# The disciplic succession *The disciplic succession (parampara) is the authorized chain of spiritual masters through which transcendental knowledge descends unchanged from the Supreme Lord. This system ensures that the original teachings remain pure and potent. One must receive knowledge through this authorized lineage to properly understand spiritual truth. There are four main Vaishnava sampradayas, and Srila Prabhupada comes in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya.* ## Knowledge Must Come Through Disciplic Succession ![[bg/4/1]] ![[bg/4/2]] ## The Parampara System ![[sb/1/1/6]] ![[sb/2/9/7]] ## Without Disciplic Succession, Knowledge Is Lost ![[bg/4/3]] ![[cc/madhya/8/128]] ## The Four Vaishnava Sampradayas ![[cc/madhya/9/239]] ![[cc/madhya/9/245]] ## Accepting a Bona Fide Spiritual Master ![[sb/4/31/28]] ![[bg/4/34]] ## The Brahma Sampradaya ![[sb/2/9/30]] ![[cc/adi/1/19]] ## From the Index - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession|Disciplic Succession]] — The parampara system - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession-parampara|Parampara]] — Chain of spiritual masters - [[index/entries/guru|Guru]] — The spiritual master - [[index/entries/sampradaya|Sampradaya]] — Authorized schools