The main practice of Hindu Dharma consists of the traditions divided into two major subdivisions. One of them is the popular traditions of devotional worship of Manifestations and incarnations of God as Siva, Sakthi, Vishnu and various other Moorthies in Temple worship and in home prayer rituals following Agamas and Puranas. The other is the Ritualistic practice strictly following the Vedas, the Karma Kanda and Upasana Kanda, as Poorva Meemasa, with worship of the Fire and water representing the Paramatma in the Natural forces and the Celestial forces like Indra, Varuna and Agni.

Then a modification of this practice is the Vedanta or Utthara Mimaamsa following the Advaitha Philosphy, with the study of Vedas and Upanishad without the rituals. Sri Sankara then gave us the practice of worship of six forms of Divine manifestations as in the Agamas along with the combination of Advaitha Philosophy and also the ritualistic practice of the Karma Kanda of the Vedas, as followed by the Smartha Sampradaya. The teachings of Sri Ramanuja's Visishtadhvaitha, Sri Madhva's Dwaitha, and Sri Meykandar's Saiva Siddhantha as also other great Acharyas were added to the traditions of worship of Siva or Vishnu in various forms.

These two forms of practice are guided by elaborate texts and rituals found in our Holy books and are taught by priests and Gurus. These involve recitation of religious texts of Vedas and Agamas and also mantras from Bhakthi literature. This also involves several traditional rituals to God represented as an Icon or Image in Temples built for this purpose or a room in the house designated for such events. Most of these rituals used Sanskrit as the main language for service. The common public who lack a complete understanding of these principles are given some initial simple paths like the devotional Bhakthi paths through group singing of music and recitations in various languages, as started by the Bagavathas and other such traditions. All of them try to approach the same Absolute Truth. While each path tries to show this Truth in one's daily life, we need to realize that no one tradition may have all the answers. An analysis and study of different paths of Hindu Dharma is useful in this.

While these are the divisions of the two major sects of Religious practice traditions of Hindu Dharma, several other forms of worship of village deities of ancient cultural groups exist in many parts of India. Some were for ancient village leaders who are believed to be the protectors of village. Many of them show a subtle merger with the practice of worship of Sakthi and Siva in various forms. Hindu Religious practice has shown accommodation of such practices as acceptable alternate tradition of expressing ones devotion, while those groups who have such tradition also join the main line Hindu Temple worship.