Smartism: All Paths Are One

The Liberal Tradition

While Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism each claim their deity as supreme, Smartism takes a different approach: all gods are equal manifestations of the one Brahman. Pick any form you like, they all lead to the same goal.

The name comes from smriti (remembered texts like the Puranas and epics), and Smartas follow a tradition of worship established by the great philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.

Shankaracharya's Vision

Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 CE) is one of the most influential figures in Hindu history. In just 32 years of life, he:

Systematized Advaita (non-dual) Vedanta philosophy
Wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita
Established four monastic centers (mathas) at the four corners of India
Unified Hindu worship by establishing the Shanmata (six-fold worship)
Composed devotional hymns to various deities

Shankara taught that while Brahman (the Absolute) is formless and beyond qualities, devotion to forms of God (saguna worship) is valid and useful for spiritual progress. The forms are like different windows looking at the same sun.

The Panchayatana: Five Deities

Shankara established the Panchayatana (five-deity) worship system, in which five forms of God are honored equally:

Vishnu: The Preserver
Shiva: The Transformer
Devi (Shakti): The Divine Mother
Surya: The Sun God
Ganesha: The Remover of Obstacles

In Smarta worship, the devotee's chosen deity (ishta devata) is placed in the center, with the other four surrounding it. This acknowledges personal preference while maintaining the unity of all forms.

Advaita Vedanta: The Philosophy

The philosophical foundation of Smartism is Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism), which teaches:

Brahman alone is real: The infinite, unchanging consciousness is the only ultimate reality
The world is appearance: The multiplicity we perceive is maya, not completely unreal, but not ultimately real either
The Atman is Brahman: Your true Self is identical with the Absolute; liberation is realizing this
Ignorance is the problem: We suffer not because of sin but because of avidya (not knowing our true nature)

"Brahma satyam, jagan mithya, jivo brahmaiva na parah."
"Brahman is real, the world is appearance, the individual soul is none other than Brahman."
Shankaracharya

Practical Worship

While the philosophy is non-dual, Smarta practice embraces devotion:

Daily puja: Worship of one's chosen deity with proper rituals
Sandhyavandana: Daily prayers at dawn, noon, and dusk
Celebration of all festivals: Smartas participate in festivals of all major traditions
Temple visits: To temples of any deity
Study: Of Vedanta texts and Shankara's commentaries
Sannyasa: Monastic renunciation for serious seekers

The Shankaracharya Mathas

Shankara established four monasteries (mathas) to preserve and spread the tradition:

Sringeri (South): Sri Sharada Peetham, Karnataka
Puri (East): Govardhan Matha, Odisha
Dwarka (West): Sharada Matha, Gujarat
Joshimath (North): Jyotir Matha, Uttarakhand

Each matha has a lineage of Shankaracharyas (abbots) continuing to this day, who serve as spiritual guides for the tradition.

The Smarta Attitude

What characterizes Smartas is not a specific deity but an attitude:

Philosophical openness: Understanding that all forms point to one formless reality
Ritual flexibility: Comfort with various forms of worship
Respect for all paths: Seeing Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism as equally valid
Emphasis on knowledge: Ultimately, liberation comes through jnana (knowledge), not just devotion or action

"The supreme Self alone exists; there is no multiplicity. He who sees multiplicity goes from death to death."
Katha Upanishad (frequently quoted in Advaita)

Is This Your Path?

Smartism may appeal to you if:

You appreciate intellectual rigor and philosophical consistency
You're uncomfortable with sectarian claims that "my God is the only true God"
You want to honor multiple deities without contradiction
You're drawn to meditation and self-inquiry as well as devotion
You find the non-dual perspective ("all is one") compelling

The Smarta tradition offers a way to be devotional without being exclusive, to worship forms while knowing the formless, and to participate fully in Hindu culture while holding a universal philosophical vision.