Hindu
Smarta tradition (mainstream)
Mainstream Hindu tradition synthesising worship of five deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Surya, Ganesha) under Advaita Vedanta theology. Adi Shankara lineage.
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Low Control / Mainstream
BITE breakdown
Behavior Control1/10
Information Control1/10
Thought Control1/10
Emotional Control1/10
Modifiers (+1)
+1 minor; net very low.
Profile facts
Founded
8th c.
Members
Hundreds of millions broadly
Active in
Asia
In context
Smarta tradition follows Adi Shankara's 8th-century pancayatana puja synthesis. Substantial monastic Sankara mathas (Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri, Jyotirmath). Mainstream low-control voluntary tradition.
This profile is in progress — history, deeper BITE evidence and survivor voices are still being added. Contributions welcome via GitHub.
Timeline
- 8th c.Adi Shankara systematises pancayatana puja
Sources
- Karl Werner academic work search ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. The search ↗ link runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
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Disclaimer. This profile is an educational summary based on publicly available reports. Many members of this group do not experience the patterns described. Individual congregations and chapters vary widely. If you or someone you know needs support, contact a licensed therapist or the International Cultic Studies Association.