Nimbarka Sampradaya

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Nimbarka

Shankha-Chakra-Urdhvapundra of the Nimbarka Sampradaya
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Sanskrit, Hindi, Brajbhasha

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The Nimbarka Sampradaya (IAST: Nimbārka Sampradāya, Sanskrit निम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय), also known as the Kumāra Sampradāya, Hamsa Sampradāya, and Sanakādi Sampradāya (सनकादि सम्प्रदाय), is one of the four Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas. It was founded by Nimbarka,^[1][2] a Telugu Brahmin yogi and philosopher. It propounds the Vaishnava Bhedabheda theology of Dvaitadvaita (dvaita-advaita) or dualistic non-dualism.^[3][4][5] Dvaitadvaita states that humans are both different and non-different from Isvara, God or Supreme Being. Specifically, this Sampradaya is a part of Krishnaism—Krishna-centric traditions.^[6]

Nimbarka Sampradaya is also known as Kumāra Sampradāya, Hamsa Sampradāya, and Sanakādi Sampradāya. According to tradition, the Nimbarka Sampradaya Dvaita-advaita philosophy was revealed by Śrī Hansa Bhagavān to Sri Sanakadi Bhagawan, one of the Four Kumaras; who passed it to Sri Narada Muni; and then on to Nimbarka. The Four Kumaras: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, and Sanat Kumāra, are traditionally regarded as the four mind-born sons of Lord Brahmā. They were created by Brahmā in order to advance creation, but chose to undertake lifelong vows of celibacy (brahmacarya), becoming renowned yogis, who requested from Brahma the boon of remaining perpetually five years old.^[7] Śrī Sanat Kumāra Samhitā, a treatise on the worship of Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, is attributed to the brothers, just like the Śrī Sanat Kumāra Tantra, which is part of the Pancarātra literature.^[8]

In the creation of this universe as narrated by the Paurāṇika literature, Śrī Nārada Muni is the younger brother of the Four Kumāras, who took initiation from his older brothers. Their discussions as guru and disciple are recorded in the Upaniṣads with a famous conversation in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, and in the Śrī Nārada Purāṇa and the Pañcarātra literature.

Nārada Muni is recorded as main teacher in all four of the Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas. According to tradition, he initiated Śrī Nimbārkācārya into the sacred 18-syllabled Śrī Gopāla Mantra (Klim Krishnaya Govindaya Gopijanavallabhaya Svaha), and introduced him to the philosophy of the Yugala upāsana, the devotional worship of the divine couple Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. According to tradition, this was the first time that Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa were worshipped together by anyone on earth other than the Gopis of Vṛndāvana. Śrī Nārada Muni then taught Nimbarka the essence of devotional service in the Śrī Nārada Bhakti Sūtras.^[9] Śrī Nimbārkācārya already knew the Vedas, Upaniṣads and the rest of the scriptures, but perfection was found in the teachings of Śrī Nārada Muni.^[10]

Nimbarka is conventionally dated at the 7th or 11th century, but this dating has been questioned, suggesting that Nimbarka lived somewhat earlier than Shankara, in the 6th or 7th century CE. According to Roma Bose, Nimbarka lived in the 13th century, on the presupposition that Śrī Nimbārkāchārya was the author of the work Madhvamukhamardana.^{[11][note 1]} Meanwhile, Vijay Ramnarace concluded that the work Madhvamukhamardana has been wrongly attributed to Nimbarkacharya.^[12] This view is also supported by traditional scholars, who hold a similar perspective.^[13] Bhandarkar has placed him after Ramanuja, suggesting 1162 AD as the date of his demise.^[14]S.N. Dasgupta, on the other hand, dates Nimbārka to the mid-14th century.^[15] Dasgupta bases this dating on the absence of Nimbārka's mention in the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, a doxography by 14th-century author Mādhava Vidyāraṇya.^[16] However, it is important to note that none of the Bhedābhedins—whether Bhartṛprapañca, Nimbārka, Bhāskara, or Yādavaprakāśa—are referenced in the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha.^[17] while S. A. A. Rizvi assigns a date of c. 1130–1200 AD.^[18]

