In a wide perspective, a religion is the belief for a perfect conduct, which leads to a karmic free life. In other words, it's a proven path to attain salvation when its principles are strictly followed.
While following a religion, it becomes very essential and also demands real wisdom to understand and accept a guru. Scriptures and Scholars say, when the real search starts within, and when the right time hits, then the Guru will automatically approach the person looking for guidance. It's undoubtedly true. At the same time, when there are situations to choose a guru on our choice, then it's a question involving lots of thinking the pros and cons before accepting the right one.
In countries like India, where Religion is the base of life for people, there are ample chances for crooks to play with ignorance of people. This is a country where even cine actors or actress are being regarded equivalent to God. Hero-worship is one of the phobias that misguides people to disaster. People who are even well educated, and have a good thinking succumb to such crooks. Not all come under this category but from time to time some have been brought to light.
A sanyasin or sanyasi is one who is said to have renounced everything. There are certain principles for a sanyasi or a renounced, such as, he should get alms and eat, he should not use any comforts to sleep, he should travel only by foot, and so on. Now a days, how many sanyasins are doing so? Very importantly, Gurus like Adhi Sankarachariar and Sri Ramanujar have a lineage [dealt in detail below]. People who accept a guru should invariably see his lineage or parampara or the mutt the guru belongs to. Never ever accept anyone as guru if he or she doesn't have any guru, and does not come under any lineage. Only a few initiated people are recognized by the hierarchy to initiate, and to become a guru. Most of the initiated devotees are not allowed to initiate others. So, take due care before approaching or accepting one as guru.
Scriptures and Bagavatham say that Lord Krishna had appeared in the human form in this world. To the Lord himself, Sandipani was his Guru. Though he had proved innumerable times that he's no more an ordinary soul, there was a guru for him. If this applies to Lord Krishna himself, then it clearly applies to everyone else who wishes to guide others.
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Religion, Faiths, and Philosophies
Before plunging deep into the subject, let's understand some of the subtle differences that exist between words. Though they appear to be the same but, on scrutiny the meaning imbibed in them is different. Starting with words 'Fact' and 'Truth, a simple analogy would be good enough to explain these terms. We all know that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. There is no ambiguity in this as these basics have been taught to us at the school level. When you see the reality, does the sun move from one direction and move towards the other? Here comes the truth, the truth is, because the planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical orbital fashion, it appears to our eyes that the sun is moving from East to West. From this simple analogy, it is very clear that, Fact exists for a period of time, whereas, Truth does not change with time. More...
Nimbarka Sampradaya
Nimbarka Sampradaya or Nimbarka Lineage:
Other Names: Catuḥ Sana Sampradāya, Sanakādi Sampradāya, Hamsa Sampradāya, and Kumāra Sampradāya
philosophy: Dvaitadvaita Philosophy or Bhedabheda vada
Explanation: chit, acit, and Isvara. Chit and Acit depend on Isvara, who is independent and can exist without any help. Though Chit, Acit depend on Isvara, they are not different from Isvara.
Chit and Acit have qualities or Gunas or Attributes.
Dieties worshipped: Radha and Krishna
First Exponent: Nimbakacharya
Sampradaaya or Lineage
The inner nature of a pious person would be to search for the right path for salvation. A guru is one who represents the ultimate to show the path for perfection. As discussed earlier, the guru should be from a proper lineage. It becomes very essential to know about the lineage.
Basically, there are 4 paramparas or lineage or Sampradayaas, namely,(i)Brahma Sampradaaya, (ii) Sri Sampradaaya, (iii) Rudra Sampradaaya, and (iv) Kumaara Sampradaaya. All these four have the Ultimate as their origin.
(i) Brahma Sampradaaya:
(iii) Rudra Sampradaaya:
There are other sub-divisions on each sampradaayas. But, anyone who is said to be a guru should surely have a link in any of the 4 sampradaayas.
Basically, there are 4 paramparas or lineage or Sampradayaas, namely,(i)Brahma Sampradaaya, (ii) Sri Sampradaaya, (iii) Rudra Sampradaaya, and (iv) Kumaara Sampradaaya. All these four have the Ultimate as their origin.
(i) Brahma Sampradaaya:
- Acharyas of Brahma Sampradaays are Madhavacharya and Lord Caitanya.
