The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (997 page)

u has for the Vai
avites and that
iva has for the
aivites. But the breakdown of these into particular traditions is prolific in its diversity. The traditions of devotion and teaching are transmitted through
gurus
and protected in organized systems (
sa
prad
ya
).
Worship of God is
p
j
(worship). The evocation of the real presence of God is particularly important also in the focus of
mantra
/ma
ala and
yantra
(sounds and diagrams); and in places or rivers closely associated with manifestations of God (see
SACRED CITIES
/SACRED RIVERS, SEVEN).
The three major paths (
m
rga
) of progress toward mok
a are karmam
rga (the way of works, following dharma), jñ