Vaishnavism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A religious tradition within Hinduism that focuses on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars, emphasizing devotion and the teachings of the sacred texts
2. A sect of Hinduism that centers on the belief in the divinity of Vishnu and engages in practices aimed at developing personal devotion and spirituality
3. A devotional movement in Hinduism that venerates Vishnu, promoting philosophical ideas and rituals that highlight faith and ethical living

Etymology: Vaishnavism takes its name from Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism, whom its followers regard as the supreme god. The Sanskrit adjective "vaiṣṇava" means "related to Vishnu," and it was formed from Vishnu's name with a derivational suffix. English then added the suffix "-ism," a common Greek-derived ending meaning a doctrine, system, or movement, so the word names the whole tradition organised around devotion to Vishnu. The word is a direct compound of Sanskrit and English elements rather than a term that passed through European languages. Its use in English reflects scholarly and religious writing about South Asian traditions, which is why it looks like a technical coinage: the base is an ancient Indian name and the ending is a modern European label applied to it.