| Kumara Sampradaya |
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| The Four Kumaras with Lord Vishnu -Sanaka, Sanat-kumara, Sanandana and Sanatana- |
| "Brahmaji wanted to create the whole cosmic situation as it was in the previous millennium, and because, in the last devastation, knowledge of the Absolute Truth was altogether erased from the universe, he desired that the same knowledge again be renovated; otherwise there would be no meaning in the creation. Because transcendental knowledge is a prime necessity, the ever-conditioned souls are given a chance for liberation in every millennium of creation. This mission of Brahmaji was fulfilled by the grace of the Lord when the four sanas, namely Sanaka, Sanat-kumara, Sanandana and Sanatana, appeared as his four sons. These four sanas were incarnations of the knowledge of the Supreme Lord, and as such they explained transcendental knowledge so explicitly that all the sages could at once assimilate this knowledge without the least difficulty. By following in the footsteps of the four Kumaras, one can at once see the Supreme Personality of Godhead within oneself." Srimad-Bhagavatam 2:7:5 "Although Brahma created the principles of nescience as a matter of necessity for those living entities who were destined to ignorance by the will of he Lord, he was not satisfied in performing such a thankless task. He therefore created four principles of knowledge: sankhya, or empirical philosophy for the analytical study of material conditions; yoga or mysticism for liberation of the pure soul from material bondage; vairagya, the acceptance of complete detachment from material enjoyment in life to elevate oneself to the highest spiritual understanding; and tapas, or the various kinds of voluntary austerities performed for spiritual perfection. Brahma created the four great sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat to entrust them with these four principles of spiritual advancement, and they inaugurated their own spiritual party, or sampradaya, known as the Kumara-sampradaya, or later on as the Nimbaraka-sampradaya, for the advancement of bhakti. All of these great sages became great devotees, for without devotional service to the Personality of Godhead one cannot achieve success in any activity of spiritual value." Srimad-Bhagavatam 3:12:4 "The specific importance of the Kumaras is that they were brahmacaris, living the life of celibacy from birth. They kept themselves as small children about four or five years old because by growing into youth one's senses sometimes become disturbed and celibacy becomes difficult. The Kumaras therefore purposefully remained children because in a child's life the senses are never disturbed by sex." Srimad-Bhagavatam 4:22:12 "So these four Kumaras--kumaras means unmarried brahmacaris--they were sons of Brahma. Because in the beginning Brahma begot so many sons, and each of them were asked to increase the population. Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, they were also requested by their father to increase population, but they refused. They said, "No, we are not going to be entangled in these material affairs. We shall remain kumaras, brahmacari, and preach the glories of God," by which Brahma was angry. And while he was angry, from his anger Rudra, Siva, was produced, and Lord Siva is therefore supposed to be son of Brahma. So these four Kumaras, they represented the knowledge opulence of the Supreme Lord." Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, 12-31-66, New York "As in the modern day there are many champions in sports, so in bygone days there were many learned scholars in India who were champions in learning. One such person was Kesava Kasmiri, who came from the state of Kashmir. He traveled all over India and at last came to Navadvipa to challenge the learned scholars there. Unfortunately he could not conquer the learned scholars in Navadvipa, for he was defeated by the boy scholar Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Later he understood that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he surrendered unto Him and later became a pure Vaisnava in the sampradaya of Nimbarka. He wrote Kaustubha-prabha, a commentary on the Vedanta commentary of the Nimbarka-sampradaya, which is known as the Parijata-bhasya. The Bhakti-ratnakara mentions Kesava Kasmiri and lists his predecessors in the disciplic succession of the Nimbarka-sampradaya: (1) Srinivasa Acarya, (2) Visva Acarya, (3) Purusottama, (4) Vilasa, (5) Svarupa, (6) Madhava, (7) Balabhadra, (8) Padma, (9) Syama, (10) Gopala, (11) Krpa, (1 2) Deva Acarya, (13) Sundara Bhatta, (14) Padmanabha, (15) Upendra, (16) Ramacandra, (17) Vamana, (18) Krsna, (19) Padmakara, (20) Sravana, (21) Bhuri, (22) Madhava, (23) Syama, (24) Gopala, (25) Balabhadra, (26) Gopinatha, (27) Kesava, (28) Gokula and (29) Kesava Kasmiri. It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnakara that Kesava Kasmiri was a favorite devotee of mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. By her grace he was an extremely influential scholar, and he was the greatest champion among all the scholars in the four corners of the country. Therefore he got the title dig-vijayi, which means "one who has conquered everyone in all directions." He belonged to a very respectable brahmana family of Kashmir. Later, by the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he gave up the profession of winning championships and became a great devotee. He joined the Nimbarka-sampradaya, one of the Vaisnava communities of the Vedic culture." Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 16:25 Nimbarka identified the Supreme Brahman as the divine couple, Radha-Krishna. His philosophy was Dvaitadvaita, oneness and difference, a position between Sankara's monism and Madhva's purified dualism. Sri Nimbarka treated the unity of existence and the differentiations as equally true, without putting emphasis on either aspect. Matter and souls are considered parts or 'powers' of God which are not distinct or separate from Him. While the Gaudiya Sampradaya worships Sri Radha Govinda in parakiya (paramour) mood, in manjari bhava, the Nimbarka sampradaya worships Radha Krsna in swakiya (wedded) mood, in sakhi bhava. They put forth sambhoga rasa (union), while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu emphasized vipralamba rasa (separation). Brahman is Ramakanta; Purusottama. Radha Krsna is the transcendental form served by the gopis. The qualities of Brahman are described as having dual nature - advaita and dvaita or Nirguna and Saguna - like serpent and coil. The soul is atomic, individual, possessing knowledge and it is dependent on Hari - like the sea and waves or the sun and its rays. Creation is the transformation of Brahman, who is both the efficient and material cause. The cause of bondage is contact with karma resulting from ignorance, which is beginning-less. The process of release is through uninterrupted worship (Bhagavata). The goal is realization of the self, in natural form, no power of creation. |
| Sri Nimbaditya Sri Madhvacarya is pictured holding up two fingers to indicate Krishna and jiva. The impersonalists hold up only one finger because their idea is that everything is one. Sri Nimbarka held that there are three equally real and co-eternal realities: Brahman, cit and acit. |
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| "Sri Nimbarka Acarya comes in the line of the Kumara Sampradaya and is believed to have lived around the 11th and 12th centuries. Born in the modern Murgarapattam in the southern Dravidian province, he was the son of Aruni and Jayanti, a very pious brahmana couple of the Tailanga order. He was a great ascetic of the Tridandi order. He wrote many books according to the Dvaitadvaitavada and he lived most of his devotional life at a place called Nimbagrama near Govardhana at Vrindavana. While at Nimbagrama, he defeated a great Jain pandit in a discussion. The Jain had refused to dine with him saying that the Sun had already set and so he would not take any food. At this, Nimbarka by his own potency made the sun appear from a Nimba tree and the astonished Jain accepted his hospitality. It is said that his name Nimbarka or Nimbaditya has been derived from this miracle of Aditya or Arka meaning sun from a nimba tree. Once in a village near the forest of Bilva Paksha, a group of brahmanas came to engage in the worship of Lord Siva. Just as Lord Visnu is very much pleased when He is offered the leaves of His most beloved Tulasi, so Lord Siva is pleased by offerings of leaves from the bilva or bael tree. Thus the brahmanas worshipped Lord Siva by offering bilva leaves, for a period of one fortnight and satisfied Lord Siva greatly. Amongst those brahmanas was one whose name was Nimbarka. He had been particularly attentive in his worship of Lord Siva. Being especially pleased with Nimbarka's devotion, Lord Siva personally appeared to him. "Nimbarka," said Lord Siva, "at the edge of this village is a sacred bael forest. There, in that forest, the four Kumaras are absorbed in meditation. By their mercy you will receive transcendental knowledge, for they are your spiritual masters, and by rendering service unto them you will receive all that is of value." After saying this Lord Siva disappeared. Nimbarka immediately went to that place and with great determination he searched for the four Kumaras in every direction, until he finally found them, shining as brilliantly as the sun. They were seated on a very beautiful natural platform beneath a tree and they appeared like fire blazing on an altar. They were all very young, seeming to be no more than five years in age, but they appeared most noble in character as they sat there naked, rapt in meditation. Nimbarka was so excited that he cried out, "Hare Krsna!" This sudden sound startled the four brothers, breaking their meditation. Opening their eyes, they saw before them the blissful form of an ideal devotee, and with great pleasure they embraced Nimbarka, one after another. "Who are you," they asked, "and why have you come here? We are certainly ready to answer all your prayers." Nimbarka fell at the feet of the four brothers like a rod, and with great humility he introduced himself. With a sweet smile on his face Sanat Kumara then said, "The all-merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead, knowing that Kali-yuga will be extremely troublesome for the living entities, resolved to propagate