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:
  • 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
(ii) Sri Sampradaaya:
  • 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
(iv) Kumaara Sampradaaya:
  • Acharya(s) is Nimbarka.
  • Tattva or Principle followed here is Dvaitadvaita-vaada
  • Other name(s) Sanakati sampradaaya, Nimbarka Sampardaaya
  • Principles
Though 'Mayavada Sampradaaya' is also a sampradaaya with Sankaracharya as the Acharya, it does not come under the prominent 4 sampradaayas. Smartas follow this. Kevaladvaita is being followed here.

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.