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.