Home›Dharmic (Polytheistic)›Closed Practice Status›Partly restricted: some elements are closed to outsidersBrowse ByPartly restricted: some elements are closed to outsidersThis page groups religions by whether they are open to anyone who wishes to join or reserved for a closely defined community. Wikipedia notes that while some religions claim to be universal, "others are intended to be practiced only by a closely defined or localized group." Browsing this way separates missionary faiths that actively seek converts from traditions that restrict who may take part.FactsLearn MorePartly restricted: some elements are closed to outsidersSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsStatusStanding as a Comparative CategoryWell-attestedContested: polytheistic sits badly on traditions whose own theologians argue for one reality behind many forms, and whose schools disagree about whether the deities are distinct beings, aspects of one, or both at once. 2OverviewWhat Defines This GroupingWell-attestedTraditions of Indian origin whose practice is addressed to many deities, understood by some schools as distinct beings and by others as aspects of one reality. The classification describes how the tradition is practised. 2DirectoryCategoryWell-attestedReligions 1Learn MoreDharmic traditions with many gods This group gathers Dharmic religions of a polytheistic character: Indian-origin traditions that share the framework of dharma, karma and rebirth while recognising many deities, whether as distinct powers or as aspects of one reality. The browser will find the traditions the atlas classes here, chief among them the many-deity worship of Hinduism in its broad sense. The entries describe each within the wider Dharmic family, noting how the tradition relates its many gods to its philosophy.Partly restricted: some elements are closed to outsidersFilter Results1 entryPlace of OriginAllIndian Subcontinent (1)DenominationsAllGaudiya Vaishnavism (1)ISKCON (Hare Krishna) (1)Kashmir Shaivism (1)Lingayatism (1)Nath Sampradaya (1)Samkhya (1)Shaivism (1)Shaktism (1)Shri Vidya (1)Smartism (1)Sri Vaishnavism (1)Vaishnavism (1)ScripturesAllAgni Purana (1)Atharva Veda (1)Bhagavad Gita (1)Bhagavata Purana (1)Brahma Sutras (1)Devi Mahatmya (1)Divya Prabandham (1)Garuda Purana (1)Mahabharata (1)Markandeya Purana (1)Pancharatra Samhitas (1)Puranas (1)Ramayana (1)Rig Veda (1)Sama Veda (1)Samkhya Karika (1)Shaiva Agamas (1)Shat-chakra-nirupana (1)Shiva Sutras (1)Skanda Purana (1)Spanda Karikas (1)Tantraloka (1)Tevaram (1)The Brahmanas (1)The Vedas (1)Tiruvasagam (1)Upanishads (1)Vaikhanasa Agamas (1)Vishnu Purana (1)Yajur Veda (1)Yoga Vasistha (1)Where PractisedAllAssam (1)Bihar (1)Deccan (1)Himalayas (1)India (1)Indian Subcontinent (1)Kerala (1)Manipur (1)Punjab (1)Rajasthan (1)Southeast Asia (1)The Caribbean (1)The Guianas (1)Uttar Pradesh (1)Uttarakhand (1)Origin EraAll-1500 (1)Conception of the DivineAllMonistic: one ultimate reality behind all appearance (1)Panentheistic: the divine both within the world and beyond it (1)Polytheistic: many gods (1)Status TodayAllLiving tradition, practised today (1)Establishment StatusAllVaries by Province (1)Giving Obligation EnforceabilityAllCustomary Norm (1)Show ResultsHinduismPartly restricted: some elements are closed to outsidersSources1. Divinity Atlas Directory Taxonomy, First Edition Category Treetier 12. An Introduction to Hinduismtier 1Gavin Flood, Cambridge University Press, 1996View the SourceDivinity Atlas Directory Prose, First Edition Category Descriptionstier 1Comments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.