Smartism weaves together a tapestry of ideas drawn largely from Advaita Vedanta, celebrating a single, formless Absolute (Brahman) while joyfully honoring multiple deities as its many faces. At the heart lies the non-dual claim that individual self (Ātman) and universal Self (Brahman) are ultimately one and the same. A few guiding principles:

1. Brahman as Ultimate Reality
   – Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguṇa (without attributes): Smartism holds that the Supreme can be worshiped in personal form—Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha or Surya—yet beyond all forms it remains attributeless Brahman.
   – Maya: The world of names and forms appears real but is essentially a play of illusion (māyā) until pure knowledge dawns.

2. Ātman–Brahman Identity
   – “Tat Tvam Asi” (“That Thou Art”): Central Upanishadic mahāvākyas assert inner oneness with the Absolute.
   – Liberation (moksha) arrives when one’s sense of separation dissolves and the Self recognizes its own divine essence.

3. Ishta-Devatā and Panchāyatana Pūjā
   – Personal deity choice: Worshippers select an Ishta-devatā, forging an emotional bond that guides inward reflection.
   – Panchāyatana framework: Simultaneous veneration of five deities underscores that every form is a doorway to the same Reality—a practice still embraced in many South Indian temples today.

4. Scriptural and Rational Inquiry
   – Triple canon: Upanishads, Bhagavad Gītā and Brahma Sūtras form the backbone of understanding.
   – Śravaṇa (listening), Manana (reflection), Nididhyāsana (meditation): A systematic method for discerning truth beyond ritualism.

5. Harmonizing Paths
   – Embracing bhakti (devotion), jñāna (knowledge), karma (selfless action) and rāja (meditation): Smartism’s inclusive spirit lets seekers travel whichever lane feels most natural, all roads leading to the same summit.

In an age when spiritual streaming apps and online satsangs are booming, Smartism’s emphasis on both personal devotion and ultimate unity offers a timeless blueprint: celebrate the myriad expressions of the divine, yet keep the eye fixed on the One that underlies them all.