According to Satyanand, Bose's dating of the 13th century is an erroneous attribution.^[19] Malkovsky, following Satyanand, notes that in Bhandarkar's own work it is clearly stated that his dating of Nimbarka was an approximation based on an extremely flimsy calculation; yet most scholars chose to honour his suggested date, even until modern times.^[1] According to Malkovsky, Satyanand has convincingly demonstrated that Nimbarka and his immediate disciple Srinivasacharya flourished well before Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE), arguing that Srinivasacharya was a contemporary, or just after Sankaracarya (early 8th century).^[1] According to Ramnarace, summarising the available research, Nimbarka must be dated in the 7th century CE.^[2]

According to the Bhavishya Purana, and his eponymous tradition, the Nimbārka Sampradāya, Śrī Nimbārkāchārya appeared in the year 3096 BCE, when the grandson of Arjuna was on the throne. According to tradition, Nimbārka was born in Vaidūryapattanam, the present-day Mungi Village, Paithan in East Maharashtra.^{[citation needed]} His parents were Aruṇa Ṛṣi and Jayantī Devī. Together, they migrated to Mathurā and settled at what is now known as Nimbagrāma (Neemgaon), situated between Barsānā and Govardhan.

The Nimbarka Sampradaya follows the doctrine of Svābhāvika Bhedabheda also known as dvaitādvaita. The doctrine of Svābhāvika Bhedābheda is primarily elaborated in the works of Nimbārka and Srinivasacharya, particularly Nimbarka's Vedānta pārijāta saurabha and Vedānta Kaustubha, commentaries on the Brahma Sūtras.

Svābhāvika Bhedābheda discern three foundational elements of reality:

• Brahman, which is the metaphysical ultimate reality;^[20] the controller.^[21]
• Chit, representing the Jivātman, which is the sentient, individual soul;^[20] the enjoyer.^[21]
• Achit, which is the non-sentient universe;^[20] the object to be enjoyed.^[21]

Svābhāvika Bhedābheda holds that the individual soul (jīva) and the non-sentient universe (jagat) are both distinct from and identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality, depending on the perspective. Brahman alone is svatantra tattva (independent reality), while the activities and existence of the other two realities depend on Brahman are regarded as paratantra tattva (dependent reality).^[22]

In this approach the relation between Atman and Brahman is "svābhāvika or natural, not brought about by any external agency, and therefore it cannot be dispensed with. An adventitious relation can be finished away by removing the cause or agency which has brought it, but what is inherent or more appropriately natural cannot be taken away."^[23][24]

Brahman pervades the entire universe and is immanent in all beings, yet thwy retain their individuality.^[25] The non-sentient universe is not considered an illusion (māyā), but a real manifestation of Brahman's power.^[26] The philosophy draws on metaphors like the sun and its rays, fire and its sparks, to demonstrate the natural, inherent connection between Brahman and its manifestations.

Nimbarka describes Brahman as the creator of the world. He also controls how the law of karma functions, but is not bound by karma.^[27]

For Nimbārka Sampradāya, the highest object of worship is Krishna and his consort Radha, attended by thousands of gopi's, or cowherdesses, of the celestial Vrindavan. Devotion, according to Nimbārka Sampradāya, consists in prapatti, or self-surrender.^[28][29]

Sri Nimbarkacharya, on the worship of the divine couple, in Dasha Shloki (verse 5):^[2]

aṅge tu vāme vṛṣabhānujāṁ mudā virājamānām anurūpasaubhagām । sakhīsahasraiḥ parisevitāṁ sadā smarema devīṁ sakaleṣṭakāmadām

I reflect on the daughter of Vrsabhānu (Radhikā), who shines with a corresponding beauty on the left side (of Krsna), is attended on by thousands of female friends, and who always confers objects.[30]

According to Nimbarka, all souls depend on Isvara for their essence, existence, and operation.^[27]

The cit or individual soul is of the nature of knowledge (jnana-svarupa); it is able to know without the help of the sense-organs and it is in this sense that words like prajnana-ghanah svayamjyotih jnanamayah etc. as applied to jiva are to be understood. The jiva is the knower also; and he can be both knowledge and the possessor of knowledge at the same time, just as the sun is both light and the source of light. Thus the soul, who is knowledge, and his attribute, knowledge, though they are both identical as knowledge, can be at the same time different and related as the qualified (dharmin) and the quality (dharma), just as the sun and his light, though identical as light (taijasa), are still different from each other. Thus there is both a difference and a non-difference between the dharmin and dharma; and the extreme similarity between them implies, not necessarily their absolute identity, but only a non-perception of their difference.

