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निम्बार्काचार्य
~13th century CE · Vaiduryapatnam (in present-day Andhra Pradesh) — birthplace; Vrindavan — work
Tradition: Dvaitadvaita (dualistic non-dualism); Nimbarka Sampradaya
Dvaitadvaita — the relationship between Brahman, jiva, and jagat is simultaneously dual and non-dual, like the sun and its rays. Worship of Radha-Krishna as the supreme couple.
Disciple of Narada (legendary); the legend of his name involves stopping the sun (nimba-arka) on a tree to feed a hungry guest after sunset on Ekadashi.
Founded the Nimbarka (Sanak) sampradaya; first to formally establish Radha-Krishna worship as the highest form of bhakti.
Nimbarkacharya stands within the lineage of Dvaitadvaita (dualistic non-dualism); Nimbarka Sampradaya. Understanding a saint requires understanding the school of thought, the lineage of teachers, and the historical context that shaped them. The Dvaitadvaita (dualistic non-dualism); Nimbarka Sampradaya tradition has shaped Hindu spiritual life through its philosophical foundations, its liturgy, its scriptures, and the institutions its founding ācāryas built and sustained across generations.
Saints in this tradition are not abstract figures from history — they are the living chain through which the tradition transmits itself. To read Nimbarkacharya correctly is to read both the writings (where they survive) and the institutions they founded, the disciples they taught, and the practices they reinterpreted. Where written works are listed above, they remain the primary source for studying their thought; for the practical transmission, one studies under a teacher of the same lineage.
The dates and biographical details preserved in tradition often differ from those accepted by modern academic historians. Where the difference matters for interpretation, both views are noted; otherwise the traditional account is given with sources cited.
Awaiting scholar verification. If you spot a factual error in dates, lineage, or teaching, please write to us.