Rudra Sampradaya

In Hinduism, the Rudra Sampradaya is one of four Vaishnava sampradayas, a tradition of disciplic succession in the religion. Vaishnavism is distinguished from other schools of Hinduism by its primary worship of deities Vishnu and/or Krishna and their avatars as the Supreme forms of God. The ascetic Vishnuswami formed the Rudra-Sampradaya, [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=krBPtA-3_8UC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=rudra+sampradaya&source=web&ots=YH9e2BMbJS&sig=B01fFsC5opTAanOYLLNBOXQgoLU&hl=en#PPA57,M1 The Sadhus and Indian Civilisation] By Vijay Prakash Sharma] [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=4IrQkw5x2o4C&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Rudra+sampradaya&source=web&ots=K9rNSMvH8g&sig=8_qOGXJDNURZztiveSoJa0GEx48&hl=en Vaisnavism: Contemporary Scholars Discuss the Gaudiya Tradition] Steven Rosen] though the sampradaya is believed to have traced its origins to the Hindu deity Shiva, also known as Rudra, who passed on the knowledge imparted to him by Vishnu (or Krishna), on mankind. According to Vaishnavism, Shiva, who has the Shaivism school dedicated to his worship as the Supreme God, is the first and foremost Vaishnava, or follower of Vishnu. According to the tradition, Vishnuswami was fifthteenth in the line of passing of the knowledge from teacher to student. The date of formation of the sampradaya is disputed. While James Hastings dates Vishnuswami to the early 15^th century, [http://books.google.com/books?id=Kaz58z--NtUC&pg=PA545&dq=rudra+sampradaya&as_brr=3&sig=qlADAyM6e_L5zEYSCJdaqT4JzuI Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Part 4 By James Hastings p.545] ] and Carl Olson dates him to the 13^th century, followers of the sampradaya says that Vishnuswami was born 4500 years earlier. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=RVWKClYq4TUC&pg=PA161&dq=rudra+sampradaya&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=eAj4pSrWZIdIVcA02kXyPlvX1bU#PPA175,M1 The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-Historical Introduction By Carl Olson p.175] ] Not much about the historical Vishnuswami is known and all his works are thought to have been lost in time.The earliest converts were fom Gujarat in western India. The beliefs of the sampradaya was further propagated by Vallabha Acharya (1479 – 1531).

Rudra sampradaya has two main sects: Vishnuswamis, that is, followers of Vishnuswami and the Vallabhas or Pushtimarg sect, founded by Vallabha. According to William Deadwyler, the sampradaya has disappeared, except for the Pushtimarg group. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=4IrQkw5x2o4C&pg=PA129&dq=rudra+sampradaya&as_brr=3&sig=pj3EZE4kpM1vLx69Y6znMcgj09I#PPA129,M1 William Deadwyler in "Vaisnavism: Contemporary Scholars Discuss the Gaudiya Tradition" pp.128-9] ]

The philosophy of the sampradaya is Shuddhadvaita, pure monism to Krishna. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=hKU5PUswZ1QC&pg=PA86&dq=rudra+sampradaya&as_brr=3&sig=ON2zdz4k_eWZtoSyB4zU7FompR0 Female ascetics in Hinduism By Lynn Teskey Denton, Steven Collins] ] The sampradaya worship the youthful Krishna, alone or with his consort Radha. Another form of Krishna, the "Bala Gopala" or infant Krishna is also worshipped by the sampradaya. [The penny cyclopædia [ed. by G. Long] . p.390 [http://books.google.com/books?id=_8cWRilIuE0C&pg=RA1-PA390&dq=rudra+sampradaya&as_brr=3#PRA1-PA390,M1] ]

Unlike other sampradayas in Hinduism, which insist on the clergy to lead an ascetic's life; the clergy in most Rudra sampradaya sects, are expected to marry and live a worldly life with their family.

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