Smartism facts for kids

Smartism is a special group within Hinduism. Unlike some other Hindu groups that focus on just one main god, Smartism allows its followers to worship several different gods. It's known for being quite open-minded and flexible. Often, this way of worship is passed down from parents to children in families.

What is Smartism?

Smartism is a branch of Hinduism that gives people the freedom to choose which gods they want to worship. It's different from groups like Shaivism, which mainly focuses on the god Shiva, or Vaishnavism, which mainly focuses on the god Vishnu. Smartas believe that all the different gods are just different ways to understand one ultimate reality.

The Five Main Gods

Smartas often worship five main gods, known as the Pancha Devata. These five gods are:

• Ganesha: The elephant-headed god who removes obstacles and brings good luck.
• Surya: The Sun god, who brings light and life.
• Devi: The Goddess, who represents divine power and energy. She can be worshipped in many forms, like Parvati or Lakshmi.
• Vishnu: The preserver god, who protects the universe.
• Shiva: The destroyer and transformer god, who also represents meditation and yoga.

Smartas believe that you can choose to focus on one of these gods as your main deity, but you still respect and worship the others. This idea helps people feel connected to the divine in a way that feels right for them.

Beliefs of Smartism

Smartism is closely linked to a philosophy called Advaita Vedanta. This idea teaches that the individual soul (called Atman) is the same as the ultimate reality of the universe (called Brahman). It means that deep down, we are all connected to the divine.

Smartas believe that by understanding this truth, people can achieve spiritual freedom and peace. They follow ancient Hindu texts called the Vedas and Upanishads to guide their beliefs and practices.

History of Smartism

The Smartism tradition has been around for a very long time in India. It became more organized and popular thanks to a great philosopher named Adi Shankara, who lived around the 8th century CE. Shankara traveled all over India, teaching the ideas of Advaita Vedanta and helping to bring different Hindu groups together.

He set up several important centers of learning, called mathas, across India. These centers helped spread the teachings of Smartism and Advaita Vedanta. Many Smartas today trace their spiritual lineage back to Adi Shankara.

Images for kids

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  Smarta Brahmins In Western India (C. 1855–1862).

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  The Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, Karnataka, a historic center of the Smarta Tradition.

See also

In Spanish: Smarta para niños