Smartism springs from the non-dual (Advaita) philosophy championed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. At its heart lies the belief that the divine—Brahman—is singular and formless, yet can be approached through various personal deities. Rather than staking a claim on one supreme god, Smartism hands devotees a spiritual buffet: Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti (Devi), Ganesha, Surya and sometimes Skanda all share equal billing in the home shrine (the panchayatana puja).

That inclusivity sets Smartism apart from more narrowly focused paths like Vaishnavism (with Vishnu or Krishna as the one true deity) or Shaivism (where Shiva is supreme). While those traditions often embrace dualistic or qualified non-dual schools—Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita or Madhva’s Dvaita—Smartism remains firmly Advaitic, teaching that individual souls and the universe are not essentially different from Brahman. Personal deities become skillful means—upāyas—to help quiet the mind before realizing that underlying unity.

In practice, Smartism leans on a scriptural foundation of Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Rituals tend to be simpler than in heavily temple-based sects, often carried out at home under the guidance of a guru. Today’s Smartist families in Kerala or Tamil Nadu still pass down the panchayatana setup, but the philosophy has found fresh life in online satsangs and virtual Gita study groups—especially since 2020’s forced pivot to Zoom gatherings.

Unlike traditions that celebrate one form of the divine with grand festivals—like Ratha Yatra in Vaishnavism—Smartism celebrates unity. It’s a reminder that, in a world glued by social media and global challenges, multiple paths can all point to the same summit. Think of it as a spiritual smorgasbord where each dish offers a taste of the infinite.