Four Kumaras

{{Short description|Four sages from the Puranic texts of Hinduism}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox deity | type = Hindu | image = Four Monks, Number Four of the Sanaka (Ancient) Suit, Playing Card from a 32-Suit Dashavatara (Ten Avatars) Ganjifa Set LACMA M.73.55.8.jpg | caption = Four Kumaras from a Dashavatara Ganjifa set, c. 1800 | parents = Brahma | name = The Four Kumaras | siblings = Chitragupta, Narada and Daksha | affiliation = Children of Brahma <br> Devotees of Vishnu | other_names = Sanakadika Rishis | abode = Janaloka }} {{Hindu philosophy}} The '''Kumaras''' are four sages (''rishis'') from the Puranic texts of Hinduism who roam the universe as children,<ref name=Four>{{Cite web|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/3/12/en1|title=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 3.12|access-date=22 December 2012|publisher=Vedabase.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302084600/http://vedabase.net/sb/3/12/en1|archive-date=2 March 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Hudson2008">{{cite book|author=D Dennis Hudson|title=The Body of God:An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C&pg=PA355|access-date=22 December 2012|date=25 September 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-536922-9|pages=355–}}</ref> generally named '''Sanaka''', '''Sanandana''', '''Sanatana''', and '''Sanatkumara'''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=D. Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IE8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA412 |title=The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram |date=2008-09-25 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-536922-9 |pages=412 |language=en}}</ref> They are described as the first mind-born creations and sons of the creator-god Brahma. Born from Brahma's mind, the four Kumaras undertook lifelong vows of celibacy (brahmacharya) against the wishes of their father. They are said to wander throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with the purpose of teaching.<ref name=Four/> All four brothers studied Vedas from their childhood, and always travelled together.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: Volume Two|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|access-date=17 December 2012|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/592 592]–}}</ref>

The ''Bhagavata Purana'' lists the Kumaras among the twelve ''mahajanas'' (great devotees or bhaktas)<ref name=Veda>{{Cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/6/3/20-21/en1|title=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.20–21|access-date=22 December 2012|publisher=Vedabase.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204194222/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/6/3/20-21/en1|archive-date=4 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> who although being eternally liberated souls from birth, still became attracted to the devotional service of Vishnu from their already enlightened state.<ref name="Daniélou1991">{{cite book|author=Alain Daniélou|title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C&pg=PA165|access-date=26 December 2012|date=1 December 1991|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-354-4|page=165}}</ref> They play a significant role in a number of Hindu spiritual traditions, especially those associated with the worship of Vishnu and his avatar Krishna, sometimes even in traditions related to Shiva.

==Names== The group is known by various names: "Kumaras" (young man or youth), "Chatursana" or "Chatuh Sana" (the four with names starting with Sana) and "Sanakadi" (Sanaka and the others).<ref name="Mani"/> Individual names usually include Sanaka (ancient), Sanatana (eternal), Sanandana (ever-joyful) and Sanatkumara (ever-young).<ref name=Four/><ref name="Hudson2008"/><ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/3/15/12/en1 Bhag-P 3.15.12 Bhagavata Purana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165356/http://vedabase.net/sb/3/15/12/en1 |date=30 September 2007 }} "Lord Brahma said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and ''Sanatkumara'', who were born from my mind"</ref> Sometimes, Sanatana is replaced by Sanatsujata. A fifth Kumara named Ribhu is sometimes added. Sometimes, the Kumaras are enumerated as six with Sana and Ribhu or Sanatsujata added.<ref name="The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition">{{cite book|title=The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=satCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA39|access-date=22 December 2012|year=1840|publisher=Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland|pages=38–39}}</ref>

Though in Mahabharata, a total of seven sons are mentioned, namely: 1) Aniruddha, 2) Sana, 3) Sanatsujata, 4) Sanaka, 5) Sanandana, 6) Sanatkumara and 7) Sanatana and further mentions that, "Knowledge comes to these seven rishis, of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the path of Nivritti (inward contemplation).<ref>"The Vedic dharma (religion) is verily twofold, characterized by Pravritti (social action) and Nivritti (inward contemplation), designed to promote order in the world; this twofold dharma has in view the true social welfare and spiritual emancipation of all beings."-Adi Shankaracharaya (A.D. 788–820).</ref>

===Sanatkumara=== Sanatkumara in Sanskrit means "eternal youth".<ref>[http://www.urday.in/four.htm Sage Sanatkumara]</ref> He is the author of the ''Sanatkumara Samhita'', which is part of the Shiva Purana, and has 59 chapters. It is also taken as a part of the Pañcaratra, Vaishnavite devotional texts. He taught Bhishma the mental and spiritual sciences.

