The Brahma Suthras of Vyasa Maharishi are the basis of Vedanthic philosophy, widely followed by all Hindus. The teachings of other Dharsanas, Agamas and traditions of Smartha Sampradaya, Saiva, Vaishnava and Saktha systems also contributed to the teachings of many commentators and the daily practice of religion.

We have the systems of Sankara, Bhaskara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Vishnuswami, Nimbarka, Vallabha, Chaithanya and the northern and Southern schools of Saivism including Meykandar's Saiva Siddhantha. Among them, Kevala Adhvaitha by Sri Sankara, Visishta-Advaitha by Sri Ramanuja and Dvaitha by Sri Madhva are commentaries on Brahma Suthras of Sri Vyasa and are the most popular.

Sri Sankara wrote the Advaitha theory. Sankara's teachings closely follow the traditions of Smarthas. In this, the Brahmam is absolute and formless. He appears as the Saguna Brahmam in various forms for the pious worship of devotees. The Supreme Brahmam and all His creations are one and the same. They look different due to the veil of Maya and due to our ignorance or avidhya.

Sri Ramanuja wrote the Visishta-adhvaitha. In this, Brahmam is Narayana, a personal God with attributes. It is not homogenous, has elements of plurality and manifests in a diversified world. Sri Madhva's Dhvaitha is strictly dualistic. The individual souls do not attain equality with God. Here God is separate from His creations, which are real and dependent on God. We also have other systems that are slightly different including the Saiva Siddhantha of Sage Meykandar in Tamil Nadu and Sakthi Yoga Philosophy which follow Saivism and Sakthism.

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