Sanaka-sampradaya

Vaiṣṇava sect

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July 13, 2026

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The Sanaka-sampradaya is a sect within Vaishnavism, a branch of Hinduism that worships the god Vishnu. A sampradaya is a traditional school of religious teaching passed down from teacher to student. The Sanaka-sampradaya is also known as the Nimbarkas, named after their earthly founder, Nimbarka. This sect emerged around the 11th century, continuing a lineage of teachers that may trace back to distant, possibly mythological, founders like Shri (the goddess Lakshmi). This devotional tradition emphasizes a personal relationship with the divine, where purity of heart is valued over ritualistic purity.12

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Indian philosophy
Nimbarka
…sect is known as the Sanaka-sampradaya of Vaishnavism. Nimbarka’s commentary of the Vedanta-sutras is known as Vedanta-parijata-saurabha and is commented on by Shrinivasa in his Vedanta-kaustubha. Of the three realities admitted—God, souls, and matter—God is the independent reality, self-conscious, controller of the other two, free from all defects, abode of…
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…sect is known as the Sanaka-sampradaya of Vaishnavism. Nimbarka’s commentary of the Vedanta-sutras is known as Vedanta-parijata-saurabha and is commented on by Shrinivasa in his Vedanta-kaustubha. Of the three realities admitted—God, souls, and matter—God is the independent reality, self-conscious, controller of the other two, free from all defects, abode of…
Read More