In the Bhagavata Purana, Sanatkumara is the first to receive divine knowledge from Sankarshana and passes it through a lineage of sages including Samkhyayana, Pulastya, and Maitreya until it reaches Vidura, a chain that establishes the purana as a bridge between ancient revelation (Shruti) and recorded tradition (Smriti).<ref>{{cite book | last1=Gupta | first1=Ravi | last2=Valpey | first2=Kenneth | title=The Bhagavata Purana | publisher=Columbia University Press | publication-place=New York | date=2013-04-02 | isbn=978-0-231-14998-3 | page=44}}</ref>

The Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter seven, is about Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya to celestial sage Narada,<ref>[http://www.bharatadesam.com/spiritual/upanishads/chandogya_upanishad_2.php Part Seven] Chapter I – Dialogue between Narada and Sanatkumara by Swami Nikhilananda.</ref><ref>[http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/chhand/ch_3.html Chapter Three: Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya] by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Shivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India.</ref> Sanatkumara finds mention across Mahabharata, as a great sage, who dispels doubts<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03184.htm Markandeya continued..] The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 –1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva, Section: CLXXXIV. '''p. 372''' "Markandeya continued, 'On hearing this, the great-mind Munis went instantly to '''Sanatkumara''' who was well versed in religion to clear their doubt...</ref><ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b107.htm#fr_854 Sanatkumara] The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section: CCLXXX. ''p. 295.''"While they were thus conversing with each other there came unto them the great sage ''Sanatkumara'' of the righteous soul for the purpose of dispelling their doubts. Worshipped by the prince of Asuras and by the sage Usanas, that foremost of sages sat down on a costly seat.".</ref> and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02011.htm Narada] The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 2: Sabha Parva: Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva, section: XI. '''p. 25''' And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world,{{snd}}all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious '''Sanatkumara''' of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga..."</ref>

Also mentioned is the Tirtha of Kanakhala near ''Gangadwara'' or Haridwar, where through extensive tapas, he attained great ascetic powers.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03135.htm Kanakhala] The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section: CXXXV. "Here, O king, before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. 'And yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage '''Sanatkumara''' attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all thy sins."</ref>

==Legend==

=== Origin === thumb|Four Kumaras

The four Kumaras are the eldest sons of the creator-god Brahma.<ref name="Dhody1995">{{cite book|author=Chandan Lal Dhody|title=The Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa: Concise English Version|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQcmczcunygC&pg=PA274|access-date=25 December 2012|date=1 January 1995|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-85880-77-8|page=274}}</ref> When Brahma undertook the task of creating the universe, he first created some beings from different parts of his body to aid him. The Kumaras were the first such beings. They were created from his mind and appeared as infants. Brahma ordered them to aid in the creation, but as manifestations of ''sattva'' (purity), and uninterested in worldly life, they refused and instead devoted themselves to God and celibacy, against the wishes of their father.<ref name="Mani">{{cite book | last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975 | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|page=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/682 682]}}</ref><ref name="Dhody1995" /> The ''Bhagavata Purana'' narrates further that their refusal made Brahma angry and his wrath manifested the deity Shiva.<ref name="Four" /> As per a variant, Brahma practised ''tapas'' (austerities) and pleased Vishnu, and so the later he appeared in the form of the four infant Kumaras as Brahma's sons.<ref name="Dhody1995" /> Some texts like the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' and the ''Bhavishya Purana'' narrates the four Kumaras appeared even before the Brahma of the present age (In a cycle of time, some texts say that a Brahma dies and is reborn.)<ref name="Mani" />

