According to the padmapurana, the mantra that is not obtained through a disciplic lineage is ineffective. Using such a mantra, whatever religious ritual s one observes will not come to fruition, even if carried out for hundreds or millions of years.
In kali yug (the present age), there are four pure authorized vaisnava lineages or sampradaya namely:-
Ramanuja Sampradaya
Madhva Sampradaya
Vallabha Sampradaya
Nimbarka Sampradaya
The shri Nimbarka Sampradaya is the oldest of these and also known as the Hamsa sampradaya, Kumar sampradaya, Catuh sana sampradaya and Sankadi sampradaya. In the present age, the Nimbarka Sampradaya was named after the Shree Sudarshanchakravtar Jagatguru Shri Nimbarkacharya.
