In Anubhasya Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada says that Bhagavata Acharya was formerly among the followers of Advaita Acharya but was later counted among the followers of Gadadhara Pandita. The sixth verse of Sakha-niryayamrta, a book written by Yadunandana dasa, states that Bhagavata Acharya compiled a famous book of the name Prema-tarangini. According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 195, Bhagavata Acharya formerly lived in Vrindavana as Sveta-manjari. Vishnudasa Acharya was present during the Khetari-mahotsava. He went there with Achyutananda, as stated in the Bhakti-ratnakara, Tenth Taranga. Ananta Acharya was one of the eight principal gopis. His former name was Sudevi.
Although he was among Advaita Acharya’s followers, he later became an important devotee of Gadadhara Gosvami. CC Adi-lila 12.58 “In this connection, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, gives this short note: “Sri Advaita Acharya is one of the important trunks of the bhakti-kalpataru, or desire tree of devotional service. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as a gardener, poured water on the root of the bhakti tree and thus nourished all its trunks and branches. Adi-lila 12.73
Note: Reading the above quotes we find that some very influential Acharyas are not mentioned in the common, official list of the disciplic succession of the Brahma Sampradaya, which we belong to. There are full branches off some of the main trunks, and even important trunks that are not listed. Why?
“Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap.
But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sungod, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system — namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku; and so these gaps do not hamper
from understanding the parampara system. We have to pick up the prominent Acharyas, and follow from him. There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to.” Srila Prabhupada letter 12 April, 1968
Note: The Prominent Acharya whose name gets mentioned in the list is one who had to make adjustments due to a break in the disciplic succcession. He had to give teachings according to time place and circumstance that would point back to the Essence of the giver of the seed of Bhakti, Lord Chaitanya. There are many trunks, branches and sub-branches of disciples of disciples, but only the name of the Prominent Acharya who starts a New main trunk is listed in our list of disciplic succession, and he is the important one to pick up from, Srila Prabhupada confirms this word for word in this next quote.
“Regarding your question about the disciplic succession coming down from Arjuna, it is just like I have got my disciples, so in the future these many disciples may have many branches of disciplic succession.
So in one line of disciples we may not see another name coming from a different line. But this does not mean that person whose name does not appear was not in the disciplic succession.
Narada was the Spiritual Master of Vyasadeva, and Arjuna was Vyasadeva’s disciple, not as an Initiated Disciple but there was some blood relation between them. So there is connection in this way and it is not possible to list all such relationships in the short description given in Bhagavad- gita As It Is.
Another point is that disciplic succession does not mean one has to be directly a disciple of a particular person. The conclusions which we have tried to explain in our Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the same as those conclusions of Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we also accept the same truth under the disciplic succession of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srila Prabhupada letter 1/25/69) To be Continued…