Vaishnavism unfolds as a rich tapestry of ideas, each school weaving its own vision of how the divine and the cosmos interrelate. Here’s a quick tour through the major philosophical traditions:

1. Vishishtādvaita (Qualified Non-Dualism)
   • Championed by Ramanuja (11th–12th century), this view holds that the Supreme (Vishnu or Narayana) and individual souls are distinct yet inseparable—like sparks to a flame.
   • Emphasizes loving devotion (bhakti) as the surest path to union, celebrated today in South Indian temples and festivals such as Sri Ranganatha’s annual chariot run in Srirangam.

2. Dvaita (Dualism)
   • Founded by Madhva (13th century), it insists on an unbridgeable gulf between God and individual souls—think of two rock-solid realities side by side.
   • Worship centers on Krishna and Vayu (wind god) as supreme friends, often observed in Karnataka’s Madhwa mathas, where lively debates still spark over eternity and grace.

3. Dvaita-Advaita or Bhedābheda (Difference-Non-Difference)
   • Nimbārka’s 13th–14th century school proposes the soul and God are simultaneously distinct and unified—like waves and the ocean.
   • Its followers adore Radha-Krishna together, especially in Uttar Pradesh’s temples dotted around Vrindavan.

4. Śuddhādvaita (Pure Non-Dualism)
   • Propagated by Vallabha (15th century), this approach sees the world as a direct, blissful expression of Krishna himself—no illusion, no hierarchy.
   • Pushti Marg devotees gather for intimate seva (service) ceremonies, where food is offered to Shrinathji with poetic songs echoing through Rajasthan’s palaces.

5. Acintya-Bhedābheda (Inconceivable Oneness and Difference)
   • Given shape by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (16th century), especially through today’s Gaudiya Vaishnavism and ISKCON communities worldwide.
   • Balances the mystical paradox: souls and God are “simultaneously one and different,” best grasped by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in kirtans that resonate from Kolkata’s streets to Western yoga studios.

Each tradition contributes its own color to the Vaishnava rainbow, reminding seekers that the path of devotion can be as varied and vibrant as the outfits worn by Krishna himself.