devotional service to Himself. With this goal in mind, He has empowered four personalities with devotion and sent them into this world to preach. Ramanuja, Madhva, and Visnuswami are three and you are the fourth of these great souls. Laksmi accepted Ramanuja as a disciple, Brahma accepted Madhva, Rudra a ccepted Visnuswami and meeting you today we have the good fortune of being able to instruct you. This is our intention. Previously we were engaged in meditating on the impersonal Brahman, but by the causeless mercy of Lord Visnu, we have been relieved of this sinful activity. Since I have realised that it is essential to preach pure devotional service, I have composed a literary work entitled Sanat Kumara Samhita. After taking initiation from me, you should follow the instructions I have set forth therein." Nimbarka was greatly enlivened at the prospect of taking initiation and he immediately ran to take bath in the Ganges. After this he quickly returned and prostrated himself once more before the effulgent brothers. "O deliverers of the fallen," said Nimbarka, in all humility, "please deliver this low-born rascal." The four Kumaras gave him the Radha-Krsna mantra and instructed him in the method of worshipping Radha and Krsna with the sentiments of great love called Bhava Marga. In that sacred bael forest Nimbarka began to worship Sri Sri Radha Krsna according to the Sanat Kumara Samhita and he chanted the mantra they had given him. Very soon Radha and Krsna revealed Themselves to Nimbarka. They stood before him, spreading an effulgence which illuminated all directions. In sweet voices They addressed him thus: "Nimbarka, you are very fortunate, for you have performed Sadhana in Sri Navadwipa. We both combine, and assume one form, as the son of Sacidevi." At that moment Radha and Krsna combined and displayed Their form of Gauranga. Beholding this splendid vision, Nimbarka began to tremble. "Never," he said, "Never have I ever of such a form at any time." Lord Gauranga then said, "Keep this form, which I now show you, a secret for the time being. Just preach about devotional service and the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, for I gain great satisfaction from this. When I make My appearance and perform My education pastimes, you will also appear. Taking birth in Kashmir as a great pandit, you will tour all over India defeating all opposition. Your reputation and learning will be celebrated everywhere and you will be known as Kesava Kashmiri. Whilst wandering in Sri Navadwipa you will come to Sri Mayapur. Simply by hearing your name all the great pandits of Navadwipa will flee. Intoxicated with scholastic pride, I will take great pleasure in defeating you. However, by the mercy of Mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, you will realize My true identity. Giving up your false pride, you will take shelter of Me and I will reward you with the supreme gift of loving devotional service and will again dispatch you to preach. Thus you can satisfy Me by preaching the philosophy of dvaita-advaita. Keep My identity a secret. In the future when I begin My sankirtan movement, I will personally preach, taking the essence of your philosophy and the philosophies of Madhva, Ramanuja and Visnuswami." After instructing Nimbarka in this way, Lord Gauranga disappeared, and filled with intense ecstasy, Nimbarka began to shed tears of love. After worshipping the lotus feet of his gurus and taking their permission, he left Sri Navadwipa to begin his preaching mission." Dvaitadvaita of Nimbarka "Nimbarka's philosophical position is known as 'Dvaita-advaita' or 'Bhedabheda'. The categories of existence, according to him, are three, i.e., 'cit', 'acit', and 'Isvara'. Cit and acit are different from Isvara, in the sense that they have attributes an d capacities, which are different from those of Isvara. Isvara is independent and exists by Himself, while cit and acit have existence dependent upon Him. At the same time cit and acit are not different from Isvara, because they cannot exist independently of Him. Difference means a kind of existence which is separate but dependent, ('para-tantra-satta-bhava') while non-difference means impossibility of independent existence ('svatantra-satta-bhava'). Thus Nimbarka equally emphasizes both difference and no n-difference, as against Ramanuja, who makes difference subordinate to non-difference, in as much as, for him cit and acit do not exist separately from Brahman, but its body or attributes. Thus, according to Nimbarka, the relation between Brahman, on the one hand, and the souls ('cit') and universe ('acit') on the other, is a relation of natural difference-non-difference ('svabhavika-bhedabheda'), just like between snake and coil, or between sun and its rays. Just as the coil is nothing nut the snake, yet different from it, just as the different kinds of stones, though nothing but earth, are yet different from it, so the souls and the universe, though nothing but Brahman ('brahmatmaka'), are different from Him because of their own peculiar natures and attributes. Thus, according to Nimbarka, there are three equally real and co-eternal realities, viz. Brahman, the cit and the acit. Brahman is the Controller ('niyantr'), the 