# The four Kumaras ![[images/all-catalogs/0161_UP-41.jpg]] *The four Kumaras — Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanat-kumara — are among the oldest beings in the universe, born directly from Lord Brahma at the beginning of creation. Though Brahma wanted them to procreate and populate the universe, they refused, preferring to remain celibate brahmacaris devoted to spiritual realization. Initially impersonalists, they were converted to personalism when they smelled the fragrance of tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. They are counted among the twelve mahajanas and their disciplic succession (Kumara-sampradaya) is one of the four authorized chains of spiritual masters.* ## Mahajanas and Great Authorities ![[sb/4/21/28-29]] ![[sb/3/15/12]] ## Remain Celibate from Birth ![[sb/4/8/1]] ![[sb/4/22/12]] ## Converted to Personalism ![[sb/3/15/43]] ![[sb/3/15/46]] ## Visit Vaikuntha ![[sb/3/15/26]] ![[sb/3/15/38]] ## In the Disciplic Succession ![[sb/4/22/4]] ![[sb/4/17/5]] ## Pure Devotees ![[sb/5/25/9]] ![[sb/3/16/2]] ## From the Scriptures **Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam**: - [[sb/3/15|SB 3.15: Description of the Kingdom of God]] — Their visit to Vaikuntha - [[sb/3/16|SB 3.16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha Cursed]] — Cursing Jaya and Vijaya - [[sb/4/22|SB 4.22: Pṛthu Mahārāja's Meeting with the Four Kumāras]] — Teaching King Prithu - [[sb/3/12|SB 3.12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others]] — Their birth from Brahma ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/The wandering preachers|The wandering preachers]] — The Kumaras as traveling sages - [[wiki/articles/The twelve Mahajanas|The twelve Mahajanas]] — The Kumaras among the twelve authorities - [[wiki/articles/Narada Muni the wandering sage|Narada Muni the wandering sage]] — Fellow preacher - [[wiki/articles/Lord Brahma the creator|Lord Brahma the creator]] — Their father ## From the Index - [[index/entries/kumaras-four|The Four Kumaras]] — First-born sons of Brahma - [[index/entries/mahajana|Mahajanas]] — Kumaras as authorities - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession|Disciplic Succession]] — Kumara-sampradaya