Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 THE UNIFIED SAMPRADAYAS (SECTS) Below I have done some browsing and collected some "bookish knowledge" and tried to simplify it for the readers. There are many disciplic chains but all the chains were unified by LORD Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who dispelled the darkness of sectarianism, with the wonderful message of bhakti, and unalloyed devotion to and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for KRISHNA, who is the SUPREME PERSONALITY of GODHEAD, and The ORIGINAL BEING even before BRAHMA came into existence. Originating from Brahma,the current Brahma-sampradaya is knownas the Brahma-Madhava-Gaudiya-sampradaya. This is the sampradaya that Lord Chaitanya accepted initiation from, and carried out His further Leela. Then the Kumara-sampradaya of the four sons of Brahma -Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat. The Giri sect of saints are from this Sampradaya, and most are based in the Himalayas. Lord Siva is known as the greatest devotee of the SupremePersonality of Godhead. He is known as the best of all types of Vaisnavas(vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh). Consequently, Lord Siva has a Vaisnavasampradaya, the disciplic succession known as the Rudra-sampradaya. Even though Lord Siva appeared to preach Mayavada philosophy, at the end of his pastime in the form of Sankaracarya, he preached the Vaisnava philosophy: bhaja govindam bhaja govindam bhaj a govindam mudha-mate. Then comes the Sri Sampradaya or the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya.This is predominantly based in South India (the ALVAR Saints) There is a less known,fifth Sampradaya, the NATH Sampradaya predominant in North India, in the region of Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra,Rajasthan and Gujarat. Baba Gorakhnath is the founder of this Sampradaya, and I am sure there is a link between this Nath Sampradaya and Sri Sampradaya. Lord Dattatreya (who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and has an appearance that shows all the faces of Brahma too) is the centre of this Sampradaya.He is also the guru of Lord Parashurama (who was the Lord Vishnu Himself!).This appears to be really the only Sampradaya directly originated by Lord Vishnu. (the four other Sampradayas are originated by :- 1.Lord Brahma( Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya), 2.Lord Siva ( Rudra Sampradaya), 3.Kumara Sampradaya (four sons of Brahma started this one) and 4.Sri Sampradaya (Alvar Saints of the South, who worship Lord Narayana). Perhaps the NATH Sampradaya is the northern counterpart of Sri Sampradaya, thus there are just four Sampradayas.(If someone can throw more light on the exact origins of the Sri Sampradaya, it would be fascinating!) The bottomline is, all these Sampradayas are united in the trinity (Brahma,Vishnu,Siva) and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu unified all these separate sampradayas. If one wants to advance in spiritual life, onemust recieve his mantras from one of these bona fide sampradayas;otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life. ISKCON represents the Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya also known simply as the Brahma Sampradaya. HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE Thus, seek a BONAFIDE GURU and offer yourself in full humility at the Lotus Feet of such a Guru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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