Vaishnavism

Originating from the confluence of hero-worship movements and the early worship of the Vedic solar deity Vishnu, Vaishnavism incorporated many ideas in the development of a religious tradition that emerged fully-fledged following the fall of the Mauryan empire. Going on to develop into a multitude of devotional, mystic, and philosophical sects, Vaishnavism remains a key Hindu denomination and is closely tied to the development of Vedanta.