The third preceptor or sadguru of this sampradaya was Sri Narada Bhagwaan. Like the four Sanakadi Rishi, Sri Narada too was a manasputra of Brahma and is said to have been born of Brahma’s throat. He too refused his father’s wish to engage in the affairs of the world and he was cursed by his father that he would be reborn as a Gandharva and live the life of a householder for one hundred thousand divine yugas. Narada was angry at the unwarranted curse given to him by his father and said to Brahma, “You have cursed me unjustly despite being my father. I too curse you that no one will worship you for three kalpas.” Thereafter Narada was born as a Gandharva and his name was Upvarhan.  In due time, he received diksha from the sage Vashishtha and performed severe penances on the banks of the Gandaki river. He married the fifty daughters of the Gandharva Chitrarath and lived the life of a householder. After his life as a Gandharva came to pass he was reborn in his next birth as a maid’s son as a shudra. Narada was reborn as the son of Drumil and Kalavati. Drumil cast off his mortal body before his son was born and Kalavati intended to perform sati on her husband’s funeral pyre. She was prevented from doing so by a Brahmin who took her to his home and looked after her as a daughter. Once, the four saints collectively known as Sri Sanakadi Rishis came to stay at the Brahmin’s home. Narada was instructed by his mother and the Brahmin to serve the saints with dedication. Narada acted on their advice and received the Krishna Mantra from Sri Sanatkumar who initiated him by giving him diksha. After a few days, Kalavati died after being bitten by a venomous snake. Narada was now free of all the attachments of the material world. When the four Sanakadi Rishis decided to leave the Brahmin’s home, Narada left with them. The saints instructed him on the knowledge of the Brahmn (Brahmavidya) and Narada began severe penances on the banks of the river Ganges to realize for himself the true and supreme spiritual knowledge. He constantly meditated on the Krishna Mantra he had received from his guru. After austerities of several years Sri Hari appeared before him in the form of a child however, the form disappeared after a few days. Narada was plunged into despair and wept uncontrollably. He was addressed by a heavenly voice which said to him, “Narada, you will not be able to see Sri Hari in this birth again. However, when you cast off this mortal body you will be reborn in a divine body. It is then that you will again be able to see Sri Hari again in his full glory.” Narada stopped crying and spent the rest of his life immersed in the japa of the mantra he had received from his Guru.

Upon his death he was freed from Brahma’s curse and this time he was reborn as Brahma’s Manasputra. His father again asked him to become a householder and this time Narada agreed to abide by his father’s wishes. However, Narada asked for some time as he wished to learn more about spiritual fulfillment. With his father’s permission Narada first went his first guru, Sri Shankara Bhagwaan at the Badarika Ashram. Sri Shankara instructed Narada to go to the sages Nara-Narayana. From the two sages Narada learnt a lot about the spiritual realm. His wish fulfilled, Narada began his life as a householder. He married Ratnamala, the daughter of King Srinjaya and lived a happy life. One day whilst seated under a banayan tree he met Sri Sanatkumar, his guru in the previous birth. Sri Sanatkumar instructed him in Brahmavidya and also told about obstacles in this path like, attachment to the material world, being forever engaged in sense gratification etc. Sri Sanatkumar advised Narada to give up his worldly attachments and try to attain Mukti. He also gave Narada the supreme Krishna Mantra, which was to be his vehicle to attain Moksha. Narada became an ascetic after receiving the Krishna Mantra; he took sanyaas and began his penance to attain Mukti. After many years of severe austerities Narada attained self-realization and became one of the dear devotees of Sri Hari. He was blessed with the boon of having the ability to travel across all the divine worlds without hindrances or obstacles. Narada is born again and again in every yuga for the benefit of the seekers among the human beings. So is he revered by all the traditions of the spiritual world. Narada Bhagwaan was the sadguru of this sampradaya till the end of the Dwapara Yuga.