Paramparā

Paramparā · parā-parā, “one after another”

Grammar: feminine noun: “one after another”, a line or succession.

Meaning: the line through which a Purāṇa or teaching is handed down from teacher to hearer.

In the scriptures: the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa gives the paramparā of the Purāṇa itself. It passed from Brahmā to Śaṅkara, to Vishṇu, to Nārada, to Indra, to Parāśara, to Vyāsa and to Sumantu Muni. Sumantu told King Śatānīka that he must hear this Purāṇa, handed down by paramparā, from him (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 1).

Related terms: Guru · Śishya · Purāṇa

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 1