choose and worship any deity they prefer from among the Hindu pantheon, unlike other sects that focus on specific deities. It also places a strong emphasis on the teachings of Adi Shankara and uses the Vedas and the Upanishads as key scriptural resources.
Hinduism Faiths
| Faith | Faith ID |
|---|---|
| Advaitism | advaitism |
| Kalikula Shaktism | kalikula_shaktism |
| Krishnaism | krishnaism |
| Shaivism | shaivism |
| Smartism | smartism |
| Srikula Shaktism | srikula_shaktism |
| Vaishnavism | vaishnavism |