The Living Tradition
Sampradāya (from sam + pradāya, 'that which is properly given forth') refers to the organized transmission of religious knowledge, practice, and initiation through an unbroken teacher-student lineage (guru-paramparā). In the Śrī Vaiṣṇava context, the sampradāya traces from Bhagavān Himself → Śrī Lakṣmī → Viṣvaksena → the Āzhvārs → Nāthamunigaḷ → through the successive Ācāryas to the present day.
Why Sampradāya Matters
The tradition holds that scripture (śāstra) can be correctly understood only when received from a qualified Ācārya within the sampradāya. Independent interpretation without the sampradāya's living context leads to distortion. The Ācārya's grace (abhimāna) is the vehicle through which the sampradāya's wisdom is transmitted — not merely intellectual teaching but a transformation of the disciple's orientation.
Two Streams
Within the Śrī Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, two streams crystallized after Rāmānuja: Vaḍakalai (northern, following Vedānta Deśika) and Teṅkalai (southern, following Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ). Despite their theological differences on prapatti and Śrī's role, both regard themselves as the faithful continuation of Rāmānuja's teaching.