Smarta Tradition (Sanskrit: स्मार्त) is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature, It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Mimamsa, Advaita, Yoga, and theism
The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesh, and Shakti
The Smarta Tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta Tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites
There has been considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism
The Smarta tradition developed during (early) Classical Period of Hinduism around the beginning of the Common Era, when Hinduism emerged from the interaction between Brahmanism and local traditions
The Smarta tradition is aligned with Advaita Vedanta, and regards Adi Shankara as its founder or reformer
Shankara championed the ultimate reality is impersonal and Nirguna (attributeless) and any symbolic god serves the same equivalent purpose
Inspired by this belief, the Smarta tradition followers, along with the five Hindu gods include a sixth impersonal god in their practice
The tradition has been called by William Jackson as “advaitin, monistic in its outlook”
The term Smarta also refers to Brahmins who specialize in the Smriti corpus of texts named the Grihya Sutras, in contrast to Shrauta Sutras
Smarta Brahmins with their focus on the Smriti corpus, contrast from Srauta Brahmins who specialize in the Sruti Corpus, that is rituals and ceremonies that follow the Vedas