Emerging from the rich soil of Vedic and Upaniṣadic thought, Smartism evolved as a uniquely inclusive strand of Hindu worship. Long before its formal codification, early sages explored the One Reality—Brahman—through varied deities, finding each form a window to the same ultimate truth. By the 8th century CE, this non-dual approach found its voice in the teachings of Adi Śankarāchārya. He wove together five principal deities—Śiva, Viṣṇu, Śakti, Ganeśa and Sūrya—into a coherent framework, inviting devotees to honor whichever form resonated most deeply, while acknowledging all as equally valid paths to liberation.

Over the medieval period, Smartism threaded the needle between sectarian devotion and philosophical unity. Its temples and monasteries—especially those established by Śaṅkarācārya’s disciples in Kāñcī, Dvārakā, and other holy centers—became hubs for scriptural study, ritual worship and public debate. While Vaishṇava and Śaiva traditions often attracted larger followings with their intense personal theism, Smartism quietly nurtured a spacious outlook: every chant of “Om” or recital of the Bhagavad-Gītā reaffirmed the same non-dual heart.

In recent decades, Smartism’s emphasis on pluralism has struck a chord well beyond India. Interfaith gatherings like the Parliament of the World’s Religions highlight its model of honoring diversity without diluting core unity—an approach resonating amid today’s global conversations around tolerance. Urban temples in Bengaluru and Mumbai now host multi-deity pujas where families rotate worship among the five icons, echoing Smartism’s original ethos.

As modern seekers explore meditation apps, yoga studios and mindfulness retreats, many rediscover Smartism’s elegant simplicity: form and formlessness dancing in tandem. Far from being a relic of the past, its legacy endures in every quiet atma-bodha reflection and vibrant festival procession, reminding all that the many faces of the divine ultimately mirror the one undivided Self.