Lineage

Lineage

An important aspect of classical Vedic traditions is disciplic succession of teacher and student known as parampara. Valid knowledge of the Absolute is only possible through the teachings of a qualified teacher (guru) transmitted to the student (disciple). Formal initiation of a student (diksha) into his teacher’s lineage occurs through a ceremony,  including the passing down of a mantra. An authentic line of disciplic succession is unbroken and thus one can trace the lineage of a particular school’s teaching to its original source.

There are several different schools of thought within the Vedanta philosophical system, one of which is the Gaudiya line founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal at the onset of the 16th century. The Gaudiya parampara is believed to begin with the first living being—Brahma. The parampara includes Madhvacharya—the great Vaishnava saint of the 13th century and is therefore known as the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya tradition (sampradaya). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu followed in this disciplic succession though he is believed by his followers to be an avatara of the Supreme Lord himself.

Sri Caitanya hearing the Bhagavat from Gadadhara Pandit
Sri Caitanya hearing the Bhagavat from Gadadhara Pandit

The closest associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was Gadadhara Pandita. Sri Chaitanya thus entrusted Gadadhara Pandita to initiate students into their ancient lineage. Jiva Gosvami’s uncles, Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami received diksha from Gadadhara Pandita and Jiva Gosvami followed in the line of his uncles.

Gadadhara Gaura at Sri Haridas Niwas, Kaliya-daha, Vrindavan
Gadadhara Gaura at Sri Haridas Niwas, Kaliya-daha, Vrindavan

Today, there are many branches coming from Gadadhara Pandit, known as Gadadhara Parivar. One of the most eminent saints and scholars in this line is Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaja of Vrindavan, who left this world on October 6th, 2013 to enter into Sri Sri Radha Krishna’s eternal lila. In addition to having been a renounced monk, renowned teacher, and protector of cows, Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaja has translated and published over eighty books from Sanskrit into Hindi and Bengali, many with original commentary. He was the first person to translate and comment on Jiva Gosvami’s Sat Sandarbhas into Hindi. Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaja held nine graduate degrees and three postgraduate degrees in the six systems of Hindu philosophy.

Deities at Jiva
Deities at Jiva Institute, Vrindavan

The Jiva Institute of Vaishnava Studies was founded with the direction and support of Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaj by his disciple and renowned teacher and scholar, Dr. Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji.

4 Comments

  • Subho October 22, 2024

    Were all six Goswamis part of the Gadadhara Parivara lineage, or were only Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and previously, Bhugarbha Goswami and Lokenath Goswami affiliated with it? I mean, what is the status of the other three Goswamis, viz., Raghunatha Bhatta and Dasa Goswamis, and Gopala Bhatta Goswami in this context? Who was their Diksha Guru guru—was it Sri Gadadhara Pandita or another figure?

  • Malatimanjari October 23, 2024

    There are different opinions on this. It will take some research.

  • Subho October 23, 2024

    Yes, I understand that there are varying opinions on this complex subject. However, I am asking about the specific stance of your particular tradition, the Gadadhara Parivara as outlined in this article, on this specific question.

    • Malatimanjari October 23, 2024

      Our parivara does not have an official stance, but we do hear in tradition that all Gosvamis were coming in Sri Gadadhara’s line. Narottamadas Thakur also says that all the Gosvamis were disciples of Sri Gadadhara and that he comes in Gadadhar-parivara: Gadadhara mora kula (Prarthana 10). He is a grand-disciple of Gadadhara Pandit.

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