Shanmata
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Shanmata (IAST Ṣaṇmata) is the system of worship founded by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. It centers around the worship of the six main deities of Hinduism, viz, Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, Surya and Subrahmanya. In Adi Shankara's time these deities had their own Hindu followers who are said to have quarrelled with each other claiming the relative superiority of their chosen deity. Adi Shankara synthesised these quarrelling sects by integrating the worship of all these deities in the Shanmata system.
