Picture an open house where Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Surya and Skanda each stand at a door leading to the same grand hall of truth. That’s the essence of Smartism’s friendly get-together: multiple deities, one non-dual reality.

Advaita Vedanta teaches that beyond all names and forms lies Brahman, the unchanging, infinite ground of being. Smartism simply acknowledges that human minds often need a personal face to latch onto—be it the remover of obstacles (Ganesha) or the cosmic dancer (Shiva). These deities become upāyas (skillful means), each tailored to a seeker’s temperament. Like picking one out of six coffees at a café, devotees choose the flavor that resonates, while ultimately savoring the same caffeine kick of oneness.

Worship rituals (puja), mantras and icon-worship in Smartism aren’t contradictions but bridges between saguna (with attributes) and nirguna (attribute-free) Brahman. Sliding from form-filled devotion into meditative absorption, the mind gradually sheds its attachment to distinctions. In today’s digital age—think last month’s International Yoga Day celebrations, where global livestreams blended serene chants with guided Advaita sessions—this approach feels tailor-made for seekers juggling modern life and ancient wisdom.

By embracing multiple deities as different vantage points on a single mountain peak, Smartism sidesteps dogmatic turf wars. Instead, it meets every faith halfway, demonstrating that the whole nine yards of divine personality and abstract unity aren’t rivals but companions on the same spiritual journey. Ultimately, each shrine becomes a mirror reflecting the one undivided Self.