Nimbarka Sampradaya


The Nimbarka Sampradaya, also known as the Kumāra Sampradāya, Hamsa Sampradāya, and Sanakādi Sampradāya, is the oldest Vaiṣṇava sect. It was founded by Nimbarka, a Telugu Brahmin yogi and philosopher. It propounds the Vaishnava Bhedabheda theology of Dvaitadvaita or dualistic non-dualism. 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.

Guru Parampara

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 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, becoming renowned yogis, who requested from Brahma the boon of remaining perpetually five years old. Śrī Sanat Kumāra Samhitā, a treatise on the worship of [Krishna|], is attributed to the brothers, just like the Śrī Sanat Kumāra Tantra, which is part of the Pancarātra literature.
In the creation of this universe as narrated by the [Purana|] 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 [Upanishads|] with a famous conversation in the [Chandogya Upanishad|], and in the Śrī Nārada [Purana|] and the Pañcarātra literature.
Nārada Muni is recorded as main teacher in all four of the Sampradāyas. According to tradition, he initiated Śrī Nimbārkācārya into the sacred 18-syllabled Śrī gopala mamtra, and introduced him to the philosophy of the Yugala upāsana, the devotional worship of the divine couple. According to tradition, this was the first time that Śrī Rādhā were worshipped together by anyone on earth other than the Gopis of [Vrindavan|]. Śrī Nārada Muni then taught Nimbarka the essence of devotional service in the Śrī Nārada Bhakti Sūtras. Śrī Nimbārkācārya already knew the Vedas, [Upanishads|] and the rest of the scriptures, but perfection was found in the teachings of Śrī Nārada Muni.

Nimbarka

Dating

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. Meanwhile, Vijay Ramnarace concluded that the work Madhvamukhamardana has been wrongly attributed to Nimbarkacharya. This view is also supported by traditional scholars, who hold a similar perspective. Bhandarkar has placed him after Ramanuja, suggesting 1162 AD as the date of his demise.S.N. Dasgupta, on the other hand, dates Nimbārka to the mid-14th century. Dasgupta bases this dating on the absence of Nimbārka's mention in the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, a doxography by 14th-century author Mādhava Vidyāraṇya. However, it is important to note that none of the Bhedābhedins—whether Bhartṛprapañca, Nimbārka, Bhāskara, or Yādavaprakāśa—are referenced in the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha. while S. A. A. Rizvi assigns a date of c. 1130–1200 AD.
According to Satyanand, Bose's dating of the 13th century is an erroneous attribution. 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. According to Malkovsky, Satyanand has convincingly demonstrated that Nimbarka and his immediate disciple Srinivasacharya flourished well before Ramanuja, arguing that Srinivasacharya was a contemporary, or just after Sankaracarya. According to Ramnarace, summarising the available research, Nimbarka must be dated in the 7th century CE.

Traditional accounts

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. His parents were Aruṇa Ṛṣi and Jayantī Devī. Together, they migrated to Mathurā and settled at what is now known as Nimbagrāma, situated between Barsānā and Govardhan.

Philosophy

Dvaitādvaita

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; the controller.
  • Chit, representing the Jivātman, which is the sentient, individual soul; the enjoyer.
  • Achit, which is the non-sentient universe; the object to be enjoyed.
Svābhāvika Bhedābheda holds that the individual soul and the non-sentient universe are both distinct from and identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality, depending on the perspective. Brahman alone is svatantra tattva, while the activities and existence of the other two realities depend on Brahman are regarded as paratantra tattva.
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."
Brahman pervades the entire universe and is immanent in all beings, yet they retain their individuality. The non-sentient universe is not considered an illusion, but a real manifestation of Brahman's power.
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.

Brahman

They regard Brahman as the universal soul, both transcendent and immanent, referred to by various names such as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Viṣnu, Vāsudeva, Purushottama, Nārāyaņa, Paramatman, Bhagawan and so on. Similarly, Nimbārkācārya, in his Vedanta Kamadhenu Daśaślokī, refers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa alongside his consort Rādhā.
Brahman is the supreme being, the source of all auspicious qualities, and possesses unfathomable attributes. It is omnipresent, omniscient, the lord of all, and greater than all. None can be equal to or superior to Brahman. He is the creator, cause of creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe.
In Dvaitādvaita, Brahman is saguṇa. Therefore, they interprets scriptural passages that describe Brahman as nirguṇa differently as they argues that nirguṇa, when applied to Brahman, signifies the absence of inauspicious qualities, rather than the complete negation of all attributes. Similarly, terms like nirākāra are understood to denote the absence of an undesirable or inauspicious form. It upheld the view that Śrī Kṛṣṇa possesses all auspicious attributes and that relative qualities such as virtue and vice, or auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, do not affect him.
Sri Nimbarkacharya, on the worship of the divine couple, in
Dasha Shloki :

