Four Authorized Sampradayas

One Must Take His Initiation from
One of These Four Sampradayas

In his purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.20-21 Srila Prabhupada gives a very important instruction that should be noted by everyone:

"[Bhāgavata-dharma, the principles of religion] is understandable if one follows the paramparā system of Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the four Kumāras and the other standard authorities. There are four lines of disciplic succession: one from Lord Brahmā, one from Lord Śiva, one from Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, and one from the Kumāras. The disciplic succession from Lord Brahmā is called the Brahma-sampradāya, the succession from Lord Śiva (Śambhu) is called the Rudra-sampradāya, the one from the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmījī, is called the Śrī-sampradāya, and the one from the Kumāras is called the Kumāra-sampradāya. One must take shelter of one of these four sampradāyas in order to understand the most confidential religious system. In the Padma Purāṇa it is said, sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ: if one does not follow the four recognized disciplic successions, his mantra or initiation is useless. In the present day there are many apa-sampradāyas, or sampradāyas which are not bona fide, which have no link to authorities like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Kumāras or Lakṣmī. People are misguided by such sampradāyas. The śāstras say that being initiated in such a sampradāya is a useless waste of time, for it will never enable one to understand the real religious principles."

Before I came to Krishna consciousness I was initiated by a spiritual master who was not bona fide because he was not coming in one of these four sampradayas. I rejected this bogus spiritual master and took my initiation from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This was the smartest decision that I had made in thousands of lifetimes. I encourage all of my readers who have been initiated as I was from a spiritual master who is not in one of these four disciplic successions to do what I did, reject their bogus guru and take their initiation instead from a bona fide spiritual master, a spiritual master who is coming in one of these four disciplic successions.

Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom

Question: Bathing Before Mangala Arati?

My Dear Anudeep,

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,
I've a question, Gurudeva, that to attend mangal aarti, should one wake up before sunrise? Can we wake up clean mouth, hands and feet directly and attend mangal arati? Or should we take bath and then only attend mangal aarti?

In my home town there is no ISKCON temple, so can i attend it online?
And what about morning japa meditation?

Can we japa chant the holy names without take bath or it is necessary to take bath then before attending mangal aarti and japa meditation?

Thank you
Anudeep Deb

Answer: Yes

My Dear Anudeep,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Every devotee should rise before sunrise, take full bath, and attend mangala arati. You can attend it online or you can offer mangala arati to Krishna on your home altar.

Japa can be chanted either before or after your morning bathing. It is best to complete at least 16 rounds of japa before sunrise because it is much easier to meditate during the early morning hours.

I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.

Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Early Morning Japa is Unlimitedly Sublime

Sankarshan Das Adhikari is one of the spiritual masters of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement. He has dedicated the last 50 years of his life for bringing a spiritual revolution to planet earth by spreading the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. He is based in Austin, Texas and when there is no pandemic regularly travels all over the world teaching his audiences how to attain Krishna consciousness, the highest stage of spiritual awakening. He is available for media interviews and to speak to groups and organizations either in person or via the internet.