Sanaka Sampraday

One of the four branches (sampraday)
of the Naga class of the Bairagi ascetics.
Bairagi ascetics are devotees (bhakta) of
the god Vishnu. The Nagas are fighting
ascetics hired by the other Bairagis to
protect them. The Naga class is organized in military fashion into different
anis or “armies.” Until the beginning of
the nineteenth century their primary
occupation was as mercenary soldiers,
although they also had substantial trading interests; both of these have largely
disappeared in contemporary times.
The Sanaka Sampraday traces its spiritual lineage from the Nimbarki sect,
founded by Nimbarka. Members of this
sect worship Radha and Krishna as a
divine couple, with both deities holding
equal status.