Editing Trimurti (section)

=== Smartism ===
[[Smartism]] is a denomination of Hinduism that places emphasis on a group of five deities rather than just a single deity.{{sfnp|Flood|1996|p=17}} The "worship of the five forms" ({{IAST|[[pañcāyatana pūjā]]}}) system, which was popularized by the ninth-century philosopher [[Adi Shankara|{{IAST|Śankarācārya}}]] among orthodox Brahmins of the [[Smartism|Smārta]] tradition, invokes the five deities [[Shiva]], [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shakti]] and [[Surya]].{{sfnpm|1a1=Courtright|1y=1985|1p=163|2a1=Flood|2y=1996|2p=113}} [[Adi Shankara|{{IAST|Śankarācārya}}]] later added [[Kartikeya]] to these five, making six total. 

This reformed system was promoted by {{IAST|Śankarācārya}} primarily to unite the principal deities of the [[Shanmata|six major sects]] on an equal status.{{sfnp|Grimes|1995|p=162}} The [[monistic]] philosophy preached by {{IAST|Śankarācārya}} made it possible to choose one of these as a preferred principal deity and at the same time worship the other four deities as different forms of the same all-pervading [[Brahman]].