The four Kumaras learnt the ''Veda''s at the age of four or five.<ref name="Dhody1995"/> They thus became great ''jnani''s (learned beings), yogis, and ''Siddha''s (the perfect enlightened ones). The Kumaras remained in the form of children due to their spiritual virtues. The age of the sages varies in sacred texts. While five is the most popular, they are also mentioned as being five-year-old boys.<ref>Dalal p. 215</ref> They practised the vow of renunciation (''sannyasa'') and celibacy (brahmacharya) and remained naked. They wander together throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with a purpose to teach.<ref name=Four/><ref name="Mani"/><ref name="Dhody1995"/> They are sometimes included in the list of Siddhars (Tamil practitioners of Siddha).<ref>Dalal p. 407</ref>

The four Kumaras are said to reside in ''Janaloka'' or ''Janarloka'' (loka or world of the intellectuals in the present parlance) or in Vishnu's abode of Vaikuntha.<ref name="Dhody1995"/><ref>Dalal p. 224</ref> They constantly recite the mantra ''Hari Sharanam'' (Refuge in Vishnu) or sing Vishnu's praises. These hymns and glories of Vishnu serve as their only food.<ref name="Dhody1995"/> Another son of Brahma, the sage Narada, who is described as their disciple, extolls their virtues in the ''Padma Purana''. Narada says though they appear as five-year-old children, they are the great ancestors of the world.<ref name="Dhody1995"/>

They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the Samkhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of ''Nivritti'' (inward contemplation), and cause them to "flow in the worlds".<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12c040.htm Vaisampayana continued...] The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896), Book 12: Santi Parva, Part 3, Section: CCCXLI. '''p. 147''' "The puissant Lord who is charged with the creation of all the worlds is called Aniruddha, Sana, Sanatsujata, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Kapila, and Sanatana numbering the seventh,--these seven Rishis are known as the spiritual sons of Brahman. Their knowledge comes to them of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the religion of Nivritti. They are the foremost of all persons conversant with Yoga. They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the Sankhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of Nivritti and cause them to flow in the worlds.</ref>

=== Discourses === The discourses of the four Kumaras are found in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'' as well as the ''Bhagavata Purana''.<ref name="Dhody1995"/>

The ''Shanti Parva'' book of the ''Mahabharata'' describes the discourse given by the four Kumaras to the demon king Vritra and his guru – the sage Shukra. The king and his guru worship the Kumaras and then Shukra asks them to describe the greatness of Vishnu. Sanatkumara starts by describing Vishnu as the creator and destroyer of all beings. He equates Vishnu's body parts with parts of the universe and the elements, for example, the earth is Vishnu's feet and water is his tongue. All gods are described as being Vishnu. Then Sanatkumara categorizes all beings into six colours depending upon the proportion of the three gunas: sattva (pure), rajas (dim) and tamas (dark). From the lowest to the foremost beings, the colours are dark (tamas is high, rajas is mid, sattva is low), tawny (tamas is high, sattva is mid, rajas is low), blue (rajas is high, tamas is mid, sattva is low), red (rajas is high, sattva is mid, tamas is low), yellow (sattva is high, tamas is mid, rajas is low) and white (sattva is high, rajas is mid, tamas is low). The ''Vishnu Purana'' mentions non-living things, lower animals and birds, humans, Prajapatis, gods and the Kumaras are respective examples of the above colours. Sanatkumara elaborates further how a Jiva (living entity) journeys from dark to white in his various births, ultimately gaining moksha if he does good deeds, devotion and yoga.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/mahabharat05ramauoft#page/5146/mode/2up Mahabharata] Published by Geeta Press in Gorakhpur. Written in Hindi.</ref><ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b107.htm#fr_866 The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa] Santi Parva translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [published between 1883 and 1896]</ref>

