The Brahma Sampradaya (Brahma-sampradāya) refers to the disciplic succession (sampradaya) of gurus starting with Brahma in Hinduism.[1] The term is most often used to refer to the beliefs and teachings of Madhvacharya[2] and his Dvaita philosophy. Sometimes it may also refer to the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his Gaudiya theology. A number of worldwide religious movements belong to this line, including ISKCON,[3] a derivative of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Followers of this tradition believe that Vedic knowledge descends from Brahma. In the Vedic conception, these sampradayas began at the creation of the universe and endure to the present moment in the person of the student's own guru. Due to the consistency of the transmission of knowledge, all the previous gurus are present in the teachings of the present spiritual master. The Vedic process assures that the transmission remains pure by assuring the qualifications of the transmitter.[4]
Usually Brahma sampradaya is called Brahma-Madhva sampradaya, because teaching comes through Madhvacarya.
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