Hinduism not only comprises different ritual traditions and philosophical-theological doctrines but is also organized in different religious communities called sampradāya, or panth. Both words refer to an important organizational structure that has shaped Hinduism for centuries, if not from its very beginning. A sampradāya shows certain characteristic features such as having their religious tradition traced back to a first teacher or fou…
Sampradāya (6,005 words)
Cite this page
Malinar, Angelika, “Sampradāya”, in: Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Editor-in-Chief Associate Editors Knut A. Jacobsen, Helene Basu, Angelika Malinar, Vasudha Narayanan. Consulted online on 25 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_9000000022>
First published online: 2018
▲ Back to top ▲