Two Disciplic Successions

In Vedic culture, spiritual knowledge descends through two types of succession – seminal relationship (sukra) and spiritual relationship (sautra). In the seminal succession, knowledge was imparted to the son (putra), and in the spiritual succession knowledge was imparted to the disciple (chatra). Knowledge would thus be passed through the generations.

History documents that there have been deviations. In the seminal line we find that casteism can become prominent, where individuals draw spiritual authority based on their birthright, without possessing the corresponding character and realisation required for spiritual leadership. Such persons deviate the teachings away from their pure form and utilise their position for selfish material benefit instead of selfless spiritual service to others. They fail to communicate the essence of transcendental teachings to the next generation and thus cause a spiritual vacuum in the world. Indeed, Krishna himself declares that He appears when such successions become defunct:

“This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost. That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend and can therefore understand the transcendental mystery of this science.” (BG 4.2-3)