The ''Bhagavata Purana'' narrates the visit of the four Kumaras to the court of King Prithu, the first sovereign in Hindu mythology and an avatar of Vishnu. The king worships the sages and asked them about the way of emancipation (moksha) that can be followed by all people who are caught in the web of worldly things. Sanatkumara tells the king that Vishnu is the refuge to all and grants liberation of the cycle of births and rebirths. His worship frees one from material desires and lust. One should be freed from material objects, live a simple life of non-violence and devotion of Vishnu and follow the teachings of a good guru and undergo self-realisation. One should realize that all living things are forms of God. Without devotion and knowledge, humans are incomplete. Out of four ''purushartha''s ("goals of life"), only moksha is eternal, while religious duty, wealth and pleasure decay with this life. While all beings are subject to destruction, the soul and God in our bodies are eternal. So it is paramount that one surrenders to God (as Vishnu or Krishna), said Sanatkumara ending his counsel. Prithu worships the Kumaras again, who blessed him.<ref name=Prithu>{{Cite web|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/4/22/en|title=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22|access-date=22 December 2012|publisher=Vedabase.net|archive-date=9 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509211908/http://vedabase.net/sb/4/22/en|url-status=dead}} Click individual verses for explanatory notes</ref>

The first section or ''Purvabhaga'' of ''Naradiya Purana'', an upapurana has 4 ''pada''s or sections, each told by the four Kumaras respectively to Narada.<ref>Dalal p. 273</ref> Brahma, who had received the knowledge of the Puranas from Vishnu, imbibed this to his Four Kumaras, who then taught the Puranas to Narada. Narada transmitted it to Vyasa, who scripted them into the Puranic texts. The ''Vishnu Purana'' is recorded in two parts, the Vishnu Purana and Naradiya Purana. The teachings of Sanaka of the Kumara brothers are contained in the Naradiya Purana which is also divided into two parts, the first part containing the teachings of Sanaka and others.{{Sfn|Deshpande|2005|pp=66–69}}

=== Visit to Vaikuntha === thumb|Jaya and Vijaya obstruct the Kumaras from entering Vaikuntha as Vishnu rushes to the spot.

The four Kumaras roamed around at their free will with their cosmic powers all over the universe. During one of their sojourns, they arrived at Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu. The city, with the residence of Vishnu located at the center of seven circular walls, is considered as a place of bliss and purity. It has seven gates of entry. The four Kumaras passed through the first six gates without any hindrance. The seventh gate was guarded by Jaya and Vijaya, the two dvarapalas (door-guards) of Vishnu's palace. The angry guardians stopped the four Kumaras and laughed at them since they looked like children and were also naked, and did not permit them to enter through the seventh gate. The four Kumaras were perplexed by the behaviour of the gatekeepers as they had not faced such a situation and ridicule anywhere else. They expected Jaya and Vijaya to be like their master Vishnu, who does not differentiate among beings. Enraged, the Kumaras cursed them to be born on earth thrice, as three villains with characteristics of "lust, anger and greed". The gatekeepers accept the curse and bow to the Kumaras and beg for their forgiveness. Vishnu who learnt of the incident, appeared before the Kumaras in all his glory with his retinue. The four Kumaras, who were on their first visit to Vaikuntha, took in by the sight and the glittering divine figure of Vishnu. With deep devotion, they appealed to him to accept them as his devotees and allow them to offer worship at his feet for all time to come and let his feet be their final emancipation. Vishnu complied with their request and also assured Jaya and Vijaya that they will born as demons on earth but will be released from all births (killed) by an avatar of Vishnu. The two guards were dismissed by Vishnu to go and suffer the curse of the Kumaras on earth and then only return to his abode, after the end of the curse. The two banished guards were then born on earth in the ''Satya Yuga at'' an inauspicious hour, to the sage Kashyapa and his wife Diti (daughter of Daksha) as asuras. They were named Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Vishnu undertook the Varaha Avatar to kill Hiranyaksha, and the Narasimha avatar to kill Hiranyakasipu.<ref name="Hudson2008"/><ref name="Venkatesananda(Swami.)1989">{{cite book|author1=Swami Venkatesananda|author2=Venkatesananda (Swami.)|title=The Concise Śrīmad Bhāgavataṁ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zLkrkjn1Yv0C&pg=PA53|access-date=25 December 2012|year=1989|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-0149-1|pages=53}}</ref>

In the second life, during the ''Treta Yuga'', they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and defeated and killed by Rama avatar as mentioned in the epic Ramayana. Finally, in their third and final life in ''Dvapara Yuga,'' they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra during the time of Krishna avatar and got killed by him, which is also mentioned in epic Mahabharata.

