Hindu denominations
Hindu denominations are traditions within Hinduism centered on one or more gods or goddesses, such as Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Brahma. Sometimes the term is used for "sampradayas" led by a particular guru with a particular philosophy.

Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many practising Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination or tradition. Four major traditions are, however, used in scholarly studies: "Vaishnavism", "Shaivism", "Shaktism" and "Smartism". These are sometimes referred to as the denominations of Hinduism, and they differ in the primary deity at the centre of the tradition. A notable feature of Hindu denominations is that they do not deny other concepts of the divine or deity, and often celebrate the other as henotheistic equivalent. The denominations of Hinduism, states Lipner, are unlike those found in major religions of the world, because Hindu denominations are fuzzy with individuals practising more than one, and he suggests the term "Hindu polycentrism".

Although Hinduism contains many denominations and philosophies, it is linked by shared concepts, recognisable rituals, cosmology, shared textual resources, pilgrimage to sacred sites and the questioning of authority.
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Hinduism
Concept
Q11380
Vishnu
MISC
Q11378
Shiva
MISC
Q19103
Shakti
MISC
Q11389
Brahma
MISC
Q2464602
sampradaya
Concept
Q484260
guru
Concept
Q45584
Vaishnavism
Concept
Q234953
Shaivism
Concept
Q849345
Shaktism
Concept
Q558585
Smartism
UNK
Q150395
henotheistic
Concept
Q4262626
Lipner
PER
Q11680907
cosmology
Concept
Q1194040
shared textual resources
Concept
Q5766476
pilgrimage to sacred sites
UNK
None
questioning of authority
UNK
Q1318257
Hindu denominations
ORG
Q1318257
Hindu denominations
ORG
Q1318257
Hindu denominations
ORG
part of
worshipped by
facet of