The Anchor of Parampara

Small, Insignificant, and Infinite: Growing up Madhwa

Growing up, being a "Madhwa" was just an identity marker. It meant certain rituals, the smell of burnt coal and sandalwood, and the distinct vertical tilak mark on the forehead. It was just "what we did."

But as I navigate the spiritual marketplace of the modern world today, that identity has become my greatest treasure.

We live in a time of "pop-spirituality." Everywhere I look, I see diluted teachings, self-proclaimed gurus, and "manifestation hacks" that promise the world but lack the soul. It feels like a world of cut-flowers—beautiful for a moment, but dead because they have no roots.

In the midst of this, I look back at my lineage—the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya—and I feel a sudden, overwhelming wave of relief.

To be connected to Sripad Madhvacharya is to be tethered to a rock in a stormy ocean. When I think of him—the third avatar of Vayu, the indomitable force that was also Hanuman and Bhima—I feel incredibly small. Who am I in the face of such giant intellect and spiritual power? I am insignificant. Thanks to Lord Caitanya for giving access to the holy name. Thanks to the parampara, inspite of my insignificance I find shelter in the overflowing mercy of thier grace.

But in that insignificance, there is safety.

I don't have to invent a new philosophy. I don't have to guess what the truth is. The path has been carved out by the Parampara (lineage) for thousands of years, handed down from teacher to student, unbroken and unadulterated.

There is a profound peace in knowing that I am not the source of the wisdom I share; I am just a servant carrying the message. In a world that is obsessed with being "original," I am just so grateful to be authentic.

I bow to the lineage that keeps me grounded. To the distinct two fingers raised in the air, reminding us that we are not God, but we are eternally loved by Him.

daso'ham. (I am the servant of the One who praises the Lord). I made a vide on Madwacarya - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL2CLyT5XH0