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The three different schools of philosophies are as follows:
* Advaitha
* VisistaAdvaitha
* Dvaitha

Advaitham or Non-Dualism

The theory of Advaitham states that, ” The form-less Bhraman or the Supreme God & the Athma are same”. The acharyas or masters of Advaitham start from Lord Vishnu or Narayana himself & continues to Adi Shankara & his disciples. Adi Shankara is remarkable for his universal thoughts. He says that ” All the three worlds are my country & all the Devotees of Shiva are my friends”.It is the pinnacle of Secularism, which India adapts even today.It was Adi Shankara, who categorized the Hindus into six different groups, following six different cults or religions.
The six religions are
* Ganapathyam (worshipping Ganesha)
* Sowram (worshipping Surya)
* Shaktham (worshipping Shakthi)
* Shaivam (worshipping Shiva)
* Vaishnavam (worshipping Vishnu)
* Koumaram (worshipping Kumara or Skanda or Murugan)

Advaitham accounts for Polytheism or worship of multiple Gods, by taking those Gods as the representation of the Formless Almighty or Nirguna Bhramhan. Worship of these Deities is called Saguna Upasana. Meditating on the Formless Almighty is called Nirguna Upasana.

Saints belonging to this cult (Advaitham) are called “Eka Dandi”, which means that, they have a single stick (Yoga Dandam), which represents the Athman & Bhraman.

VisistaAdvaitham or Customized Non-Dualism

Unlike Advaitha, this philosophy talks of thri-bedhas or three differences. According to this theory, which was propogated by Sri Ramanujacharya, the Man-God-Matter relationship has three entities. Chetana- human beings, Achethana – matter & Ishwara – God are the three things & those three remain as such & dont transition from one state. All human beings are Jeevas & Sriman Narayana & his divine consort Sree Lakshmi are Paramathma.The following are the five different forms of Lord Narayana:

* Param – The reclining posture of Lord at Milky Ocean (Ksheerabdhi Sayanam)
* Vyooham – The seated posture of Lord (Sri Vaikunta Nathan)
* Antharyamam – Omnipresent form
* Vibhavam -His various Incarnations (Dasha Avatharam & other 22 avatharams)
* Archa Avatharam – The idol from, in which Lord is present in all Temples
(108 Divya Deshams)

As the name suggests this talks about the concepts of “Jiva Athma” & “Paramathma”. Saints belonging to this group are called “Thri Dandi” or three sticked as their “Yoga Dandam” has three sticks tied together. Each of the sticks represents Athma,Bhraman & the material world respectively. Although, the worldly creatures merge with the divine or supreme soul(Vishnu), Jeevas are inferior to the Paramathma. This originated from Ramanuja & his followers.  This philosophy narrows it’s views to Vishnu or Vasudeva.

Dvaitham or Pure Dualism

This philosophy introduces 2 more dimensions or differences (pancha bedha). In addition to the three differences stated by Sri Ramanuja’s philosophy, Dvaitha introduces two more differences. The 5 differences are:

* The difference between Man & God (Sriman Narayana).
* Man & matter (achethana).
* Matter & God.
* One man & another man.
* One matter & another.

This is similar to Visistadvaitham & mainly of Vaishnavite origin, initiated by Srimad Anantha Thirtha.This school preaches that, Man always remains as a servant to God & never merges with God.

Source:  by Srimani Venkataramanan

http://www.geocities.com/srigant/religion.html