HINDU TRADTTION AND SECTS :
New theistic ideas began to develop in Hinduism in the period stretching between 500 BC to 1st Century AD, which meant belief in a personal god or ishta Deva, who generates the cosmos, preserves it and destroys it. This was the beginning of the Brahminical tradition and sectarian worship or devotion to a particular deity, like Shiva, Vishnu or shakti. This phenomenon in turn resulted in the formation of various religious sects or traditions. Sectarian puranas came into existence and Shiva and Vishnu became the focus of theistic tradition. Devotees of Shiva were called Shaivites, while those of Vishnu came to be known as Vaishnavites. A third sect also developed , which comprised the devotees who worshipped Shakti or Mother Goddess. They came to bo known as Shakta. In addition to these three, yet another sect called Smartas emerged, who worshipped the five deities, Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesh, and Surya.