Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya

This Sampradaya developed in Tamil Nadu at the temple of Srirangam. Its original founder was Acharya Nathmuni (10^th Century AD ) , although the most famous was Ramanuja (1017 AD_ 1137AD). Their main inspiration was from the devotional poetries of Alvars (Tamil mystic poets ) as well as from Vedantas, Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita. Ramanuja based his presentation of Vaishnavism from Vedas, Upanishads, epics and puranas. He preached that salvation or liberation was transcending the cycle of reincarnation (Samsara) and Karma. This is achieved through devotion to the Lord and detachment from the world, which essentially means religious practice (upasana) of devotion and service to the Lord, in one of his incarnations and temple icons. They chant the mantra , Om Namo Narayanaya and they put a tilak on their foreheads of two vertical lines in white and a central red line.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

This is a devotional tradition focused on Krishna, which developed in North India, specifically in Vrindavan and Bengal. The most popular member or the founder of this sect of this tradition was Chaitanya (1486 AD _1533 AD ), who is regarded as an incarnation of Krishna and Radha in one body. He worshipped Krishna with a group of devotees by singing and chanting his praises and experienced ecstatic or possessed states of consciousness.

Central focus of this tradition is love between Radha and Krishna , which is strongly erotic, but an eroticism which is regarded as transcendental and not carnal. They regard Krishna as the Supreme Lord , and not just as an Avatar of Vishnu , who creates , preserves, and destroys the cosmos over and over again. Radha s strength through which cosmos is manifested : and although they are united, they are yet distinct.

The love of Radha and Krishna form the focal point of various aesthrtic experiences as described in classical and courtly love poetries in Sanskrit a famous one being Gita Govind composed  by Jayadeva. The ritual practice of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is repeating the names of Krishna singing hymns and worship of temple icons. The believe that by  repeatedly chanting the name of the deity the devotee invokes his presence. Liberation or salvation for this sect is a feeling of constant and ecstatic  experience of the divine love  play (Lila ) between Radha and Krishna in a spiritual and perfected body.

This tradition continues presently as Hare Krishna Movement even in the west .

Their famous Mantra is:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna ,Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare