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Parampara (Sanskrit: परम्परा, paramparā) denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture. It is also known as guru-shishya paramparā, succession from guru to disciple. In the paramparā system, knowledge (in any field) is passed down (undiluted) through successive generations. The Sanskrit word literally means an uninterrupted series or succession.^[1] In the traditional residential form of education, the shishya remains with his guru as a family member and gets the education as a true learner.

In some traditions there is never more than one active master at the same time in the same guruparamaparya (lineage).^[2]

The fields of knowledge taught may include, for example, spiritual, artistic (music or dance) or educational.

[edit] Titles of Gurus in Parampara

In paramapara, not only is the immediate guru revered, the three preceding gurus are also worshipped or revered. These are known variously as the kala-guru or as the "four gurus" and are designated as follows:^[3]

• Guru - the immediate guru
• Parama-guru - the Guru's guru
• Parapara-guru - the Parama-guru's guru
• Parameshti-guru - the Parapara-guru's guru

[edit] See also

• Guru-shishya tradition
• Gurukula
• Lineage (Buddhism)

[edit] Notes

1. ^ A Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Sir Monier Monier-Williams (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1899), ISBN 0-19-864308-X. Page 587, column a.
2. ^ Padoux, André. "The Tantric Guru" in White, David Gordon (ed. 2000). Tantra in Practice, p. 44. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
3. ^ Mahanirvana Tantra