The jiva is also ego (ahamarthah). This ego continues to persist not only in the state of deep sleep, (because our consciousness immediately after getting up from sleep has the form slept happily or knew nothing) but also in the state of liberation. It even belongs to the Parabrahman. Hence it is that Krishna refers to Himself so frequently in the first person in the Gita, of which the chief object is thus Purusottama, who is omniscient and at the same time non-different from the ego or asmadartha.

The jiva is also essentially active (kartr). This quality belongs to it in all its conditions, even after release. But the kartrtva is not independent. The jiva is also enjoyer (bhoktr) essentially in all its conditions.

For his knowledge and activity, however, the jiva depends on Hari; thus, though resembling Him in being intelligent and knower, he is at the same time distinguished from him by his dependence. This quality of dependence or of being controlled (niyamyatva) is the very nature of jiva even in the state of release, just as niyamyatva or the quality of being the controller, forms the eternal nature of Isvara.

The jiva is atomic in size; at the same time his attribute, knowledge, is omnipresent, which makes it possible that he can experience pleasure and pain in any part of the body, just as, for instance, the light of a lamp can spread far and wide and illumine objects away from the lamp. The Jivas are different and in different bodies, and so are infinite in number.

The acit is of three different kinds: viz. prakrta, aprakrta, and kala. Prakrta, or what is derived from Prakrti, the primal matter, aprakrta is defined negatively as that which is not the product of prakrti, but its real nature is not clearly brought out. These three categories in their subtle forms are as eternal as the cit or the individual souls.

[Nimbarka does not explain what exactly the aprakrta is, nor does he define kala more precisely, beyond noticing, as pointed out above, that the aprakrta and the kala are species of the acit. But, Purusottamacarya of the Nimbarka school has, in his Vedantaratna-manjusa, described acit aprakrta as the material cause of the dhama (celestial abode) of Brahman and the bodies and ornaments etc.of Brahman and his associates.]

Prakrti, or the primal matter-the stuff of the entire universe is real and eternal like the individual souls, and like them, though eternal and unborn, has yet Brahman for its cause. It consists of the three qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas, such as prakrit, mahat, ahankara etc. (just similar to 24 principles of the Sankhyas).

The basic practice consists of the worship of Sri Radha Madhav, with Sri Radha being personified as the inseparable part of Sri Krishna. Nimbarka Sampradaya became the first Krishnaite tradition in late medieval time.^[6] Nimbarka refers to five methods to salvation, namely karma (ritual action); vidya (knowledge); upasana or dhyana (meditation); prapatti (surrender to the Lord/devotion); Gurupasatti (devotion and self-surrender to God as Shri Radha Krsna).

Performed conscientiously in a proper spirit, with one's varna and asrama (phase of life) thereby giving rise to knowledge which is a means to salvation).

Not as a subordinate factor of karma but also not as an independent means for everyone; only for those inclined to spending vast lengths of time in scriptural study and reflection on deeper meanings.

It is of three types. First is meditation on the Lord as one's self, i.e. meditation on the Lord as the Inner Controller of the sentient. Second is meditation on the Lord as the Inner Controller of the non-sentient. Final one is meditation on Lord Himself, as different from the sentient and non-sentient. This is again not an independent means to Salvation for all, as only those qualified to perform the upasana (with Yajnopavitam) can perform this Sadhana.

Devotion and self-surrender to God as Shri Radha Krsna. This method of attaining Salvation, known as Prapatti Sadhana, contains elements of all the other means, and is most importantly, available to all. Men, women, foreigners, all classes and castes (or non-castes) are permitted to seek liberation through this, the most important Sadhana. It is referred to as Sadhana (or Apara) Bhakti – devotion through regulations. This in turn leads to Para Bhakti – the highest devotion characterised by Madhurya Rasa – the sweet emotions of devotion experienced by those perfected in Sadhana Bhakti.

