neo Vaishnavism
1. Origins of neo Vaishnavism According to tradition, the origins of neo-Vaishnavism can be traced back to the 13th-century saint, Ramananda. However, the movement really came into its own in the 15th century, under the guidance of the saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Neo-Vaishnavism is a devotional movement within Hinduism that takes Vishnu, or one of his avatars, as the supreme Lord. It is distinguished from other Vaishnava movements by its emphasis on bhakti, or devotional worship, as the primary path to liberation. While there are many different schools within neo-Vaishnavism, they all share a common core of beliefs. These include the following: - That Vishnu, or one of his avatars, is the supreme Lord. - That bhakti, or devotional worship, is the primary path to liberation. - That the world is an illusion (maya) and that liberation consists in realizing one's true nature as spirit (atman). - That the goal of life is to serve Krishna, or Vishnu, in whatever form he may manife