- Tattva or Principle followed is sudha-dvaita-vaada, which means purified form of dualism.
- Other name(s) for this sampradaya is Madhva Sampradaya
- Acharya or the foremost exponent is Ramanuja, who is also said to be an incarnation of Adhisesha (Serpent bed of Lord Visnu)
- Tattva or Principle being followed is Visistadvaita-vaada.
- Other name(s) are Lakshmi Sampradaaya because Sri means Lakshmi, Ramanuja Samprdaya or Sri Vaisnava Sampradaaya.
(iii) Rudra Sampradaaya:
- Acharya(s) are Visnusvami, vallabhacarya
- Tattva or Principle followed here is Sudha-advaita-vaada
- Other name(s) are Siva Sampradaaya, Visnuswami sampradaaya, vallabha Sampradaaya
- Acharya(s) is Nimbarka.
- Tattva or Principle followed here is Dvaitadvaita-vaada
- Other name(s) Sanakati sampradaaya, Nimbarka Sampardaaya
- Principles
There are other sub-divisions on each sampradaayas. But, anyone who is said to be a guru should surely have a link in any of the 4 sampradaayas.
Varnas and Ashrams
Every Hindu should know what Varna and Ashram mean by. Varnas are clearly not the caste system in India. There are only 4 varnas, whereas there are innumerable castes in India. The 4 varnas are (i) Chatriyas, (ii) Brahmanas, (iii) Vaisyas, and (iv) Sudras. It becomes very essential to bring up a very vital point to the readers. The word 'Sudra' is being mis-used by many treating sudras lower in hierarchy. But the reality is not so. It's a varna with equal weight-age compared to other 3 of them. Each varna has got its own significance. Varnas are based on work.
Chatriyas are kings whose main work is to take care of their countrymen. Brahmanas are said to have learnt vedas and teach the essence of it to kings and others. Vaisyas are business people and they do trade for the benefit of people. Sudras are laborers. Chatriyas practice 64 different arts, brahmanas are said to be well versed in vedas, upanishads, sashtras, Vaisyas are people with business intellect. Since Sudras are involved in lot of physical work, unfortunately they have not been recognized in the society despite their strenuous hardworking nature.
Aashram or Hermitage
Pious people, who have renounced this worldly pleasures form a small place to lead a peaceful life. Mostly, the hermitage would be amidst nature with serene environment.
Teaching the values of upanishads, sastras, and vedas would be the main occupation there. In some ashrams, yagnas and yagas will also be performed. Basically, there are 4 stages in the life of every individual namely, Baalya, Yavvana, Gruhastha, and Vaanaprastha. Obviously, baalya is the childhood period of a person. Yavanna is the adolescent period, gruhastha is the married life of a person and lastly, the vaanaprastha, which means, after performing all the duties destined to an individual, he, along with his wife goes out of the city to a remote place to lead a life in harmony with nature. On such occasions, the couple would live in a hermitage. An ashram becomes complete only when the real motive is to attain salvation and to reach the almighty.
Chatriyas are kings whose main work is to take care of their countrymen. Brahmanas are said to have learnt vedas and teach the essence of it to kings and others. Vaisyas are business people and they do trade for the benefit of people. Sudras are laborers. Chatriyas practice 64 different arts, brahmanas are said to be well versed in vedas, upanishads, sashtras, Vaisyas are people with business intellect. Since Sudras are involved in lot of physical work, unfortunately they have not been recognized in the society despite their strenuous hardworking nature.
Aashram or Hermitage
Pious people, who have renounced this worldly pleasures form a small place to lead a peaceful life. Mostly, the hermitage would be amidst nature with serene environment.
Teaching the values of upanishads, sastras, and vedas would be the main occupation there. In some ashrams, yagnas and yagas will also be performed. Basically, there are 4 stages in the life of every individual namely, Baalya, Yavvana, Gruhastha, and Vaanaprastha. Obviously, baalya is the childhood period of a person. Yavanna is the adolescent period, gruhastha is the married life of a person and lastly, the vaanaprastha, which means, after performing all the duties destined to an individual, he, along with his wife goes out of the city to a remote place to lead a life in harmony with nature. On such occasions, the couple would live in a hermitage. An ashram becomes complete only when the real motive is to attain salvation and to reach the almighty.
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