Vaishnavism is not a new religion or recently invented philosophy. It is actually the oldest religion and philosophy of all, and even more so, it is the eternal function of the jiva in relation to the Supreme Lord, sanatana dharma. That function is loving devotional service in one of five primary relationships, neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental affection and conjugal love.
This transcendental knowledge, sambandha jnana, has been carried throughout time from guru to disciple in the parampara disciplic succession by four main Vaishnava sampradayas, Sri (Lakshmi), Brahma, Rudra and Kumaras. Within the last 5,000 years these are represented respectively by Ramanuja, Madhvacharya, Visnuswami and Nimbarkacharya.
There are four sects of worshipful devotees of the Lord, and the chief amongst them are the Brahma-sampradaya, Rudra-sampradaya and Shr-sampradaya, descending directly from Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, respectively. Besides the above-mentioned three sampradayas, there is the Kumara-sampradaya, descending from Sanat-kumara. All of the four original sampradayas are still scrupulously engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord up to date, and they all declare that Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mukunda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no other personality is equal to Him or greater than Him.
Srila Prabhupada SB 1.18.21, Purport
That parampara should be followed. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarshayo viduh (BG 4.2). If we want to understand really Vedic literature, then we must follow the parampara system. There are four sampradayas, parampara: the Ramanuja Sampradaya, Madhvacarya Sampradaya, Vishnu Svami Sampradaya, Nimbarka Sampradaya. So, we belong to the Madhvacarya Sampradaya.
Srila Prabhupada lecture on BG 13.8-12 — Bombay, 9/30/73
As Srila Prabhupada says, ISKCON is a branch of the Madhva Sampradaya, and specifically it is called the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya coming from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And it should be clear that, while there are slight differences in the moods of worship, all four sampradayas affirm Krishna, Narayana and Vishnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all jivas as His eternal servants.
Now, for the first time in ISKCON history and to honor the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of Srila Prabhupada, the TOVP management is organizing a Sampradaya Samelan (discussion). On October 14, during the first day of the Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s new murti to the TOVP, a ZOOM call will ensue for this purpose, which will also be broadcast by Mayapur TV as part of the two-day welcome event. All four acharyas as well as other sampradaya representatives will participate in a panel discussion to talk about the state of Vaishnavism in the modern world, organized and monitored by His Grace Gauranga das.
This video by Shri Cheena Jeeyer Swami, head of the Sri Sampradaya of Ramanujacharya is the first of four by the current acharyas of the four sampradayas in which Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON and the TOVP are glorified. The Maharaja is quoted saying:
“In the past we had Sankaracharya. Then we had Ramanujacharya. In recent times I could not think of anyone except A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as the acharya of these modern times.”
From Wikipedia:
Chinna Jeeyar (born 3 November 1956) is an Indian ascetic known for his spiritual discourses on Sri Vaishnavism. He subscribes to Thenkalai tradition of Sri Vaishnavism. He operates spiritual centers in the US. He is the designer and planner of the Statue of Equality, a statue dedicated to Ramanuja, in Hyderabad, India.
Jeeyar was trained in the Vaishnava tradition. At the age of 23 he took the oath to become an ascetic. He has been visiting the United States since 1994, where he taught a large number of people. He has also visited London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canada, where he performed Yagnas.
We are very pleased and excited to present these four videos to all ISKCON members to commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s 125th Appearance Anniversary Year and his Grand Welcome Ceremony to the TOVP on October 14 & 15. With the above in mind, we hope our readers, recognizing the importance of this Samelan and these glorifications of Srila Prabhupada, will take this opportunity to sponsor an abhisheka of Prabhupada’s murti for this historic occasion. Visit the Welcome Ceremony page on the TOVP website for more information.
Read more about the content and schedule of the Sampradaya Samelan. It will be broadcast live on Mayapur TV during the October 14 ceremony.
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