Hare Krishna.
Srimad bhagavatam (http://vedabase.net/sb/6/3/20-21/), purport says:
"The disciplic succession from Lord Brahmā is called the Brahma-sampradāya, the succession from Lord Śiva(Śambhu) is called the Rudra-sampradāya, the one from the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmījī, is called the Śrī-sampradāya, and the one from the Kumāras is called the Kumāra-sampradāya."
In some other place it is said that the true sampraya should begin from one of the 12 mahajanas. http://vedabase.net/sb/6/1/17/ purport says: "One should fearlessly follow the twelve mahājanas and their line ofdisciplic succession and thus be liberated from the clutches of māyā."
the list of 12 mahajanas may be found here
http://vedabase.net/sb/6/3/20-21/:"Lord Brahmā, Bhagavān Nārada, Lord Śiva, the four Kumāras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahūti], Svāyambhuva Manu, PrahlādaMahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja, Grandfather Bhīṣma, Bali Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and I myself [Yama] know the real religious principle."
Brahma-sampradaya originate from Brahma [Brahma is a mahajana], Rudra-sampradaya originate from Shiva [Shiva is a mahajana], Kumara-sampradaya originate from the Kumaras [Kumaras are mahajanas]. But Lakshmi or Shri is not a mahajana. How can Shri-sampradaya be authentic and at the same time not originate from one of the mahajanas? Please help me.
Replies
Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Pamho. Agstp
Authenticity of these four sampradaya comes from the below statement of Padma Purana.
sampradāyavihīnā ye mantrāste niṣphalā matāḥ|
ataḥ kalau bhaviśyanti catvāraḥ sampradāyinaḥ||
Śrī-brahmā-rudra-sanakā vaiṣṇavā kṣitipāvanāḥ|
catvāraste kalau bhāvya hyutkale puruṣottamāt||
rāmānujaṃ śrī svicakre madhvācaryaṃ caturmukhaḥ|
śrīviṣṇusvāminaṃ rudro nimbādityaṃ catuḥsanāḥ||
All mantras which have been given (to disciples) not in an authorised Sampradāya are fruitless. Therefore, in Kali Yuga, there will be four bona-fide Sampradāyas. Each of them were ignaugurated by Śrī Devī and known as the Śrī Sampradāya, Lord Brahmā and known as the Brahmā Sampradāya, Lord Rudra and known as the Rudra Sampradāya; and the Four Kumāras and known as Sanakādi Sampradāya. Śrī Devī made Rāmānujācārya the head of that lineage. So too Lord Brahmā appointed Madhvācārya, Lord Rudra appointed Viṣṇusvāmī and the four Kumaras chose Nimbāditya (an epithet for Śrī Nimbārkācārya).
It is not necessary that every sampradaya must be start from only mahajan. IBecause every sampradaya starts from Krishna , Krishna only gave knowledge to others in the beginning of creation (tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah) . Mahajans are those who has followed and obeyed the rules and regulation of religion in to to. So being consort of Lord Narayana , Sri/Laxmi Devi is authenticate and bonafide originator of Sri Sampradaya.
yas,