# The disciplic succession > [!summary] > *The disciplic succession (paramparā) 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 Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, and Śrīla Prabhupāda comes in the Brahma-Mādhva-Gauḍīya sampradāya.* ## Knowledge Must Come Through Disciplic Succession ![[bg/4/1]] ![[bg/4/2]] ## The Paramparā System ![[sb/1/1/6]] ![[sb/2/9/7]] ## Without Disciplic Succession, Knowledge Is Lost ![[bg/4/3]] ![[cc/madhya/8/128]] ## The Four Vaiṣṇava Sampradāyas ![[cc/madhya/9/239-240]] ![[cc/madhya/9/245]] ## Accepting a Bona Fide Spiritual Master ![[sb/4/31/28]] ![[bg/4/34]] ## The Brahma-sampradāya ![[sb/2/9/30]] ![[cc/adi/1/19]] ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/the-importance-of-guru|The importance of guru]] — Role of the spiritual master - [[wiki/articles/the-great-acaryas|The great ācāryas]] — Members of the succession - [[wiki/articles/the-six-gosvamis-of-vrindavana|The Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana]] — Key ācāryas - [[wiki/articles/lord-brahma|Lord Brahmā]] — Head of the Brahma-sampradāya - [[wiki/articles/the-twelve-mahajanas|The twelve Mahājanas]] — Great authorities in devotion ## From the Index - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession|Disciplic Succession]] — The paramparā system - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession-parampara|Paramparā]] — Chain of spiritual masters - [[index/entries/guru|Guru]] — The spiritual master - [[index/entries/sampradāya|Sampradāya]] — Authorized schools