===In Shaiva tradition=== {{Vaishnavism}} Shaivas believe that Shiva assumed the form of Dakshinamurti, the great teacher and meditating facing South observing a vow of silence. The four Kumaras approached Shiva for self-realisation. He taught them about the Supreme Reality, Brahman, by making the ''chin mudra'' gesture with his hand. The index finger is touched to the thumb, indicating the union of Brahman and jiva. Thus, Shiva made the Kumaras as his disciples.<ref name="Ravi2010">{{cite book|author=V. Ravi|title=Lalita Sahasranama|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eBcFHsdGNC0C&pg=PA432|access-date=26 December 2012|year=2010|publisher=MANBLUNDER|pages=432–3|id=GGKEY:BH0QHZDKYK6}}</ref>

The ''Linga Purana'' describes that Shiva, or his aspect Vamadeva, will be born as a Kumara and then multiply into the four Kumaras in each kalpa (eon) as sons of Brahma of that kalpa. In the 29th kalpa, Shveta Lohita is the main Kumara; where they are named as Sananda, Nandana, Vishvananda, and Upananadana of white colour; then in the 30th kalpa, they are named as Virajas, Vivahu, Visoka and Vishvabhavana, all of the red colour; and in the 31st kalpa in yellow colour; and in the 32nd kalpa, as of black colour.<ref name="The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition"/>

==Other legends==

An incident about the meeting of the four Kumaras with Vishnu's avatar Rama is narrated in the ''Uttarakanda'' of the ''Ramcharitmanas''. The Kumaras once stayed in the hermitage of the sage Agastya, who told them about the glory of Rama. So to meet Rama, they went to a forest grove where Rama with his brothers and disciple Hanuman had come. Rama and his brothers were so delighted in meeting the four enlightened sages that they paid obeisance to them. The sages were wonderstruck looking at the divinity of Rama that they prostrated before him and out of great ecstasy started shedding tears of happiness. Rama looking at the sages was deeply impressed and asked them to be seated and praised them for their great achievements and their erudite knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas. The four Kumaras were also delighted to hear the words of praise showered on them by Rama. They in turn extolled his great virtues in a hymn.<ref name="TulasīdāsaPrasad1999">{{cite book|author1=Tulasīdāsa|author2=R. C. Prasad|title=Tulasīdāsa's Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa: The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rāma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VV7leonJ8aQC&pg=PA713|access-date=17 December 2012|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0762-4|pages=713–}}</ref>

==In Kumara Sampradaya==

Vaishnavism (the devotees that worships Vishnu as the Supreme) is divided into four ''sampradaya''s or traditions. Each of them traces its lineage to a heavenly being. The Kumara Sampradaya, also known as the Nimbarka Sampradaya, Catuḥ Sana Sampradaya and Sanakadi Sampradaya, and its philosophy Dvaitadvaita ("duality in unity") is believed to be propagated in humanity by the four Kumaras. The swan avatar of Vishnu Hamsa was the origin of this philosophy and taught it to the four Kumaras, who in turn taught Narada, who finally passed it to the earthy Nimbarka, the main exponent of the sampradaya.<ref>Dalal p. 129</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Sources== * {{cite book|isbn=978-0143414216|title=Hinduism an Alphabetical Guide|author = Dalal, Roshen|date=9 October 2023 |publisher=Penguin}} * {{cite book|last=Deshpande|first=Aruna|title=India: A Divine Destination|publisher=Crest Publishing House|year=2005|isbn=81-242-0556-6|pages=66–69}}

==External links== * [http://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/gss/sadhu/sampradayas/kumara/kumara.htm Kumāra sampradaya] * [https://mythnosis.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/lord-brahmas-step-1-the-four-kumaras-or-the-catursana/ Kumaras] * [http://www.hinduism.co.za/pravritt.htm Pravritti-Nivritti, The religion of Pravritti Dharma and Nivritti Dharma]

Category:Avatars of Vishnu Category:Rishis Category:Characters in the Bhagavata Purana