In Hinduism, a Sampradaya is a tradition encompassing a common philosophy but embracing many different schools, groups, or guru lineages (called parampara). By becoming initiated (diksha) into a parampara one automatically belongs to its proper sampradaya.

A sampradaya is a spiritual channel through disciplic succession. In Vaishnavism, there are only four such authorised sampradaya's according to the authority of the Vedic scriptures. These four sampradaya's are the Rudra Sampradaya , Brahma Sampradaya, Sri Sampradaya and the Kumara Sampradaya. The Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya is empowered by Shiva and inaugurated by Visnu Swami, the Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya is empowered by Brahma and inaugurated by Madhvacharya, the Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya is empowered by Laksmi-Devi and inaugurated by Ramanuja and the Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya is impowered by the Four Kumaras and inaugurated by Nimbaditya. The parampara of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya which is within the Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya is given at the following link. One can only attain entry into one of the four authorised sampradaya's if one receives diksa from a living guru who is in the parampara from one of these four authorised sampradaya's.

One cannot become a member by birth, as is the case in Gotra, a seminal, or hereditary, dynasty.

See also

• Schools_of_Hinduism
• Gotra