It is one of the main forms of modern Hinduism, characterized by devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations (avatars). A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. Devout Vaishnava literature that emerged in Sanskrit and vernacular scripts from the 10th to the 16th century remains a part of the Vaishnava cult, although it is often supplemented by later written and oral philosophical and narrative texts.
For Vaishnavas, the absolute reality (brahman) is manifested in Vishnu, who in turn incarnates in Rama, Krishna and other avatars. Through his avatars, Vishnu defends traditional justice in accordance with the moral law (dharma). The most popular of the avatars are Rama and Krishna. Rama is often depicted in Hindu art and literature with his consort Sita. Krishna manifests his true identity as Vishnu to his warrior friend Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, but he is often portrayed as a handsome young man in the company of Radha or other gopis (milkmaids).
The various sects of Vishnu worshipers pray to him in different ways. For some, the goal of religious devotion (bhakti) to Vishnu is liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). For others, it is health and prosperity in this life, good harvests, success in business, or prosperous children. Most Vaishnavas expect to spend eternity in Vishnu's presence after death.
Visnuism comprises many sects and groups that differ in their interpretation of the relationship between the individual and God. The sect Sri Vaishnava, for example, emphasizes the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita ("non - dualism qualified") of Ramanuja, according to which, although the phenomenal world differential is illusory (maya), however, is the medium through which devotees can access God. Another group professes the dvaita ("dualism") of the philosopher Madhva, the belief that God and the soul are separate entities and that the existence of the soul is dependent on God. The Pushtim Arg sect maintains the shuddhadvaita doctrine("Pure non-dualism") of the theologian Vallabh Acharya, who does not declare the phenomenal world as an illusion. The Gaudiya sect, founded by Chaitanya, teaches acintya-bheda bheda ("inconceivable duality and non-duality"), the belief that the relationship between God and the world is beyond the reach of human understanding. Besides these philosophical sects, many other Vaishnava groups are scattered throughout India, often centered around local temples or shrines.
