What is Vaishnavism?

Vaishnavism is a complete devotion and surrender of oneself to Sri Vishnu or Sri Narayana. It is a branch of Hinduism. The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as Vaishnava(s) or Vaishnavites. A large percentage of Hindus are Vaishnavas. In recent years, awareness, recognition, and growth of the belief has significantly increased outside of India, mainly in the form of Hare Krishna movement and Chaitnaya Vaishnavism (by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj).  Within their worship Vaishnava devotees consider that Vishnu is within them, as the Antaryami or the God within and as the foundation of their being; which is a part of the definition of the name Narayana.  Vaishnavas commonly follow a process of initiation, given by a guru, under whom they are trained to understand Vaishnava practices. At the time of initiation, the disciple is traditionally given specific mantras, which the disciple will repeat, either out loud or within the mind, as an act of worship to Vishnu or one of his avatars. The practice of repetitive prayer is known as japa. This initiation is also called as Saranagati or Samasraya. There are primarily three specific mantras – Mul mantra (main mantra), Dwaya mantra and Charam mantra.  It is a belief in Hinduism that every living being has a soul. Although the body of that living being dies, the soul is never dead. The soul finds another body and the process continues. Which body the soul takes depends on the accumulated virtues (punya) from past lives. Hence based on the person’s accumulated virtue or sin, soul can take the body of a human being or animal or deity (devas like Indra) etc. This cycle of re-birth of the soul continues for ever, irrespective of what form of body the soul takes. As soon as the soul exhaust the virtues earned or suffers for past sin, the soul starts from square one.  A Vaishnava’s soul, who had utmost devotion to God Narayana, will take a form of Narayana (although a separate body) and live with Narayana in his abode – Baikuntha. A soul that visits Baikuntha will be freed from the above mentioned cycle of birth and death for ever. This is known as Moksha.    "One who is initiated into the Vaishnava mantra and who is devoted to worshiping Lord Vishnu is a Vaishnava. One who is devoid of these practices is not a Vaishnava."(Padma Purana)