The Maha-mantra Radhe Krishna of Nimbarka Sampradaya is as follows:

Rādhe Kṛṣṇa Rādhe Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Rādhe Rādhe
Rādhe Shyām Rādhe Shyām
Shyām Shyām Rādhe Rādhe

Devotion and self-surrender to guru. Best realised as a part in Prapatti, and not as an independent means, although it can be so.

The literature of the Nimbarka Sampradaya reflects its theological, philosophical, and devotional aspects.

The Brahmasūtras of Bādarāyaṇa have been extensively interpreted and commented upon by several distinguished scholars. Among the six primary commentaries are:

• Vedānta Pārijāta Saurabha by Śrī Nimbārkāchārya.^[31][32]
• Vedānta Kaustubha by Śrī Śrīnivāsāchārya.^[33][32][34]
• Siddhānta Jahnavi by Śrī Devāchārya.^[35][26]
• Siddhānta Setukā by Śrī Sundara Bhaṭṭāchārya.^[36][26]
• Vedānta Kaustubha Prabhā by Śrī Keśava Kāśmīrī Bhaṭṭāchārya.^[37][32]
• Vedānta Kaustubha Prabhā Bhāvadipikā by Śrī Pandita Amolakrama Śāstrī.^[38]

A small work of Nimbārkāchārya containing ten stanzas ^[39] The Daśaślokī have been extensively commented upon by several scholars. Among them, the three primary commentaries^[25] are:

• Vedāntaratnamañjūṣā of Śrī Puruṣottamāchārya^[40][25]
• Vedānta Siddhāntaratnāñjali of Śrī Harivyāsa Devāchārya^[39][25]
• Vedāntalaghumañjūṣā of Śrī Giridhara dāsa^[40][25]

As themes of Radha and Krishna gained popularity, Keshava Kashmiri's disciple Sribhatta in the 15th century, amplified Nimbarka's insights and brought Radha Krishna once more into the theological forefront through the medium of brajbhasha. A range of poets and theologians who flourished in the milieu of Vrindavana, Vallabha, Surdas, rest of Vallabha's disciples, Svami Haridas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Goswamis of Vrindavana were influenced in some manner by Sribhatta. The theological insights by this particular teacher were developed by his disciple Harivyasa, whose works reveal not only the theology of Radha Krisna and the sakhis the nitya nikunja lilas of goloka vrindavana, but also embody a fairly developed vedantic theory propagating the unique branch of Bhedabheda philosophy, ultimately the legacy of Nimbarka's original re-envisaging role of Radha.^[41]

Harivyasa devacharya (c. 15th Century,^[42][43] was an Indian philosopher, theologian and poet.^[44] He was born in a Gaud brahmin family.^[45] He was the 35th āchārya of the Nimbārka Sampradāya.^[46] He lived in Vrindavana. He was a disciple of Śrī Śrībhaṭṭa Devāchārya ji^[45][32][47] and his nom-de-plume was Hari Priyā.^[48][49][50] He also sent his twelve main disciples on missionary work throughout the India each of which founded their own sub-lineage, a few exists today.^[51][52][46] The most famous are Svāmī Paraśurāma Devācārya (c. 1525–1610 CE) and Svāmī Svabhūrāma Devācārya (fl. 16th century).^[53]

Svāmī Svabhūrāma Devācārya (fl. 16th century CE) was born in Budhiya Village, outside Jagadhri and Yamunanagar near Kurukshetra in modern Haryana, India. He established over 52 temples in Punjab, Haryana and Vraja during his lifetime; his current followers are found mostly in Vṛndāvana, Haryana, Punjab, Bengal, Rajasthan, Orissa, Assam, Sikkim, Bihar, other regions in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, also in significant numbers in Nepal.

In his sub-lineage, there are many branches. Notable saints of this sub-branch include:

• Saint Swami Chatur Chintamani Nagaji Maharaj, who started the Vraja Parikrama. This tradition has been continuously maintained over 528 years by the Acharyas of the Svabhurāma-Dwara (sub-lineage).
• Swami Brindaban Bihari Das Mahanta Maharaj at Kathia Baba ka Ashram, Shivala, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and Sukhchar, 24-Parganas (North), West Bengal, who has undertaken projects for orphans and aged persons, building schools and elderly care homes. He travels relentlessly to spread Nimbarka Philosophy through world religion conferences held in US, UK, Sweden, Africa, Bangladesh and other different countries across the globe.
• The Sukhchar Kathiababar Ashram was originally established by Swami Dhananjaya Das Kathiababa and is presently headed by Swami Brindabanbiharidas Mahanta Maharaj.