Jivātman (chit)

is different from physical body, sense organs, mind, prāṇa and Buddhi, all of these are dependent on Individual soul and serve as instrument in such actions as seeing, hearing and so on. Individual soul is eternal, being of the nature of Knowledge, and knower.The attribute of knowledge extends beyond the soul, i.e. its occupying a larger space. As in the case of smell, just like smell occupying a larger space than the flower which occupies a smaller space.

Practices

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. Nimbarka refers to five methods to salvation, namely karma ; vidya ; upasana or dhyana ; prapatti ; Gurupasatti.

Karma (ritual action)

Performed conscientiously in a proper spirit, with one's varna and asrama.

Vidya (knowledge)

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.

Upasana or dhyana (meditation)

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 can perform this Sadhana.

Śaraṇāgati

Śaraṇāgati is the complete entrusting of one's own self to the infinitely merciful Lord through the means recommended by the good, when one is convinced of one's incapacity for resorting to other sādhanas like knowledge and the rest. In this tradition there are six constituent elements of Śaraṇāgati in Vedāntaratnamañjūṣā:
  • The resolve to treat everyone with good will and friendliness, being convinced of the great truth that everyone and everything, down to as tuft of grass, deserves respect.
  • Discarding what is contrary to the above solemn determination, i.e. refraining from all violence, malice, back- biting, falsehood, etc.
  • Strong faith in the protection of the Lord.
  • Praying to the Lord for protection, being aware of the fact that the Lord, though all-merciful, does not release anyone who does not pray to Him but is, on the contrary, adverse to Him
  • Discarding all false pride and sense of egoity, i.e. assuming an attitude of utter humility
  • Complete entrusting of one's own self and whatever belongs to one's self to the Lord, being convinced that such a complete resignation of the 'I' and the 'mine' to the Lord alone induce the mercy and grace of the Lord.

    Literature

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

Commentaries on Brahmasūtras

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.
  • Vedānta Kaustubha by Śrī Śrīnivāsāchārya.
  • Siddhānta Jahnavi by Śrī Devāchārya.
  • Siddhānta Setukā by Śrī Sundara Bhaṭṭāchārya.
  • Vedānta Kaustubha Prabhā by Śrī Keśava Kāśmīrī Bhaṭṭāchārya.
  • Vedānta Kaustubha Prabhā Bhāvadipikā by Śrī Pandita Amolakrama Śāstrī.

    Vedāntakāmadhenu Daśaślokī

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

Sri Bhatta

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.

Śrī Harivyāsa Devacārya (c. 1443–1543 CE)

Harivyasa devacharya and Svāmī Svabhūrāma Devācārya.

Svāmī Svabhūrāma Devācārya (fl. 16th century CE)

Svāmī Svabhūrāma Devācārya 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 [Vrindavana|], 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.
  • Swami Brindaban Bihari Das Mahanta Maharaj at Kathia Baba ka Ashram, Shivala, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and Sukhchar, 24-Parganas, 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.

    Svāmī Haripriyā Śaraṇa Devācārya

The famous teacher and leader, founded the temple and monastery at Bihari Ji Ka Bageecha, [Vrindavana|], sponsored by his disciple, the philanthropic Shri Hargulal Beriwala and the Beriwala Trust in the 19th century.

Svāmī Lalitā Śaraṇa Devācārya

The predecessor of the current successor was, who died in July 2005 at the age of 103. One of his other disciples is the world-renowned, who has founded the Monastery and temple known as the Shri Golok Dham Ashram in New Delhi and [Vrindavana|]. He has also helped ordinary Hindus who are not [Vaishnavism|] 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.

Svāmī Rādhā Śarveshavara Śaraṇa Devācārya

The 48th leader of the Nimbārka Sampradāya is H.D.H. Jagadguru Nimbārkācārya, known in reverence as Śrī Śrījī Māhārāja by his followers. His followers are mainly in Rajasthan and [Vrindavana|], 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.

Śrī Śrījī Māhārāja (present)

The 49th and current leader of the entire Nimbārka Sampradāya is H.D.H. Jagadguru Nimbārkācārya, 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, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Vrindavan and Mathura.