'cit' the enjoyer ('bhoktr') and the 'acit' the object enjoyed ('bhogya'). Nimbarka accepts 'parainamavada' to explain the cause of animate and inanimate world, which he says exist in a subtle form in the various capacities ('saktis') which belong to Brahman in its natural condition. Brahman is the material cause of the universe in the sense that Brahman brings the subtle rudiments into the gross form by manifesting these capacities. For Nimbarka the highest object of worship is Krsna and his consort Radha, attended by thousands of gopis, or cowherdesses, of the celestial Vrndavana. Devotion according to Nimbarka, consists in 'prapatti', or self-surrender. Definitions 1. Brahman: The Highest Reality, according to Nimbarka, is Brahman, Krsna or Hari, a personal God. There is nothing that is equal to Him, nothing that is superior. He is the Lord of all, and Controller of all. He is called 'Brahman' because of the unsurpassed greatness of His nature and qualities, because He is beyond any limit of any kind of space, time or thing. Brahman is the sole cause of creation, maintenance and destruction of the Universe. All beings arise from Him, nothing that is superior to Him. The Lord alone is the first cause, the manifestor of all names and forms, and none else. This Brahman is both the 'upadana' (material cause) and the 'Nimitta' (efficient cause). It is the material cause in the sense that it enables its natural 'saktis', viz. the cit and the acit in their subtle forms, to be manifested in gross forms; and it is the efficient cause in the sense that it unites the individual souls with their respective fruits of actions and means of enjoyments. Nimbarka discusses two aspects of Brahman. On one hand, Brahman is eternal and great, the greatest of the great, the highest of the high, the creator, etc. of the Universe, high above the individual soul, of which He is the Lord and the ruler. But, on th e other aspect He is the abode of infinite beauty, bliss and tenderness, and in intimate connection with the soul. He is the abode of supreme peace, supreme grace, and the ocean of all sweetness and charms. Thus, Brahman possessed of attributes and adorable by all, has four forms or 'vyuhas' (ie., Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha) and appears under various incarnation as Matsya, Kurma etc. 2. Jiva (cit): 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 'I slept happily' or 'I knew nothing') but also in the state of liberation. It even belongs to the Parabrahman. Hence it is that Krsna 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 'asmadar tha'. The jiva 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 omni-present, 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. 3. Acit (the jagat): 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 tem, 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). 4. Bondage: The jiva has his true form distorted and obscured owing to his contact with 'karma' resulting from ignorance, which is beginningless, but which can come to an end, by the grace of God, when its true nature is fully manifested. 5. Mukti: To attain deliverance, the jiva has to commence with a complete submission to the Paramatman, or 'prapatti', whose six constituents are: a) a resolution to yield ('anukulasya samkalpah') b) the avoidance of opposition ('pratikulasya varjanam') c) faith that God will protect ('raksisyati ity visvasah') d) acceptance of him as saviour ('goptrtva-varanam') e) throwing one's whole soul upon him ('atmaniksepah'), and f) a sense of helplessness ('karpanya'). God's grace extends itself to those who are possessed of these 6 constituents of 'prapatti', i.e., who are 'prapanna'; and by that grace is generated 'bhakti' consisting of special live for him, which ultimately ends in the realization ('saksatkara') of the Paramatman. For a devotee knowledge of the following 5 things is quite necessary: a) the nature of the supreme soul, b) the nature of the individual soul, c) the fruit of God's grace or moksa, (which is an uninterrupted realization of the nature and attributes of Brahman, following from the absolute destruction of all action and the consequent extinction of all nescience), d) the feeling of enjoyment consequent on bhakti, and e) the nature of the obstacles in the way of the attainment of God, such as regarding the body and the mind as the soul, depending on someone who is neither God nor the preceptor, neglecting their commands, and considering God as nothing more than an ordinary being. Sri Nimbarka also refers to 4 other methods of sadhanas: viz. (i) 'karma' (performed conscientiously in a proper spirit, with one's varna and asrama thereby giving rise to knowledge which is a means to salvation), (ii) 'vidya' or knowledge (not as a subordinate factor of karma but as n independent means), (iii) 'upasana' or 'dhyana' (3 kinds), (a) meditation on the Lord as one's self, i.e. meditation on the Lord as the Inner Controller of the sentient, (b) meditation on the Lord as the Inner Controller of the nonsentient, (c) meditation on Lord Himself, as different from the sentient and non-sentient. (iv) 'gurupasatti' (devotion and self surrender to guru)." |
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