The famous teacher and leader Svāmī Haripriyā Śaraṇa Devācārya, founded the temple and monastery at Bihari Ji Ka Bageecha, Vṛndāvana, sponsored by his disciple, the philanthropic Shri Hargulal Beriwala and the Beriwala Trust in the 19th century.

The predecessor of the current successor was Svāmī Lalitā Śaraṇa Devācārya, who died in July 2005 at the age of 103. One of his other disciples is the world-renowned Svāmī Gopāla Śaraṇa Devācārya, who has founded the Monastery and temple known as the Shri Golok Dham Ashram in New Delhi and Vṛndāvana. He has also helped ordinary Hindus who are not Vaiṣṇava to establish temples overseas. Of note are the Glasgow Hindu Mandir, Scotland, UK: the Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Mandir, Bradford, UK; and the Valley Hindu Temple, Northridge, California. He has also facilitated major festivals at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada.

The 48th leader of the Nimbārka Sampradāya is H.D.H. Jagadguru Nimbārkācārya Svāmī Śrī Rādhā Śarveshavara Śaraṇa Devācārya, known in reverence as Śrī Śrījī Māhārāja by his followers. His followers are mainly in Rajasthan and Vṛndāvana, Mathura. He established the Mandir at the birth site of Śrī Nimbārkācārya in Mungi Village, Paithan, Maharashtra in 2005. In addition, he oversees the maintenance of thousands of temples, hundreds of monasteries, schools, hospitals, orphanages, cow-shelters, environmental projects, memorial shrines, etc., and arranges various scholarly conventions, religious conferences, medical camps and outreach, etc.

The 49th and current leader of the entire Nimbārka Sampradāya is H.D.H. Jagadguru Nimbārkācārya Svāmī Śrī Shyām Śaraṇa Devācārya, known in reverence as Śrī Śrījī Māhārāja by his followers. He is based in Nimbārka Tīrtha Rajasthan, India. He is the current leader of the Sampradāya, who worships the śālagrāma deity known as Śrī Sarveśvara. His followers are mainly in Rajasthan and Vṛndāvana, Mathura.

• Svayam Bhagavan
• Vrindavan
• Srinivasacharya

• Beck, Guy L. (2005), Beck, Guy (ed.), "Krishna as Loving Husband of God", Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity, SUNY Press, doi:10.1353/book4933, ISBN 978-0-7914-6415-1, S2CID 130088637, archived from the original on 17 July 2023, retrieved 12 April 2008
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• Gupta, Tripta (2000). Vedānta-Kaustubha, a study (in English and Sanskrit). Delhi: Sanjay Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7453-043-1.
• Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli (2011). The Brahma Sutra: The Philosophy Of Spiritual Life. Literary Licensing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-258-00753-9.
• Upadhyay, Baladeva (1978). Vaishnava Sampradayon ka Siddhanta aur Sahitya. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Amarbharati Prakashan.
• Ramkrishnadev Garga, Nabha das ji, Priya Das ji (2004). Bhaktamāla of Nābhādāsa, with Bhaktirasabodhinī commentary of Priyādāsa, Hindi translation and gloss by Ramkrishnadev Garga (in Sanskrit and Hindi). Vṛndāvana.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

• Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary) English translation by Roma Bose [proofread] (includes glossary)
• http://www.shrijagatgurunimbarkacharyapeeth.org
• http://internationalnimbarkasociety.org
• http://www.golokdham.org
• http://www.sriradhabhakti.org
• https://web.archive.org/web/20090419071328/http://nimbark.org/
• http://www.kathiababa.in/nimbarka Archived 3 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
• Works by or about Nimbarka Sampradaya at the Internet Archive
• Nimbarka at Encyclopædia Britannica
• Teachers and Pupils of the Nimbārka School, Surendranath Dasgupta, 1940